High Schools

WILMINGTON — Qualifying for the state volleyball tournament is great. When you can do it against a special opponent "it's the most awesome feeling there is," as Alter High School setter Kacie Hausfeld said Saturday.

Alter won the Southwest Region Division II championship with a 25-13, 25-21, 25-17 victory over two-time defending state champion Cincinnati Roger Bacon. The Knights take a 24-3 record to the state semifinals Friday at Wright State's Ervin J. Nutter Center against Millersburg West Holmes.

The Alter-Bacon rivalry is an intense one. Both are members of the Girls Greater Catholic League Grey Division and battled twice during the regular season and then again in the tournament. Between them they have won the last five D-II state championships.

Alter won back-to-back titles in 2002 and '03. There are three seniors on the current Alter squad who were freshmen on their last state title team — Hausfeld, Emily Borchers and Katie Laravie. To make state that year, Alter had to beat Bacon in the regional final.

"When we were freshmen I always dreamed we'd have another chance to get back to state and beat Roger Bacon in the regional final to do it," Hausfeld said. "Winning the regional is great, but beating Bacon to do it makes it that much more satisfying. We all kind of worried about this one because we got them twice in the regular season. Beating a team the third time is really hard."

Alter was in control the entire match, although there were some tense moments. The difference was Alter making few mistakes in moving the ball around the court. Bacon had numerous mis-hits and net violations that proved costly.

"We put on a clinic out there most of the match," said Alter coach Tina Jasinowski. "These girls were so focused and made so few errors. This was such a big game for us because the Bacon rivalry is so big."

Hausfeld controlled the tempo of Alter's offense with 35 assists and Sarah Fisher had 14 kills. Laravie had nine kills and 25 digs to keep rallies alive.

Anna d. Versailles 25-16, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20: This match between 28-0 Anna, No. 1 in Division III, and No. 2 Versailles (27-1) lived up to expectations. There was outstanding play on both sides. Anna, however, had a little more balance. Along with the expected 22 kills from 6-2 Kelli Barhorst, Anna got 14 kills from Rachel Billing, 11 kills and 12 digs from Emily Stewart, nine kills from Laura Gehret and 50 assists from Kelsie Zumberger. Anna gets Albany Alexander in the state semis Thursday.

Justine Raterman led Versailles with 24 assists and 13 kills, Melissa Heft 15 kills and Laura Grillot 15 digs

New Knoxville d. Lehman Catholic, 25-15, 30-28, 24-26, 25-19: New Knoxville earned its first trip to state since 1981 by defeating the defending Division IV state champs in the regional final at Vandalia.The Rangers (25-2) will play Toledo Christian (22-5) in the state semis at the Nutter Center on Thursday at 7:30.

Nicole Wright had 26 kills for Knoxville followed by 13 from Alycia Neimeyer. Haley Kruse had 44 assists. For Lehman (20-7), Jessica Slagel had 18 kills, Emilee Seger 47 assists and Nell Paulus 13 digs.

Cin. Mount Notre Dame d. Cin. Ursuline 25-20, 25-10, 25-12: As has been the trend in recent years, a Cincinnati team is the Division I Southwest Regional winner. Mount Notre Dame (20-5) earned that honor Saturday at Vandalia. Lindsay Upton led the winners with 14 kills, Abbie Rees 18 digs and Rachel Rohlfs 37 assists.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2251 or dlong@DaytonDailyNews.com.