Father Ryan’s Olivia Rolick notches a kill during Saturday’s win over Harpeth Hall.
The Father Ryan volleyball team secured a return trip to the state semifinals with Saturday’s victory over Harpeth Hall.
Father Ryan (37-9), which fell to Baylor in last year’s Division II-AA title match, jumped out to a quick two-set advantage over the visiting Lady Bears, and despite dropping the third game, the senior-laden Lady Irish bounced back to close things out.
“We started off really strong, which is what we always try to do,” Father Ryan senior Olivia Rolick said following the 25-16, 25-17, 18-25, 25-14 win. “It helped us grab momentum, but we really, really struggled in the third set.”
Harpeth Hall, the No. 4 seed from DII-AA East/Middle, claimed 10 of the first 11 points in the third set.
“Game 3 was about passion,” Harpeth Hall coach Jenny Greenstone said. “Our girls realized that it was now or never, and we came out with confidence, energy and passion that led us to that third-game victory.”
Harpeth Hall coach Jenny Greenstone looks on during Saturday’s quarterfinal match at Father Ryan.
The No. 2 seed Lady Irish regrouped in the fourth game.
“We were able to get back in gear,” Father Ryan coach Jinx Cockerham said. “We’re such a senior-laden team, and they wanted to be in the final four. That was the goal, not to slip up against a good team. It didn’t matter who we played today, it was going to be a tough match.”
Senior Lauren Dorrell finished with 13 kills to lead the Lady Irish, and Lauren Bars tallied a team-high 29 assists for Harpeth Hall (23-14).
“I think we’re going to learn from this season — the positives and the negatives — and look forward to next season,” Greenstone said.
Father Ryan will face Briarcrest (40-4) in Wednesday’s 2 p.m. semifinal at Siegel High School. Baylor (41-4) will square off with St. Agnes.
“We’ve played Briarcrest already (2-0 loss in Collierville Classic), and they’re just as strong as Baylor,” Cockerham said. “Those two, it’s going to take everybody playing at their very peak to beat them.”
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-478-2481 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.