Roger Bacon sweeps McNicholas to head back to state

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/15 in Mentor, OH! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo">https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo</a>   This game had the potential to be a tight one with the battle for a Division IV region championship on the line at Princeton.   The Roger Bacon Spartans and McNicholas Rockets brought balanced teams to the table so the hitters knew they'd receive a number of one-on-one opportunities with blockers. It came down to which team executed the blocking and serve-receive better. The Spartans did on the way to a 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 26-24) victory.   Roger Bacon (23-4 overall) is back in the state tournament after losing in the region semifinals last year. The Spartans take on Vincent Warren at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Vandalia Butler. The Spartans won their ninth region championship.   Roger Bacon had 10 aces and seven blocks to four blocks and five aces for McNicholas. Ava Otto, Elizabeth Strouble and Marilyn Hoffmann served some tough aces against the tough McNicholas defense with Tournament most valuable player [player_tooltip player_id='179022' first='Mariah' last='Gaines'], [player_tooltip player_id='772254' first='Etellina' last='Jackson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='151983' first='Raegan' last='Waller'] recording big blocks. The Rockets did record more of those in the third game, but no one had more than one block or ace.   Roger Bacon had several early in the first game and got on a roll. The Spartans finished the game with three blocks.   The second game wound up being closer. The Spartans built a nice three-point lead and answered anytime McNicholas tried to make a run. Roger Bacon won the second after a long Rocket serve.   The third game went back-and-forth. The Rockets led 18-16 after a Roger Bacon rotation error before the Spartans rallied to tie it at 22 on a Gaines kill then took the lead on another Gaines kill. The Spartans appeared to have won it 25-23 after a Gaines kill, but the Spartans received a net violation tying it at 24. Gaines had to leave the game with an apparent injury on the play.   However, the Spartans stook up to the challenge finishing the last two points. Jackson landed a tip kill and Otto finished it with an ace.   [player_tooltip player_id='435871' first='Ali' last='Strange'] led the effort for the Rockets defensively with setters Allie Runte and [player_tooltip player_id='480835' first='Maria' last='Schulte'] putting nice balls to the hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='480823' first='Lilly' last='Tierney'] led McNicholas offensively with [player_tooltip player_id='480801' first='Savanna' last='Stacey'], [player_tooltip player_id='548602' first='Sarah' last='Hutchinson'] and Josie Mayfield taking good swings.   McNicholas (22-5) may have fallen short of going back to the state tournament for just the second time in school history after finishing Division III runner-up last year. That does not take away an undefeated Co-Ed Greater Catholic League title. The Rockets graduate just two seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='237143' first='Ava' last='Strange'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152345' first='Lucy' last='Perkins'] this spring.   Stat Leaders   Kills   [player_tooltip player_id='179022' first='Mariah' last='Gaines'], Roger Bacon - 19   [player_tooltip player_id='772254' first='Etellina' last='Jackson'], Roger Bacon - 10   [player_tooltip player_id='480823' first='Lilly' last='Tierney'], McNicholas - 8   [player_tooltip player_id='151983' first='Raegan' last='Waller'], Roger Bacon - 7   Marilyn Hoffmann, Roger Bacon - 6   Morgan Sunderman, Roger Bacon - 6   Josie Mayfield, McNicholas - 6   [player_tooltip player_id='480801' first='Savanna' last='Stacey'], McNicholas - 6   [player_tooltip player_id='548602' first='Sarah' last='Hutchinson'], McNicholas - 6   Assists   [player_tooltip player_id='152056' first='Ally' last='Hughes'], Roger Bacon - 35   Allie Runte, McNicholas - 15   [player_tooltip player_id='480835' first='Maria' last='Schulte'], McNicholas - 11   Blocks   Gaines - 2   Jackson - 2   Waller - 2   Digs   [player_tooltip player_id='435871' first='Ali' last='Strange'], McNicholas - 19   Elizabeth Strouble, Roger Bacon - 15   Gaines - 8   Schulte - 7   Aces   Ava Otto - 3   Strouble - 3   Hoffmann - 3   Notable Performances    Gaines (pictured) was the difference in the game. When the Spartans needed a kill, Gaines delivered, especially from the strong left side. Gaines can send cutters across the court and paint the lines, mixing in tips to make opponents defend the shallow and back courts. Gaines also touched a number of Rocket spike attempts helping out the Roger Bacon back row. The game's most valuable player said she has faith that any of her teammates can take the floor and perform to the best of their abilities.     Hughes delivered balls where they needed to go against the tough McNicholas blocking scheme. She found the one-on-one matchups allowing the Spartans to take advantage of them. Hughes also stayed calm on the court recording some big digs. Hughes credited the hitters for executing the key shots in the win.     Strouble did a good job anticipating balls and recording solid two and three-point passes starting the Roger Bacon rhythm. She does not hide behind blocks and provides great backup at the net. Strouble served some nice line drive serves that landed for key aces. Strouble said she has faith her teammates will execute when she does get those important first touches.     Sunderman did a great job setting the tone at the net in the first game. She put down some nice short sets from Hughes and finished the first game with a big block using her size to her advantage. Sunderman gives the Spartans depth in the front. Sunderman said it came down to trust that her teammates will make good passes when she gets her hands on balls and also take advantage of her skills up front in the win.     Strange performed to her usual level of consistency tracking down and delivering crisp first passes. Strange took one off the nose at one point in the game, but it did not matter. Strange rose to her feet and stayed in the game giving the Rockets a chance in the end. She'll only get better in her final two years for McNicholas.

