LAPEL — Lapel volleyball’s path to the sectional championship included a huge obstacle to climb, in one of the state’s best teams as the Bulldogs’ opponent.

Unfortunately, Lapel was unable to push Class 2A No. 2 Wapahani out of the way and lost its bid 3-0 on Oct. 19.

“We knew they were going to be tough. I think we were a little hyped up on the moment,” coach Hilary Eppert said.

“They are an incredibly tough serving team, and we were stuck in a couple serve-receives we struggled with,” Eppert said.

The Raiders went on long serving runs that saw them take the first set 25-6.

And while the Bulldogs settled down a bit in the second set, with more attacking and defense, another long point run gave the Raiders a 25-16 win.

“They’ll fight. We went out and played crazy defense. I didn’t want them to get tentative,” Eppert said.

Wapahani took the third and final set of the match 25-12. The Raiders were helped by freshman power hitter Chloe Cook, who had 15 kills in the game.

“There were some unforced errors. When you talk about playing our game to our potential and rising up to the occasion, I think we didn’t do that as well as we have,” Eppert said.

At match point, Eppert put the seniors in the game for the final time, and Makenna Bauer got a kill against the Raiders.

“That to me shows me her fight.” Eppert said Bauer’s move was one of her coaching career highlights.

The Bulldogs got to the final game by breezing past Monroe Central in three quick games, 25-16, 25-13, 25-17. Zoe Freer had 15 kills in the match, while Makynlee Taylor had 8.

Eppert praised her team for its season and good attitudes.

“We had our high moments and our low moments,” Eppert said. “I thought today, in the first game, (how) we played was huge.

“That was the team I know, and that was definitely a high.”

The Bulldogs finished their season 16-12.