It was a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar season, as the Mathews High School volleyball team lost to the Auburn Eagles, 3-0, in Saturday’s Group 1A state championship game at VCU’s Siegel Center.

The Lady Devils arrived in Richmond hoping to claim their third state title in four years, while Auburn, from Montgomery County, came to the capital looking to earn its third championship in as many years.

Mathews had won the state crown in 2011 and then in 2012 in the old Group A, Division 2. Auburn, meanwhile, had won the Division 1 championship in 2012 and the Group 1A title in 2013.

Auburn and Mathews last faced off in the 2011 state semifinals, with Mathews winning that battle by two points in the fifth and deciding set of the match. AHS had not lost a state tournament contest since that game, and appeared to be looking to settle a score on Saturday.

Auburn took control midway through the initial set of Saturday’s match and maintained that control throughout...