CINCINNATI — McNicholas and undefeated Seton advanced to the OHSAA volleyball regional finals on Wednesday, Nov. 4, as the regional semifinals got underway across Ohio, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
McNicholas swept Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy 25-15, 25-16, 25-19 in the Division III, Region 10 semifinal, advancing to its fourth straight regional final, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The Rockets have not given up 20 points in a set during the postseason, and Savanna Stacey’s 12th kill of the night closed out the third set. McNicholas got a balanced attack from Stacey, Lilly Tierney, Annabel Comer and Kennedy Haucke, who finished with eight kills and three aces, according to the Enquirer.
“We ran into a buzzsaw tonight. They play all facets of the game at an extremely high level,” CHCA coach Angel Hernandez told the Cincinnati Enquirer. McNicholas head coach Darlene Tierney told the Enquirer the Rockets try to stay aggressive from the very beginning because every opponent gives them its best shot.
In the other Region 10 semifinal, Bellbrook swept Ross 25-13, 25-16, 25-15, ending the Rams’ season at 23-3 for the second straight year in the regional semifinal round, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Kenley Von Handorf had a match-high 19 kills for the Golden Eagles.
McNicholas (23-3) will take on Bellbrook (24-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Lakota East, with a spot in the state tournament on the line, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
In Division I, two-time defending state champion Seton (25-0) defeated Sycamore (17-8) in four sets, 23-25, 25-22, 25-11, 25-8, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Sycamore’s first-set win was the first set Seton had lost in the postseason and just the second it had dropped since the start of October.
Awaiting Seton in the Region 2 final is Centerville (19-6), which beat Mason (18-7) in five sets, 25-16, 19-25, 25-19, 20-25, 17-15, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The two finalists did not play in the regular season and will meet at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Lakota West.
A win would put Seton, an eight-time OHSAA champion, into the state tournament for the 15th time and for the third straight season, the Enquirer reported, while Centerville has never won a regional title. What happens next is Saturday’s pair of regional finals at Lakota East and Lakota West, where both Cincinnati-area teams play for trips to the state tournament.