POTTSVILLE - Nativity coach Jen Daubert remembered what happened last year - and she made sure her team did as well.

Galvanized by the disappointment they experienced on the same stage a year ago, the Green Wave left little doubt that things would be different this time.

Nativity did that by rolling to a 25-14, 25-17, 25-22 sweep of Marian in the District 11 Class 1A championship game on Tuesday at Martz Hall.

“We were in the same situation against Marian last season,” said Daubert. “We had beat them twice earlier in the season, and then they turned around and beat us in the district championship game ... and the same exact thing happened in 2020 as well.

“They say its hard to beat a good team three times in the same season, and that’s definitely true - especially when that team is your biggest rival. But we talked to our girls about staying focused, and making sure we play our best volleyball - and that’s what we did.”

With Nativity on top of its game for a large majority of the match, Marian had little hope of reversing its two previous losses to the Green Wave - who had too much firepower, played too well defensively, and had more than enough depth to withstand every Fillie run.

“Sometimes, you just have to credit the other team for playing better,” said Marian coach Maria Serina. “Nativity was the better team and deserved to win. I thought they played great tonight. They attacked aggressively, and defended really well. They didn’t give us a lot of openings, and seemed to come up with a big play when they needed it.”

Nativity (18-4) flexed its muscles early, jumping out to a 14-5 lead in the opening game and cruising to the double-digit win.

The second and third games were a lot more competitive, but the Green Wave closed strong in both to finish off the sweep.

In game two, Marian led 15-12 before Nativity rallied behind the net play of 6-2 middle hitter Arieanna Sherman to take a 17-15 lead. The Fillies battled back to tie the score at 17-17, before Chloe Motto served seven straight winners during an eight-point Green Wave run to close out the game.

In game three, the Fillies led 19-17. But once again Nativity finished strong, eventually closing out the sweep on a Motto kill.

While Nativity got strong performances from numerous players, no one came up bigger than Sherman, who put on a dominant performance at the net with team-high totals of 12 kills and seven solo blocks.

“I thought Sherman had a tremendous impact on the match,” said Serina. “Not only did she have a huge number of kills and blocks, but even when she’s not blocking the ball, her presence in the middle changes what you do offensively.

“But that wasn’t a surprise. We coach her on our club volleyball team, so we are well aware of what she’s capable of doing.”

The loss snapped a streak of three straight District 11 championship-game victories for Marian, which finished the season with a 16-7 record.

“The majority of teams that make the playoffs are going to end their season with a loss,” said Marian assistant coach A.J. Serina. “The only teams that don’t are the ones that win state championships - for everyone else there is some disappointment.

“That’s why we talk to our kids about enjoying the journey ... the good times with your teammates, the competition, and the accomplishments along the way. The season might have ended sooner than we would have liked, but I think our girls definitely enjoyed the journey.”

EARLIER ... Nativity edged Marian, 3-2, during the regular season and beat the Fillies, 3-0, in the Schuylkill League playoffs.

NUMBERS ... Marian’s Abbey Kluck had an outstanding performance in the loss, leading her team with 10 kills and 16 digs. Julia Meiss had 15 digs for the Fillies, Isabella Horvat had 13 and Zoe Katona added 11, as the Fillies were peppered with a barrage of attacks from Nativity. In addition to Sherman, the Green Wave got strong performances at the net from both Claudia Rodriguez and Sara Spolski (nine kills apiece).

FAMILIAR FOES ... Marian and Nativity have now met in 10 of the last 11 District 11 1A championship games. The Fillies hold a decisive 9-2 advantage in those matches, with the Green Wave’s only victory prior to last night coming in 2019. The only time during that span the two teams didn’t play each other in the title game was in 2018, when Nativity beat Marian in the semifinals and Mahanoy Area in the final.

FINAL MATCH .. Seven Marian seniors - Kluck, Meiss, Sophia Lombardo, Gianna Griguoli, MacKenna Jacobs, Megan Reaman and Emily D’Amato - all suited up for their final high school match.