Seton Volleyball Aims to Retain State Title as MND and SCD Exit

Across four different divisions, five Cincinnati-based teams made it to the Ohio High School Athletic Association state semifinals. With McNicholas securing the Division IV title earlier in the day, four teams remained to compete in the semifinal round on November 8. Seton, Loveland, Mount Notre Dame, and Summit Country Day all claimed their regional championships to advance to the next stage of the tournament.

Seton and Loveland faced off in Division I, while Mount Notre Dame took on Anthony Wayne in Division II. In Division V, Summit Country Day squared off against Mentor Lake Catholic. The excitement of the semifinals was high, with fans eagerly awaiting the results as matches concluded throughout the evening.

Division V: Summit Country Day Falls to Lake Catholic

Summit Country Day's remarkable season came to an end when they faced the three-time defending champion Lake Catholic Cougars. Lake Catholic advanced with a 25-14, 25-23, 25-18 straight-set victory. Despite a strong start, Summit struggled to overcome the defensive prowess of Lake Catholic.

Kendall Northern engaged in a hitting battle with Ahnna Bergant, but the Cougars' defense proved too much for the No. 1 prospect in Ohio. The third set saw a series of runs, but Lake Catholic maintained control and prevented a comeback. The error margin was 24-36 in favor of Lake Catholic.

Though the loss was disappointing, the season was still a historic one for the Silver Knights. First-year head coach Courtney Perdue highlighted her team’s accomplishments after the match.

"I don't think this one loss defines our season and how much this team has accomplished," Perdue said. "We had never beaten Roger Bacon; we beat them twice. We'd never made it past the regional finals, and we did that."

The senior class played a crucial role in the team's success. Perdue noted their contributions, saying, "They really carried us this year. Without them, we would not be where we are today."

The senior class included Molly Anderson, Caroline Hagerman, Gabi McCauley, Rosie Gieseke, Livi Mueller, Kendall Northern, Ellie Reder, Kendall Elmlinger, and Sarah Hunting. Summit ended its season with a record of 23-5 and as regional champions. Lake Catholic will now face Lexington Catholic in the state final on November 9.

Division II: Mount Notre Dame Falls to Anthony Wayne

In a closely contested match, Mount Notre Dame fell to top-ranked Anthony Wayne in the Division II semifinals. The Cougars were swept 26-24, 25-21, and 25-23, ending their season with a record of 17-10.

Head coach Greg Ulland acknowledged the strength of Anthony Wayne, saying, "That team is excellent. I knew we were gonna have to play great to win, and we played great and didn't."

Mount Notre Dame held early leads in each set but couldn't maintain the momentum. The Generals' all-state first-team duo of Leah and Mallory Pike, along with Charley Gardner, provided consistent offense and defense. Gardner and the Pikes combined for 35 kills, while Anthony Wayne's service game kept MND scrambling.

"They take care of the ball so well. They play defense at an elite level and they're obviously very aggressive offensively, but they are so low-error," Ulland said.

Leah Seeger led the Cougars' attack with 10 kills, and senior Cara Richter added nine. However, the team committed 13 attack errors, seven in the first set alone.

Mount Notre Dame bid farewell to four seniors: Sydney Geselbracht, Cara Richter, Pyper Russell, and Kat Zielinski. Ulland expressed his pride in the team's efforts, saying, "These girls work so hard and I'm so happy that they got to be here."

Division I: Seton Saints Head to State Finals

The Seton Saints advanced to the state finals after defeating Loveland in straight sets, 25-18, 25-13, and 25-21. The match started with some jitters, but Seton overcame an error-prone beginning to take the first set.

Head coach Kelly Crowley and senior Callie Combs both noted the pressure of the semifinal match. "I think some of those things were just pressure, the moment," Crowley said. "We started slow."

Combs added, "We were making many errors we usually don't make." However, Seton found their rhythm in the second set, taking an 8-1 lead and dominating the rest of the match. Seniors Grace Jones and Nattie Slusher praised the team's composure.

"One strong thing about our team is we stay calm during those moments," Jones said. "We're able to move on, which is something a lot of teams aren't able to do."

Loveland fought back in the third set, taking a 14-9 lead, but Seton managed to take control and secure the win. The Saints improved to 27-0, remaining unbeaten and looking to defend their 2024 state championship.

Final Thoughts

Loveland's season ended with a 23-4 record, as they finished as Eastern Cincinnati Conference co-champions and regional champions. First-year head coach Tina Collins praised her senior class, calling them "rockstars."

The Loveland senior class included Josie Nichols, Marisa Whalen, Hannah Drach, and Makenna Kirlin. Kirlin shared what drove their season, saying, "We came this far because we didn't want to stop playing with each other."

The Saints' seniors emphasized that their goal had been to reach the state finals. "We've been working our whole careers for this moment," Combs said. "And I think we're ready for it."