HOLYOKE - When it came to the opponent, the Amherst Regional girls volleyball team knew what to expect. The Hurricanes had taken on Longmeadow twice during the regular season, falling 3-1 each time to the experienced Lancers.

But the experience was something new. The last time the Hurricanes made regular appearances in the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament, including their championship run in 2006, it was before any of the current players were on the team.

While this year's team continued the tradition put forth by those previous winners, top-seeded Longmeadow proved to be too much, eliminating Amherst 3-0 Saturday in the championship match at Holyoke Community College. The Lancers won 25-20, 25-11, 25-18.

"It's a very young group and not one of them has tournament experience. We were in the finals four years in a row four years ago, but all those kids have graduated. They got some valuable experience today," Amherst coach Kacey Schmitt said. "But there was no fear in their eyes. They came in here ready to battle, and I'm proud of them because that's exactly what they did."

In the first two games, the No. 3-seeded Hurricanes (16-5) did what they have all season: started strong and put the pressure on their opponents. Both times Longmeadow (19-1) came back, landing on the right side of a back-and-forth effort in the first game. In the second, down 8-2, Longmeadow went on a 17-1 run en route to a more lopsided victory.

"We definitely knew we had to come out as strong as we could or else we were going to lose, so we tried our best to keep coming hard and getting the hits in and getting the passes up," senior captain Jamie Hoyle said. "They were making adjustments. They have a really great defense and they just attacked and attacked and attacked. It was definitely hard to keep getting it back up."

Amherst persevered in the third game. Strong play up front by Hoyle, including a couple of strong blocks and spikes, and Haley Parker gave the Hurricanes a 12-9 lead midway through the game.

"What I love about this team is that they have short memories," Schmitt said. "We always say that game has no carry-over to this game. It's done. We're back to 0-0, and that's what they do."

But Longmeadow again came back, thanks to the stellar serving of Megan Houff and Kaitlin Corbett, and some key net play by Jennifer Hurwitz to make it 21-15. Amherst kept at it, capitalizing on some Lancer misfires, but eventually, Longmeadow finished the job.

The match ended the high school careers of Hoyle and fellow seniors Sarah Krasnik and Elena Cocchi, whose impressive defensive play in the back allowed Hoyle to become such a dominant force up front. All three served as captains this season.

"Jamie knows how to do something with just about anything she gets," Schmitt said. "It's athleticism and experience and she just has a great feel for when to put the ball down hard, when to tip.

"I jokingly told them after the game, 'We might have won this match if Jamie had put out a little more effort,' and of course, everyone laughed," she added. "She just does so much for this team.

"I want to give kudos to the back row and Sarah because Jamie would not have the stats she has if we didn't have the passing and the setting that we've been getting," Schmitt said.

The youthful Hurricanes' roster included five juniors and eight sophomores, all of whom now know what to expect come tournament time.