Olentangy Liberty volleyball is one win from the state tournament.
The second-seeded Patriots swept Gahanna Lincoln 25-17, 25-16, 25-20 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I Region 1 semifinal Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Hilliard Darby, according to the OHSAA tournament bracket.
Liberty won each set by at least five points.
The Patriots will play Pickerington Central in the regional championship Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. at Hilliard Darby. A win sends Liberty to the Division I state tournament at Wright State, where semifinals begin Nov. 12.
Pickerington Central reached the final by beating top-seeded Olentangy Berlin 25-18, 25-22, 25-18 in the other Region 1 semifinal Wednesday evening.
Season context
Liberty entered the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Central District’s Division I tournament with a 19-3 record and a 13-match winning streak, the Delaware Source reported in October. The Patriots' three losses all came in a 10-day span early in the season.
Liberty coach Jen Chapman told the Delaware Source in coverage published in October that she wasn't sure what to expect after graduating starters from last year's squad, which lost in the regional semifinals.
"I started seeing them come together over the summer and I knew we maybe had some freshmen impact players that could be coming up … I thought we might be a sneaky good team," Chapman said.
Freshman outside hitter Quinn Smith led the Patriots with 211 kills heading into the tournament, according to the Delaware Source. Freshman middle hitter Gia Saraullo added 108 kills, 43 blocks and 29 aces. Senior defensive specialist Delaney Larkin, who was named OCC-Central Player of the Year, as we reported Nov. 5, led five players with more than 170 digs.
What's next
The winner of Saturday's regional final advances to the state semifinal Nov. 12, with the state championship Nov. 13 at noon at Vandalia Butler High School.
