LAPORTE | The LaPorte volleyball team was a point away from forcing the state's No. 1 team to a fifth set in the Class 4A LaPorte Regional championship match.

But Elkhart Memorial fought back from a 24-20 deficit in Game 4 and captured its third-consecutive title -- 25-19, 25-15, 22-25, 28-26 on Saturday night.

"I truly believe that if we had bounced out the first two games like we did Game 3 and Game 4, the outcome would have come out differently," said LaPorte coach Marybeth Lebo, who has watched the Chargers (35-2) celebrate on her floor with each of those trophies. "We came here tonight to make history and we say it every year and we believe that some year, the points are going to go our way and the decision-making is going to go our way."

After "complacent" first and second games, the Slicers (33-5) were determined not to end the match with a sweep. With freshman Taylor Lebo serving, LaPorte went on a 9-0 run to turn a 13-6 third-game deficit into a 14-13 lead. Another 5-0 run pumped the point differential to 23-15 before Elkhart Memorial kept attacking.

With the Game 3 win, the Slicers felt the momentum for Game 4, and after a quick Taylor Lebo dig fell on the Chargers' side of the floor, LaPorte was the point away from a deciding fifth game.

But Elkhart Memorial took its own 5-0 run behind a pair of aces from Melanie Troyer to go up 25-24.

"Teams like that, that can score that straight, they're state-bound and you can't make any mistakes when you come down this far," Marybeth Lebo said. "We just couldn't close it in the fourth game and rightfully so, they deserve to be there."

Kim Trojan finished with 13 kills and was 54-of-60 hitting against the Chargers while Taylor Lebo had six kills with a pair of solo blocks. Lebo also had a team-high 24 digs and three aces. Overall, the Slicers had nine aces against Elkhart Memorial, with Ariel Cudney adding another three with 19 assists.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Class 4A LaPorte Regional

Championship

Elkhart Memorial 25-25-22-28, LaPorte 19-15-25-26

Ariel Cudney had three aces and 19 assists for LaPorte.