Sweep success: North Myrtle Beach volleyball rolls to state title win over Nation Ford

The North Myrtle Beach volleyball team knew the feeling of a long bus ride back from Columbia after losing in the state championship.

For the past two years, the Chiefs made the 2 1/2-hour trip filled with tears and emotions. But thanks to a dominating beginning, there would be nothing of that this season.

North Myrtle Beach swept Nation Ford 3-0 to win the Class 5A Division II championship at Dreher High School.

It is the fourth title in program history and the first since winning back-to-back titles in 2018-19. The Chiefs lost in the championship the past two seasons, including last year to South Aiken in four sets.

“The past years that trip has been so defeating but I can’t wait to get on the bus,” senior Olivia Borgman said. “The past years of losing made us so hungry. To be able to do it this year is awesome.”

The title was especially sweet for Borgman and the team’s other seven seniors who were part of the championship losses the past two years. Borgman missed most of the season with an abdominal injury and didn’t return until the match against Latta on Oct. 28 right before the postseason.

NMB coach Jenn Loeswick said Borgman’s absence during the season helped other players grow in their roles. Then when Borgman returned, it gave the Chiefs (30-9) more confidence in the postseason.

North Myrtle Beach didn’t lose a set in any of its four postseason matches.

“She is easy to plug back in but the experience came through at the end,” Loeswick said. “We had some young players that learned how to play fast and people in roles that [they] hadn’t had to be in before. Having to go through the season without her was probably the best thing that could have happened to our team.”

North Myrtle Beach came out strong, winning the first set 25-11. The Chiefs led 16-13 in the second set before the Falcons cut the lead to 16-15. NMB won four of the next five points and Borgman’s ace made it 20-16.

In the third set, Nation Ford jumped out to an 8-4 lead before the Chiefs rallied. The set was tied five different times, the last coming at 18-18. Madison Johnson’s kill put NMB up 20-18 and the lead grew to 24-20 and brought the Chiefs’ fans to their feet, many of them with index fingers in the air as NMB tried to close things out.

The Chiefs were finally able to do it when a Nation Ford block went wide. The celebration began, with the team sliding on the floor and excitement all around.

“This group is very special to me,” Loeswick said. “A couple of our seniors we have had since they were 12 years old and playing on the junior varsity team. To have them come up through the program and reach the pinnacle is so exciting. My heart is just so full and I am so excited.”

Nation Ford ends the season at 41-4 and could never get on track Saturday, especially after the first set.

“They came out with the momentum and held on to it,” Nation Ford coach Craig Brown said. “We just couldn’t get the job done. Our girls battled and I am so proud of them. … North Myrtle Beach came out firing and we were a little tentative. And North Myrtle Beach’s experience coming here the last few years showed.”