The 11th-seeded Cape squad gave No. 1 Sallies all it could handle May 21, as the two teams went five sets in the state championship match. Shown are (l-r) Quinn Risse, Dylan Duronio, Augustino Batkay, Jason Harpel-Rickards, Kingston Davis, Austin Tyndall, Ryder Van Horn, Lawson Whaley, Braxton Figgs, Blake Fitzgerald, Anton Schierenberg, Jacob Panyko and Cruz Vent. DAN COOK PHOTOS 
Cape captains Ryder Van Horn, Lawson Whaley and Jacob Panyko accept the 2026 DIAA runner-up trophy from DIAA Executive Director David Baylor.
Cape senior Braxton Figgs knocks down a kill on Sallies' Maximus Gruszka. 
Cape senior Lawson Whaley slams a kill through the block attempt by Sallies' Jacob Lyons. 
Cape senior Jason Harpel-Rickards goes for the block on Sallies' Andrew Mahoney. 
Senior Blake Fitzgerald taps the ball past Sallies senior Maximus Gruszka. 
Cape senior Lawson Whaley puts the ball past Sallies' John Peters. 
Cape senior captain Ryder Van Horn slams a kill past the Sals' John Peters. 
The Cape bench cheers after a Vikings' kill.
Cape libero Anton Schierenberg bumps a service return. 
Cape junior captain Jacob Panyko serves a winner. 
Cape's Jason Harpel-Rickards pounds a serve. 
Cape senior Blake Fitzgerald pounds a kill past the block attempt past Sallies' Maximus Gruszka.
Cape senior Blake Fitzgerald blocks a Sallies kill attempt.
Senior Braxton Figgs knocks down a kill.
Junior Jacob Panyko serves a winner.
The Cape student section goes wild for the Vikings. 
The Cape fans cheer on their team. 
Lawson Whaley pounds a shot through Sallies' Jacob Lyons.
The Cape bench goes wild after a won point. 
Celebrating a won point are (l-r) Anton Schierenberg, Ryder Van Horn and Jacob Panyko.
The Cape student section gets excited about the team's play. 
Ryder Van Horn, left, and Jason Harpel-Rickards have a moment after the final point.
The 11th-seeded Cape squad gave No. 1 Sallies all it could handle May 21, as the two teams went five sets in the state championship match. Shown are (l-r) Quinn Risse, Dylan Duronio, Augustino Batkay, Jason Harpel-Rickards, Kingston Davis, Austin Tyndall, Ryder Van Horn, Lawson Whaley, Braxton Figgs, Blake Fitzgerald, Anton Schierenberg, Jacob Panyko and Cruz Vent. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Cape captains Ryder Van Horn, Lawson Whaley and Jacob Panyko accept the 2026 DIAA runner-up trophy from DIAA Executive Director David Baylor.
Cape senior Braxton Figgs knocks down a kill on Sallies' Maximus Gruszka.
Cape senior Lawson Whaley slams a kill through the block attempt by Sallies' Jacob Lyons.
Cape senior Jason Harpel-Rickards goes for the block on Sallies' Andrew Mahoney.
Senior Blake Fitzgerald taps the ball past Sallies senior Maximus Gruszka.
Cape senior Lawson Whaley puts the ball past Sallies' John Peters.
Cape senior captain Ryder Van Horn slams a kill past the Sals' John Peters.
The Cape bench cheers after a Vikings' kill.
Cape libero Anton Schierenberg bumps a service return.
Cape junior captain Jacob Panyko serves a winner.
Cape's Jason Harpel-Rickards pounds a serve.
Cape senior Blake Fitzgerald pounds a kill past the block attempt past Sallies' Maximus Gruszka.
Cape senior Blake Fitzgerald blocks a Sallies kill attempt.
Senior Braxton Figgs knocks down a kill.
Junior Jacob Panyko serves a winner.
The Cape student section goes wild for the Vikings.
The Cape fans cheer on their team.
Lawson Whaley pounds a shot through Sallies' Jacob Lyons.
The Cape bench goes wild after a won point.
Celebrating a won point are (l-r) Anton Schierenberg, Ryder Van Horn and Jacob Panyko.
The Cape student section gets excited about the team's play.
Ryder Van Horn, left, and Jason Harpel-Rickards have a moment after the final point.
It couldn't get any closer in a volleyball match than the May 21 state championship battle between No. 11 Cape and No. 1 Salesianum.
