Norman North's volleyball season ended Tuesday, Oct. 13, with a 3-2 loss to Edmond Memorial in the OSSAA regional at Edmond Memorial High School.
The Timberwolves opened the day with a 3-1 win over Deer Creek, the Norman Transcript reported. But the second match against the host Bulldogs went the distance, and Norman North came up short in the fifth set.
Seven of the nine sets Norman North played were decided by five points or fewer, according to the Norman Transcript. The Timberwolves had to battle back and convert in clutch moments throughout both matches. The Deer Creek win required four sets, and the Edmond Memorial match stretched to five.
Norman North entered the regional on a high note. Head volleyball coach Kelly Files and the Timberwolves had knocked off Bishop McGuinness, the No. 1 team in Class 5A, in a five-set match, according to the Transcript's earlier coverage. That victory came through strong serving and the ability to close tight sets.
The regional followed a similar pattern. Norman North handled Deer Creek in four sets, then traded blows with Edmond Memorial across five. The difference: Edmond Memorial took the final set.
The five-point-or-fewer margin in seven of nine sets underscored how narrow the gap was between Norman North and the teams it faced. Against Deer Creek, the Timberwolves found a way to pull ahead.
Norman North beat Bishop McGuinness in five sets before the playoffs, then defeated Deer Creek in the regional before its season ended against Edmond Memorial.
Crosstown rival Norman High won its own regional and heads to the state tournament, according to the Norman Chronicle.
