Royals back on top of large-school throne

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – The Ramstein Royals were eager to party toward the end of their championship match against Stuttgart on Saturday afternoon.

Perhaps too eager.

Royal junior Ella Yost stepped up to the line with match point at the 2025 DODEA Division I European championships at Ramstein High School and launched a dangerous serve to the other side.

Originally, the Ramstein players believed they had won after the ball took a bad bounce off a Stuttgart player and began to celebrate. Yet the Panthers kept playing and sent the ball back over the net.

The Royals stopped for a moment of panic, only for the euphoria to resume as the ball hit out of bounds, sealing a 25-21, 20-25, 25-13, 25-20 victory.

“I was ready to get this game over with and get the win,” Yost said. “We were ready to take home a championship.”

The reason for the celebration: The Royals clinched their first European title since 2019.

The six-year drought was littered with numerous near misses, none closer than the 2023 final that saw the Royals fall just a couple of points short against Wiesbaden.

Senior Amayah Payton was one of the few players left from that match. She recalled the deflated feeling following that loss. The 5-foot-6 outside hitter said her team was motivated by that experience as well as entering the European tournament as the fourth and final seed.

“It’s long overdue,” Payton said. “Finally getting to the championship and winning my senior year is amazing.

“This year, nobody thought Ramstein was going to come out on top. We’re showing everyone that we came to win.”

Ramstein players, from left, Ella Yost, Noelle Murphy, Amayah Payton, Emilie Edwards and Isabella Johnson during the 2025 DODEA-Europe Division I girls volleyball championship match against Stuttgart on Nov. 8, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein freshman Emilie Edwards sets the ball during the 2025 DODEA-Europe Division I girls volleyball championship match agaisnt Stuttgart on Nov. 8, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein middle hitter Aurora Lewis, left, and outside hitter Amayah Payton block during the 2025 DODEA-Europe Division I girls volleyball championship match on Nov. 8, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein outside hitter Ella Yost bumps the ball during the 2025 DODEA-Europe Division I girls volleyball championship match agaisnt Stuttgart on Nov. 8, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart outside hitter Brooklyn Biles sets the ball during the 2025 DODEA-Europe Division I girls volleyball championship match against Ramstein on Nov. 8, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart middle blocker Hannah Holmes hits the ball between Ramstein defenders Isabella Johnson and Isabella Jimenez during the 2025 DODEA-Europe Division I girls volleyball championship match on Nov. 8, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart outside hitter Paula McCown serves during the 2025 DODEA-Europe Division I girls volleyball championship match against Ramstein on Nov. 8, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

One of the keys for the Royals was the youngest player on the roster.

Freshman Emilie Edwards was one of two setters for the Royals this season, but on Monday, she learned that she was going to be the lone one for the tournament.

Five days later, the 5-6 setter delivered a masterclass performance beyond her years. She recorded 26 assists, with half of them going for Yost’s 13 kills.

“Having told her she was setting a 5-1, she wrapped her head around that and took the challenge on,” Ramstein coach Kandel Baxter said of Edwards. “I’m looking forward to what she has the next three years.”

The Royals pulled away late in the first set with an 8-2 run, sparked by a couple of block-points by sophomore middle hitter Aurora Lewis and Yost, the tournament MVP.

Yet the second set began as a disaster for Ramstein. The Panthers rattled off the first eight points via three kills by sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn Biles. Stuttgart also led 21-13 before a 6-0 Ramstein run made it close.

While Stuttgart held on to take the set, that effort buoyed the Royals the rest of the way, Payton said. They didn’t trail in the third set and went on a 12-1 run to blow out their opponents. Then, in the fourth set, a Yost kill at 8-7 gave the Royals the lead for good.

“We just really had to come together as a team and realize that it is now or never,” Payton said of that second-set effort. “We all wanted to win, so we knew that if we wanted to come up and come out.”

The Panthers struggled to recover from a couple early injuries, according to coach Bethany Trimble.

She praised her players’ effort, as she had to dig deep into her bench, putting each Panther on the floor at some point.

Biles finished the match with 11 kills, freshman setter Victoria Lugo recorded 17 assists and Hannah Holmes chipped in with seven kills for Stuttgart.

“That’s something that never happens in a final – at least not one I’ve ever been a part of,” Trimble said. “I was proud of all of my kids because every single one of them was necessary today.”

After a six-year wait for a European crown, Yost expressed the team’s goal to run it back next campaign. The Royals lose just two starters – Payton and middle hitter Isabella Johnson – to graduation.

“That’s the hope,” Yost said. “Let’s keep this going.”