DaytonDailyNews.com

FAIRBORN — It's a journey that started more than a year ago.

"This has been their goal since we lost to Roger Bacon in the regional final last year," Alter High School coach Tina Jasinowski said. "And they've gotten more and more focused and more and more fired up with each step we've taken."

That focused Alter volleyball team is a single win away from capturing its third state championship. The 25-3 Knights will take on top-ranked Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (27-1) in the Division II state final this afternoon.

The Knights are one of three area teams that will battle for a title today at the 32nd annual state volleyball tournament at Wright State's Nutter Center.

It will be a rematch for the Rockets.

Anna bowed out to eventual champion Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph in the Division III state semifinals last year, but the Rockets will have another shot at the Vikings today as the teams battle for a state title. Anna has never won a state volleyball championship, while Villa Angela-St. Joseph has captured two state titles, in 2001 and '05.

The Rockets (29-0) handed previously unbeaten Albany Alexander a 3-1 loss in the D-III semifinals Friday. Anna senior middle hitter Kelli Barhorst led the attack for the Rockets, pounding in 24 kills.

New Knoxville (26-2) will open the state finals at 11 a.m. against tournament-tested Norwalk St. Paul for the D-IV state title. The Rangers made their first state appearance since 1989, while the Flyers qualified to state last year, finished as state runner-up in 2004 and won the state title in 2002.