But someone had to win, and Sallies pulled off a 3-2 win – 25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 22-25, 18-16 – over the Vikings to repeat as champions for the third straight season. Sallies finished the season 18-0, only losing five sets all season – three to Cape over two meetings. Sallies' last loss to an in-state opponent was Cape in the 2023 state championship match.
"That was a lot of adrenaline flowing out there tonight, especially the fifth set" said senior Blake Fitzgerald. "It was do or die, but it could have gone either way. I think we proved we were one of the top teams in the state."
Senior Lawson Whaley led the Vikings with 22 kills, 25 digs and two blocks.
"We had troubles in the early season and worked hard every day and earned our spot in the tournament," said Whaley. "Although the match didn't go our way, we fought until the very end against a very good Salesianum team. I'm proud of the group effort and it will be a match to remember."
Senior Braxton Figgs knocked down 16 kills and roofed three blocks. Senior Ryder Van Horn slammed 11 kills and bumped 12 digs.
"It was a fun four years," said Van Horn. "The stuff we were able to do with this team was unbelievable. We couldn't finish it tonight, but that's all right. These teammates are awesome. That's what got us here. I've had a fun time with this team."
Juniors Anton Schierenberg and Jacob Panyko had 21 and 14 digs, respectively. Fitzgerald was a force at the net, blocking four kill attempts.
"Right now I'm sad, but we put up a great fight," said Schierenberg. "It's been a great year. I'm glad the guys got me to try out this season. I'm hooked on volleyball now."
Senior setter Jason Harpel-Rickards spread the ball to his teammates to record 46 assists.
“The loss stings – there’s no way about it," said Cape coach Tyler Coupe. "To have two match points with ball in hand of a set five is what you dream of growing up with volleyball. Our guys just absolutely grinded their tails off tonight, and there’s so much to be proud of. In the moment, it’s sadness. It’s not a self pity, but it’s a sadness for them. To see them work so hard and to perform at such an elite level the last two weeks, it hurts to see them not be able to walk out with their hands raised highest.
"All our guys worked to the end, they pushed themselves harder than ever, and I’m so proud to be a small part of it. And I want to make sure we give love to our fans. To be in a championship match Thursday of Memorial Day weekend and to have that many people come to show support means the world to me. Especially our students. It was an evident emotional advantage for us. Our community shows up for each other no matter what, and I’m so thankful our boys get to be part of it."
Cape finishes the season with a record of 11-6.
The 11th-seeded Cape squad gave No. 1 Sallies all it could handle May 21, as the two teams went five sets in the state championship match. Shown are (l-r) Quinn Risse, Dylan Duronio, Augustino Batkay, Jason Harpel-Rickards, Kingston Davis, Austin Tyndall, Ryder Van Horn, Lawson Whaley, Braxton Figgs, Blake Fitzgerald, Anton Schierenberg, Jacob Panyko and Cruz Vent. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Cape captains Ryder Van Horn, Lawson Whaley and Jacob Panyko accept the 2026 DIAA runner-up trophy from DIAA Executive Director David Baylor.
Cape senior Braxton Figgs knocks down a kill on Sallies' Maximus Gruszka.
Cape senior Lawson Whaley slams a kill through the block attempt by Sallies' Jacob Lyons.
Cape senior Jason Harpel-Rickards goes for the block on Sallies' Andrew Mahoney.
Senior Blake Fitzgerald taps the ball past Sallies senior Maximus Gruszka.
Cape senior Lawson Whaley puts the ball past Sallies' John Peters.
Cape senior captain Ryder Van Horn slams a kill past the Sals' John Peters.
The Cape bench cheers after a Vikings' kill.
Cape libero Anton Schierenberg bumps a service return.
Cape junior captain Jacob Panyko serves a winner.
Cape's Jason Harpel-Rickards pounds a serve.
Cape senior Blake Fitzgerald pounds a kill past the block attempt past Sallies' Maximus Gruszka.
Cape senior Blake Fitzgerald blocks a Sallies kill attempt.
Senior Braxton Figgs knocks down a kill.
Junior Jacob Panyko serves a winner.
The Cape student section goes wild for the Vikings.
The Cape fans cheer on their team.
Lawson Whaley pounds a shot through Sallies' Jacob Lyons.
The Cape bench goes wild after a won point.
Celebrating a won point are (l-r) Anton Schierenberg, Ryder Van Horn and Jacob Panyko.
The Cape student section gets excited about the team's play.
Ryder Van Horn, left, and Jason Harpel-Rickards have a moment after the final point. Event Details :
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