Gorham volleyball tops Thornton Academy again in rematch of title game
Gorham Rams edge Thornton Academy in a 3‑2 thriller
Gorham, ME – In a nail‑biter that felt as much a rematch of last year’s state championship as a regular‑season game, the Gorham Rams defeated the Thornton Academy Golden Trojans 3‑2 in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The high‑school volleyball contest, held on Thursday night at the Rams’ home court, saw the two Class A powerhouses lock horns in a battle that mirrored the 2025 title match where Gorham had claimed the state crown by the slimmest of margins. The Rams, the three‑time defending champions, fought back from a first‑set loss to win the next two, dropped the fourth, and closed out the contest with a decisive fifth‑set win.
Set scores were 19‑25, 25‑16, 26‑24, 25‑20, and 15‑10. Gorham’s Liana Edwards, a University of Rhode Island commit who has earned Maine’s two‑time Varsity Player of the Year honors, led the way with 10 kills and three aces, including six kills in the pivotal third set that put the Rams ahead after an early 10‑4 hole. She also delivered five straight points to clinch the final set.
“We’ve been thinking about this game for a very long time,” senior middle hitter Abigail Stevens said after the match. “We’ve been preparing for it. It’s probably one of the biggest games we have this season.” Stevens added that she recorded seven kills and two aces, with three of those kills coming in the final set, one of which was the match‑winning point.
Thornton’s offense was spearheaded by Sophie's von Meyer, who tallied 12 kills, and Ryleigh Light, who added nine. The Trojans also saw eight kills each from Ruby Anderson and Lotus Porter, and they managed to claw back from a 5‑1 deficit in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth. Despite the effort, they were unable to break Gorham’s resolve in the final rally.
“Overall, I think we played well,” Thornton coach Kayla Arthers told reporters. “It’s disappointing, but we’re excited to see them again in a couple of weeks. They played well, and we’re not hanging our heads on the loss.”
Defensive specialist Jordyn Fotter was a key factor for Gorham, especially on serve. Rams coach Emma Tirrell praised Fotter’s composure in the closing stages. “She kept serves in when other players wouldn’t have,” Tirrell said. “She kept the momentum going and owned her role on the court.”
The atmosphere in the arena, though devoid of a trophy, felt playoff‑intense. “Skill-wise, I think we’re both pretty similar. Everyone’s out there to win,” Edwards added. “We’re all serious about this sport.”
Thornton’s Arthers echoed this sentiment, noting that the team was disappointed yet optimistic. “The girls are disappointed, but they can see that they can hang with a team that’s a three‑time state champion.”
Tirrell also emphasized the competitive nature of the rivalry, saying, “This is not something we’re not used to. We’ve had state championship rematches early in the season, and honestly, I love it. I want to play the best teams all the time.”
The match was the second time the two schools had met in the season’s high‑stakes moments. In November last year, Gorham had defeated Thornton 3‑1 in the Gold Ball tournament, a preview of the rivalry that would culminate in this Thursday night showdown.
With the win, the Rams keep their streak of consecutive state titles intact and maintain pressure on the Trojans as the season moves toward the playoffs. For Thornton, the loss will serve as a learning experience as they refine their strategy for the weeks ahead.
