TROY — Jackson Center beat Mechanicsburg 25-9, 25-19 and 25-7 to open sectional tournament play on Wednesday at Troy’s Trojan Activities Center.

Raquel Kessler led Jackson Center (15-8) with 17 kills, while Caroline Frieders had 15 assists and eight kills. Madilynn Platfoot had 12 assists, Katie Sosby had 13 digs and Connor Pipke had nine digs.

The Tigers, which are the No. 1 seed in the Troy Div. IV sectional, advance to face No. 27 Jefferson at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Northmont 3, Sidney 2

Sidney took a 2-1 lead over Northmont in a Division I sectional opener on Wednesday at Butler’s Student Activities Center but couldn’t hold on. The Yellow Jackets lost the last two sets 25-11 and 15-12 and finish with an overall record of 13-10.

Arielle Snider and Emily Tolbert led the front line with 15 and 13 kills, respectively, and Ally Spangler followed up with seven. Snider recorded a solo block and two block assists. Snider and Carrie Nuss each fired off two aces at the serving line. Payton Boshears led the defense with 24 digs and Alina Kindle picked up 20. Nuss set 129-of-131 for 33 assists.

Nuss finishes with a school-record 1,533 career assists, over 500 more than the previous record. Nuss also set a single-season record with 627 assists.

Boshears ends the season with 65 aces, which is a school record.

Sidney, which was the No. 8 seed, finished with its best record in the last 12 years. After an 0-5 start, the Yellow Jackets rattled off 12 wins, including a five-set win over Piqua on Sept. 20. Sidney will lose four seniors to graduation, including Nuss and Tolbert.

Northmont (9-14) advances to face Piqua on Saturday.

Riverside 3, Southeastern 0

The No. 5 seed Pirates beat Southeastern 25-20, 25-11 and 25-17 on Wednesday in a Division IV sectional opener at Arcanum.

Marissa Davis led Riverside with 14 kills, while Shelby Giles had 11 and Lauryn Sanford had 16 assists.

Riverside (18-3) advances to face No. 6 Springfield Catholic Central (12-5) at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Jackson Center’s Riley Jackson (center) spikes the ball at Mechanicsburg’s Taylor Ayers (left) and Emma Dunham (right) on Wednesday in a Division I sectional opener at Troy.

http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/10/web1_SDN102017JCVolley.jpgJackson Center’s Riley Jackson (center) spikes the ball at Mechanicsburg’s Taylor Ayers (left) and Emma Dunham (right) on Wednesday in a Division I sectional opener at Troy. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Sidney’s Morgan Carey makes a pass during a Division I sectional opener against Northmont on Wednesday at Vandalia-Butler. The Yellow Jackets lost the last two sets in the match.

http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/10/web1_sidneyVolley.jpgSidney’s Morgan Carey makes a pass during a Division I sectional opener against Northmont on Wednesday at Vandalia-Butler. The Yellow Jackets lost the last two sets in the match. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Sidney’s Payton Boshears stops a serve on Wednesday at Butler.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/10/web1_SDN101917SidVolley.jpgSidney’s Payton Boshears stops a serve on Wednesday at Butler.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily NewsLuke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Jackson Center’s Elizabeth Hickey (center) spikes the ball as Mechanicsburg’s Taylor Ayars (left) and Grace Layne (right) defend on Wednesday at Troy.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/10/web1_SDN101817JCVolley1.jpgJackson Center’s Elizabeth Hickey (center) spikes the ball as Mechanicsburg’s Taylor Ayars (left) and Grace Layne (right) defend on Wednesday at Troy.

Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily NewsLuke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News