DaytonDailyNews.com

FAIRBORN – Marion Local made it look easy.

While the Newark Catholic Green Wave had eight state championships and three runner-up titles to their credit, the Flyers, in only their second trip to the state volleyball tournament, dominated the court.

Marion Local defeated Newark Catholic, 25-19, 25-13, 25-14, in the Division IV semifinals of the 33rd Annual Ohio State Volleyball Tournament at the Nutter Center on Friday night.

"I don't think it was as easy as it looked," Flyers coach Amy Steininger said. "We just tried to keep everything as normal as possible for the girls this week and I think it worked."

The Flyers offense dominated the play as Florida State-bound Abby Niekamp pounded in 15 kills on 24 attacks for a .583 kill percentage.

"And our serving was really key tonight," Steininger said.

The Flyers posted 11 aces and only three service errors. Niekamp and Cleveland State-bound Megan Barhorst tallied three apiece.

"They are an excellent team," Newark Catholic coach Jeri Helfer said of the Flyers. "They played almost flawless volleyball tonight."

Tigers de-clawed

It was the veterans vs. the rookies. The veterans prevailed.

In their fifth state trip in the past six years, the St. Paul Flyers ended the Jackson Center Tigers quest for their first state volleyball title. The tournament-tested Flyers won the D-IV semifinal 25-19, 28-26, 25-22 – much to the dismay of the screaming sea of orange at the Nutter Center.

Up game point, 24-16, in Game 2, it looked like the Tigers would even the match. Looks can be deceiving. The two-time state champion Flyers clawed their way back into the game with confidence.

"We caught the momentum early in the second game and we were really riding it, but once we lost that momentum, they picked it right up," Jackson Center coach Kim Metz said. "But our philosophy all season was – one ball at a time, one point at a time – and we knew we had nothing to lose."

Flyers vs. Flyers

Marion Local will play for its first state volleyball title while St. Paul vies for its third in the past five years.

"Ever since we were little, we wanted to be the first ones to win state for our school," Marion Local senior Katie Schulze said.

Steininger knows this one won't be easy.

"The defending state champions ... this will definitely be a challenge for us."

Cincinnati showdown II

For the second straight year two Cincinnati schools, No.1 Mother of Mercy (27-1) and No. 3 Mt. Notre Dame (24-4), will play for D-I title. Mt. Notre Dame won last season, 25-16, 25-22, 14-25, 25-15.

Division II

Toledo Central Catholic lost the first two games to No. 1 Salem, 25-22 and 25-19. The Irish then found their groove scoring early to win games three and four, 25-15 and 25-6. The fifth game was TCC's 15-13.