ARCANUM — The Lehman Lady Cavaliers cruised into an Arcanum Division IV sectional final with a 25-10, 25-11, 25-14 win over Legacy Christian of Xenia Thursday night.
The sixth-seeded Lady Cavaliers, 14-10, will face fourth-seeded Springfield Catholic at 4:30 Saturday at Arcanum for the sectional title. Springfield won over Tri-Village in Thursday’s first match and own a victory over Lehman earlier this season.
“Catholic Central played a great match that night and they deserved to win,” Lehman coach Greg Snipes said. “But that was the first week of the season and our first match coming off Maddy’s (McFarland) torn ACL. We were still trying to find ourselves. We feel like we have improved a lot since that match.”
Alexis Snipes served six straight points in the opening set as Lehman opened an 8-2 lead Thursday. Camille Odle had a seven-point service run with three aces as Lehman opened a 22-8 lead and finished things off with a kill by Sidney Chapman.
It was more of the same in the second set. Another six point run with Snipes at the service line made it 8-1.
In third set, Legacy Christian got within 13-9, but Lehman took control from there.
Chapman had 18 kills and five aces. Odle served five aces, and Snipes and Lauren McFarland both dished out 13 assists. Madison Hussey led the defense with eight digs.
“We know we are going to have to play well Saturday,” Snipes said. “Springfield Catholic is a good team.”
Minster-New Knoxville
MINSTER — In New Knoxville’s tough five-set loss to Minster in the sectional finals Thursday night, Shayna Bierlein had a big game at the net, finishing with 28 kills.
Senior standout Kenzie Schroer put up a triple-double in her final game for the Lady Rangers. She had 15 kills, 45 assists and 25 digs.
Tasia Lauth had nine kills and six blocks, Jenna Schwieterman had eight kills and 25 digs, Taylor Doty had eight kills, Faith Homan 36 digs and two aces, Ashlyn Miller 37 digs, and Bierlein added 28 digs and eight assists.
Knoxville won the first game 25-22, lost the second 28-26, retook the lead in the third game 25-22, but Minster took the final two games 25-23, 25-9.
The loss ended New Knoxville’s season at 12-12.
Minster, now 15-8, advances to the district semifinals on Tuesday at Van Wert High School against backyard rival Marion Local in the second game, scheduled for 7:30.
Marion Local, which beat Lincolnview 3-0 Thursday night, is 19-6 on the season. Minster is the No. 3 seed and Marion Local No. 2.
In the first match Tuesday, top-seeded New Bremen puts its 21-3 record up against No. 5 seed Ottoville, which is 19-4. The match begins at 6 p.m.
The winners will return on Thursday of next week to play in the district championship.
Marion Local got 13 kills from Kylie Albers and 11 from Addie Mescher in its sectional final win. Carrie Fesenmeyer led the defense with 19 digs and Lexi Arling served four aces.