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/15 in Mentor, OH! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo

This game had the potential to be a tight one with the battle for a Division IV region championship on the line at Princeton.

The Roger Bacon Spartans and McNicholas Rockets brought balanced teams to the table so the hitters knew they'd receive a number of one-on-one opportunities with blockers. It came down to which team executed the blocking and serve-receive better. The Spartans did on the way to a 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 26-24) victory.

Roger Bacon (23-4 overall) is back in the state tournament after losing in the region semifinals last year. The Spartans take on Vincent Warren at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Vandalia Butler. The Spartans won their ninth region championship.

Roger Bacon had 10 aces and seven blocks to four blocks and five aces for McNicholas. Ava Otto, Elizabeth Strouble and Marilyn Hoffmann served some tough aces against the tough McNicholas defense with Tournament most valuable player Mariah Gaines Mariah Gaines 5'10" | OH Roger Bacon | 2025 State #190 Nation OH , Etellina Jackson Etellina Jackson 5'10" | OH Roger Bacon | 2026 State OH and Raegan Waller Raegan Waller 6'1" | MB Roger Bacon | 2025 State OH recording big blocks. The Rockets did record more of those in the third game, but no one had more than one block or ace.

Roger Bacon had several early in the first game and got on a roll. The Spartans finished the game with three blocks.

The second game wound up being closer. The Spartans built a nice three-point lead and answered anytime McNicholas tried to make a run. Roger Bacon won the second after a long Rocket serve.

The third game went back-and-forth. The Rockets led 18-16 after a Roger Bacon rotation error before the Spartans rallied to tie it at 22 on a Gaines kill then took the lead on another Gaines kill. The Spartans appeared to have won it 25-23 after a Gaines kill, but the Spartans received a net violation tying it at 24. Gaines had to leave the game with an apparent injury on the play.

However, the Spartans stook up to the challenge finishing the last two points. Jackson landed a tip kill and Otto finished it with an ace.

Ali Strange Ali Strange 5'6" | DS/L Archbishop McNicholas | 2027 State OH led the effort for the Rockets defensively with setters Allie Runte and Maria Schulte Maria Schulte 5'9" | S Archbishop McNicholas | 2027 State OH putting nice balls to the hitters. Lilly Tierney Lilly Tierney 6'0" | MB Archbishop McNicholas | 2027 State OH led McNicholas offensively with Savanna Stacey Savanna Stacey 6'0" | OH/DS/L Archbishop McNicholas | 2027 State OH , Sarah Hutchinson Sarah Hutchinson 5'10" | OH Archbishop McNicholas | 2026 State OH and Josie Mayfield taking good swings.

McNicholas (22-5) may have fallen short of going back to the state tournament for just the second time in school history after finishing Division III runner-up last year. That does not take away an undefeated Co-Ed Greater Catholic League title. The Rockets graduate just two seniors in Ava Strange Ava Strange 5'9" | RS McNicholas | 2025 State OH and Lucy Perkins Lucy Perkins 6'0" | RS McNicholas | 2025 State OH this spring.