THE FINAL FOUR!

It's finally set! The OHSAA State Volleyball Final Four has been set after today's lackluster regional finals provided little in the way of competition. In Division 1, the marquee match of the day between GGCL powerhouses Mother of Mercy and Mt. Notre Dame turned out to be a bust with Mt. Notre Dame rolling to a three game win. Ursuline, Olmsted Falls, and Brecksville-Broadsview Heights all advanced without much resistance.
In D2, Mansfield Madison returns to state and flew past Celina, who didn't put up much of a fight or play like they did against TCC. Parma Padua Franciscan blew past Mentor Lake Catholic, Bishop Hartley won easily over Big Walnut, and Kettering Alter won going away over Logan Elm.
D3 saw the best matches of the day. LCC was pushed to the limits by St. Henry, winning 15-11 in the fifth game. West Salem Northwestern and Gilmour Academy truly tested one another and in the end Gilmour simply was able to last longer winning 15-13 in the fifth. Versailles is going back to state after a four-game win against Middletown Bishop Fenwick and Albany Alexander, who we think may be D3's best, embarrassed Frankfort Adena in a three-game breeze-through.
In D4 there wasn't any real challenge, as Marion Local, Newark Catholic, and Jackson Center all return to the Nutter Center for the second consecutive year without any fight from the other teams they faced: Leipsic, South Webster, and Fort Loramie, respectively. Kidron Central Christian went down to Buckeye Central, but took the Buckettes to four games.
When it was all said and done, 8 teams that were at the state tourney last season are heading back.

STATE FINAL FOUR
Division One
#1 Cincinnati Ursuline v. #3 Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame
#2 Olmsted Falls v. #10 Brecksville-Broadsview Heights
Division Two
#2 Parma Padua Franciscan v. #4 Mansfield Madison Comprehensive
#8 Columbus Bishop Hartley v. #19 Kettering Archbishop Alter
Division Three
#1 Lima Central Catholic v. #6 Gates Gilmour Academy
#2 Albany Alexander v. #18 Versailles
Division Four
#5 Marion Local v. #2 Newark Catholic
#9 Buckeye Central v. #1 Jackson Center