A photo collage shows Forest Park in action during an MHSAA Division 4 quarterfinal victory over Indian River Inland Lakes on Tuesday at Marquette. In the frames, clockwise from upper left, are Ema Stepien; Charlie Larson; Lauren Kudwa; Audrey Franz; head coach Bobbie Jo Anderson; Ava Fisher (center) celebrating with teammates;Ema Stepien (12); Leah Feldhausen; and, in the center photo, Larson competing at the net. The base image is a team meeting at the start of the third set. (Daryl Jarvinen photos)

BATTLE CREEK – Since dropping a four-set match to Division 2 district champion Kingsford on Oct. 25, the Forest Park Lady Trojans embarked on a magical three-week run through MHSAA Division 4 district and regional tournaments, culminating with Thursday’s appearance in the state semifinals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

The Lady Trojans’ six-match winning streak propelled them into the school’s first volleyball state semifinal match since 2015, pitted against No. 4 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, who entered the match with a 42-7-6 record and returning all-state hitters Angel Brown and Lillie Laney.

In the end, the Irish ended Forest Park’s hopes of advancing to its first state final with a 25-11, 25-10, 25-22 victory.

After scoring the match’s first point on a MPSH hitting error, the Lady Trojans basically played from behind the whole afternoon, but for a couple of stages in the final set.

“I definitely don’t think we played to our potential, whether it be due to nerves, being nine hours away from home or a combination of both,” FP coach Bobbie Anderson said.

The Irish grabbed a 10-3 lead in the first set on a kill by Laney, a lanky middle hitter. MPSH kept its distance from FP throughout the mid-set and ran off eight of the final 10 points to take a leg up in the match.

The second set proved to be more of the same. The Irish recorded the first four points of the set before FP junior middle Leah Feldhausen stopped the mini run with one of her eight kills. A few moments later, FP junior outside hitter Ema Stepien recorded a tip kill to the corner to keep her team within 9-5.

However, the Irish ran off 16 of the set’s 21 points to push the Lady Trojans to the brink, with Brown, an explosive outside hitter leading the surge with two kills and a block.

Forest Park trailed 4-1 in the final set before putting together its best stretch of the match. Outside hitter Lauren Kudwa recorded a kill before Stepien blasted one of her own and added a tip kill across court to forge a 4-all tie.

Stepien put down another kill and Feldhausen won two 50/50 balls at the net to help the Lady Trojans take a 12-10 advantage. MPSH then responded with a 12-5 surge to push FP within three points of defeat.

Nevertheless, the Lady Trojans had one more run in them, scoring five consecutive points to trim the Irish lead to 23-21. Feldhausen posted a block and a kill and Stepien notched two kills to force Irish coach Krista Davis to use her first and only timeout.

The teams then traded points before a FP service error ended the match.

Laney and Brown led the Irish attack with 16 kills and 12 kills, respectively. Both had high hitting percentages with Laney at .560 and Brown at .423.

Despite falling one match short of setting a new high mark for Forest Park volleyball, the Lady Trojans had much to be proud of after they left the Kellogg Arena floor. Forest Park proved to be a talented, well-rounded squad this season with seven of its top eight rotation players set to return in 2023.

“I’m extremely proud of our team and I hope they cherish these moments for years to come,” Anderson said. “We have a young team, so hopefully this will light a fire in them to work twice as hard in the offseason and next year so we can return to the ‘Final Four.'”

Stepien, one of next year’s returning players, led FP with nine kills. Freshman Ava Fischer added five kills, while junior Charlie Larson recorded 21 assists and an ace, sophomore Audrey Franz registered nine digs and senior Ashlynn Kannich posted 16 digs and FP’s other ace.

Kannich and fellow defensive specialists Kayla Hammerberg and Shealyn Curtis closed out their FP careers on Thursday.

“Thank you to our seniors for their years of hard work and dedication to our volleyball program,” Anderson said. “(They) will definitely be missed.”

Anderson also expressed her appreciation to FP’S fans, parents, school and community for their support along the memorable tournament run.

“We are extremely overwhelmed and grateful,” she said.

Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart advanced to Saturday’s final against Athens, which swept Lansing Christian in the other semifinal.