Gorham volleyball bests Thornton Academy again in late-season test
Gorham volleyball roars past Thornton to secure playoff spot
SACO – In a high‑stakes showdown on Thursday night, the Gorham High School volleyball team – the Rams – edged the Thornton Academy Golden Trojans 3‑1 in a match that will lock Gorham into the postseason. The Rams’ 25‑23, 25‑23, 22‑25, 25‑23 win was the second time this season the team has defeated the No. 1 ranked program in the Varsity Maine poll, and it marked a dramatic comeback that underlined the Rams’ championship pedigree.
The match was played at the Saco high‑school gym, the final game of the regular season as the playoffs loom. Gorham, the three‑time defending Class A champion, had previously slipped out of the top spot in the Class A Heal point standings after losses to York, Cheverus and Washington Academy. Coach Emma Tirrell said the slump did not diminish their championship chances: “We don’t take losses lightly … but we also know that it’s not a big deal, and what really matters is the games in late October.”
A story of resilience
The Rams trailed 20‑17 in the opening set, but a timeout called by Tirrell refueled the team. They tied at 20, then 23‑23, before clinching the set on an Abigail Stevens kill followed by a Kasey Plaud ace. In the second set, Thornton built a 16‑6 advantage, but another timeout allowed Gorham to win 12 of the next 13 points and take the set 25‑23. The third set was the only set Gorham lost; Thornton fought to finish the set 25‑22, but the Rams rallied again to win the final set 25‑23 after a 23‑23 tie.
All four sets saw the Rams as the last team to reach the required 15 points, and they won three of them—a statistic the team credits to “big‑game experience” and “grit.” “We’ve all fought (back from) gaps like that,” said senior setter Liana Edwards, who finished with 30 assists, 14 kills and two aces. Edwards added that the team has turned the chatter about being a big‑name target into fuel: “I feel like we just use that as fuel to win against these big teams.”
Stevens, who tallied 18 kills, emphasized the team’s confidence: “It’s just us having confidence in our skills and our practice,” she said. “It’s just trusting each other. We just have to take it point by point, and I think that is a really big game‑changer for us.”
A late‑game surge from sophomore Brooklyn Shaw, who had three kills that pushed the Rams ahead 16‑15, 18‑17 and 23‑22 in the fourth set, proved pivotal. “She needs to swing hard, and it always goes our way when she does,” Tirrell noted, recalling how Stevens had been hesitant to swing hard in prior years. “I’m so proud of how aggressive she’s become.”
Thornton’s perspective
Thornton’s coach Kayla Arthurs acknowledged the loss but framed it as a learning opportunity. “I think this game taught us a lot about ourselves and our team and our starting lineup,” she said. “We consider this a playoff game, even though it’s the end of the regular season. But from here on out, we’re kind of in playoff mode.” Arthurs added that the defeats to Gorham did not trouble the team: “I don’t think it’s anything we worry about. It’s great matches. That’s definitely something we look forward to.”
Key Thornton players included Lotus Porter, who led the team with nine kills, and Sarah Berg, who finished with 12 kills and six aces. Ryleigh Light contributed seven kills and three aces, while Sophie von Meyer added six kills.
Implications for the playoffs
With the win, Gorham remains in strong position to compete for the Class A title. The match demonstrates the Rams’ ability to rally from deficits and maintain composure under pressure—qualities that will be essential as the postseason approaches.
The game also highlighted the competitive depth of Maine high‑school volleyball, with the Golden Trojans proving that they can challenge the top teams, even if the final result did not favor them. As the playoffs approach, both programs will look to refine their strategies and build on the lessons learned in this hard‑fought match.
