Watch Cincinnati Volleyball Teams Compete for Regional Final Spots in Divisions I, II, IV, and V

Cincinnati Girls Volleyball Regional Finals Set to Deliver Excitement

The girls volleyball regional finals across Cincinnati are shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle with several high-stakes matchups that fans won't want to miss. From the Division I showdown between St. Ursula and Loveland to the Division IV rubber match between McNicholas and Fenwick, there's plenty of action on the horizon.

Kings' Season Ends in Heartbreaking Fashion

After winning its second district title in three years, the Knights found their season coming to an end in the DII regional semifinals. They fell to Dublin Scioto with a final score of 21-25, 35-33, 25-20, and 25-23.

In the first set, the Knights took control with a 6-0 run, taking a 7-4 lead. They went on to win the set 25-21, thanks to strong performance from the service line and at the net. Ava McIntyre and Kennady Horsley each had an ace, but a combination of floaters and top-spinners kept the Irish out of rotation.

McIntyre, Sophia Richardson, and Laura Raines each recorded three kills, while the Knights’ blockers forced Scioto into seven hitting errors. "We were serving tough and keying in on the right people with our block," said Kings head coach Amanda Meadows.

The second set was a marathon where neither team led by more than two points after Scioto took a 3-0 lead. The Irish eventually pulled out the win thanks to back-to-back kills from Mikey Ross. While Ross finished with 13 kills, it was her efforts combined with junior Reyna deSilva and senior Riley Winbush that propelled Scioto to three straight set wins.

Scioto’s trio of stars combined for 43 kills and nine blocks. "Their lefty went off on us. Compared to every game I’ve scouted, that was one of her best games, and our serving was awesome. We obviously didn’t have our best game. It was a bad day to have a bad day, but kudos to them. They played great," Meadows said.

Freshman Laura Raines led the Knights with 17 blocks, McIntyre had 15, and Sophia Richardson had 12. The Knights graduate three seniors in McIntyre, Richardson, and Alana Burke. McIntyre and Richardson were prominent role players in the 2023 DI state championship team, while Burke came on as a junior and totaled 378 digs, 147 kills, and 80 aces in her career.

"They were just great role models for all of our underclassmen on how to treat each other. This is such a team-first group and it’s because of our seniors," Meadows said. "The hardest point about tonight wasn’t losing. It’s that I’m not Ava’s coach anymore, I’m not Sophia’s coach anymore, and I’m not Alana’s coach anymore."

Mount Notre Dame Advances to Regional Final

Mount Notre Dame is headed to a regional final for the first time since they won the 2020 DI state championship. The Sweet 16 match was the toughest postseason match yet as they beat Anderson 25-19, 25-21, 16-25, and 25-21.

In two of their three set wins, the Cougars held a lead of five points or more at any juncture, but the Raptors kept clawing their way back. "They were really scrappy, really good. Had great hitters. I think, being in the GGCL, it helps us because we're used to that kind of competition," said Mount Notre Dame senior Cara Richter.

The Richter sisters were actually the key to MND's win. Emmi, a sophomore, and Cara provided the final four points in the second set and combined for seven points in the final stanza. "This is our first time playing together, so it's obviously really special, especially because we could go to state together. I always talk with her on the court; she always talks with me. It's really a cool connection that we have," Cara Richter said.

The Raptors put on a stellar defensive effort, led by libero Karly Otto and defensive specialist Mimi Greisser, and senior Rylie Ritter set her hitters up for success. The Raptors just couldn't get the ball to bounce their way when it mattered. "They absolutely played their butts off and our most pride in them in that they didn't fold after two sets like they had done in the past," said Anderson head coach Julie Mulvey.

Anderson finally broke through in the fourth set. Holding an 11-6 lead, the Raptors ripped off nine straight points behind two kills and two blocks from Julia Birck. Even though MND only committed three errors, Anderson's defense played the percentages; none of MND's top six hitters have a hitting percentage above .280, and it showed not just in the third set, but throughout the entire match.

"We were just firing on all cylinders. Our serve-receive was there, passing was there, setting was there, and our hitting was there," Mulvey said.

Anderson says goodbye to four seniors: Birck, Ritter, Dori Shebesta, and Anna Thon. When they were freshmen, Anderson went 11-13. Over the last three years, the Raptors accrued a 52-19 record.

The Cougars will face Dublin Scioto at 4 p.m. on Nov. 1 for the right to play in the DII state tournament.

St. Ursula and Loveland to Meet in Division I Regional Final

St. Ursula (17-8) swept another postseason opponent to advance to the Division I, Region 3, finals. The Bulldogs took down Olentangy Berlin 25-23, 25-20, 25-15 to set up a meeting with Loveland.

Loveland (22-3) swept Hilliard Bradley 25-16, 25-13, 25-13 to reach the regional final for the second-straight season. Now in Division I, Loveland and St. Ursula met in the Division II, Region 8 finals last season that the Bulldogs won on the way to winning the state championship.

The pair will rematch at Westerville Central at 3 p.m. on Nov. 1.

McNicholas and Fenwick Advance to Division IV Regional Final

The Division IV, Region 16, final will be a rubber match between the McNicholas Rockets and the Fenwick Falcons. The co-champions of the Greater Catholic League-Coed, who only suffered conference losses to each other, will meet in a third match for a regional championship.

McNicholas (24-2) took down Brookville in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-12 to advance. Fenwick (20-6) needed an extra set, but defeated Kenton Ridge 25-16, 25-22, 21-25, 26-24 to set up the rematch.

The rubber match to advance to the state semifinals will be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 1 at Lakota East.

Summit Country Day Faces Familiar Foe in Division V Regional

Summit Country Day (22-4) has now swept six consecutive matches after a 26-24, 25-9, 25-23 victory over Miami East in the Division V, Region 20, semifinals.

The Silver Knights will pair up with Versailles in the regional final. The pair met in last season's playoff with the Silver Knights falling in four sets in the district final. Versailles and Summit Country Day are familiar foes, also having met in the 2022 and 2023 postseasons.

The regional final will be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 1 at Trent Arena in Kettering.