NORWALK - Amherst reached into the hat one more time, but found no rabbit.

The seventh-ranked Comets saw their banner season end with a loss to No. 4 Magnificat, 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 in the championship match Saturday at the Norwalk regional.

Amherst (23-4), which pulled out all the stops in an upset victory over Toledo St. Ursula, the third-ranked Division I team, couldn’t pull the same trick against Magnificat (24-3). The Blue Streaks go to the state tournament for the fourth time in their history to play the winner of the Butler regional.

All the things that worked so well for Amherst against much taller St. Ursula in the semifinals were too often lacking versus Magnificat, which also had an enormous size advantage.

“Our whole game wasn’t as good this afternoon (as in the semifinal),” Amherst coach Laurie Cogan said. “We were a step off right from the get-go.”

The Comets had just one lead in Game 1, at 1-0 as Morgan Madera served an ace to start play. After that, it was almost all Magnificat as the Streaks opened leads of 6-2 and 15-8.

Amherst got as close as 18-17, but couldn’t tie or gain the lead. Magnificat closed it out with a 7-2 run.

Game 2 was competitive to start. The teams were tied at 9 before Magnificat went on a 12-4 burst to take command.

“We needed everyone to bring their A games,” Cogan said. “They were in the B-plus or B range and that isn’t good enough in a match of this caliber. Magnificat brought its A game, or more like A-plus game.

“Our serving and serve receiving just didn’t get it done,” Cogan added, pointing to one of the factors in the semifinal victory. “In a match like this, serves and serve receiving is likely the difference.”

Perhaps the most disappointing segment of the match for the Comets was the ending of Game 3. Amherst led for the majority of the match as Magnificat piled up mistake after mistake. The Comets were ahead 19-12, but Magnificat straightened itself out and outscored Amherst 13-3 the rest of the way, overcoming 14 unforced errors.

“We did not take care of the ball,” Magnificat coach Mike Cannon said. “We just had to focus, serve more aggressively and be patient. Keep it simple. That was what we tried to do.”

Deme Morales led Amherst with 19 kills, nine digs and two aces, but didn’t display a dominance she normally has shown in matches of such magnitude.

“Deme was never able to establish a run,” Cogan said. “She just never seemed to settle in. She knew what she had to contribute today if we were to win, but she pushed too hard.”

Abby Rositano also had nine digs. Mandy Taylor added six kills and Marissa Harned had 26 assists.

Brittney Balser, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter and Grafton resident, topped Magnificat with 16 kills and Danielle McQuaded added 12, eight of them in Game 3, and Michelle Chakirelis had seven kills and three block kills.

Cogan also credited experience as having much to do with Magnificat’s victory. Only Morales, who started two years ago as a freshman, had ever played in a regional tournament. Magnificat has been to regionals every year this century.

“Other than Deme, none of the girls have been on this stage,” Cogan said. “It was the youth against the veterans and veterans won. A lot of what we did wrong had nothing to do with the team on the other side of the net. Unforced errors hurt us.

“I have no complaint,” Cogan concluded. “It was a great season. This loss won’t define our season.”

Contact Steve Byrne at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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