HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: ND FINISHES JUST SHY IF FINAL FOUR

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Notre Dame's volleyball team ended up on the wrong side of even Saturday.

In a competitive match that could have gone either way, Bismarck defeated Notre Dame 15-11, 8-15 and 15-13 to advance to the Class 2A Final Four.

The third game featured six ties, six lead changes and a whopping 28 side outs. Neither team led by more than two points.

In a sport where momentum is vital, neither team could muster any of it in the final game so it came down to which team could remain calm and consistent and on Saturday it was Bismarck.

"It was an even match all the way around from hitting to defense," said Bismarck coach Paula AuBuchon, whose team improved to 22-5-3. "There were so many side outs and with both offenses so strong, it was hard to keep anything going."

"This is a tough, tough loss," said Notre Dame coach Helen Payne. "It was an awesome game, we played good and I'm very proud. It's just hard knowing you were two points from going to state. It just makes you sick."

Notre Dame (29-4), looking for its first Final Four berth in volleyball, played well but missed some opportunities late.

After pulling to a 12-12 tie, Notre Dame had two service errors and was whistled once for being in the net.

"We missed four or five serves in some key points," Payne said. "But everybody tried hard and gave it their best shot."

The game ended when Bismarck's best player, Ashley Marler, swatted her 14th kill of the match to a vacant spot on the hardwood.

"She's an outstanding player," AuBuchon said of the senior. "She's been a starter for three years and been to sectionals twice. Now she finally gets to have her moment."

Meanwhile, Notre Dame got stellar performances from several players as four Lady Bulldogs had at least seven kills.

"That was the best we played right there," Payne said.

Lynn Obermiller led Notre Dame with 12 kills, followed by Jennifer VanGennip with 10, Courtney Vickery with nine and Ali Tyson with seven.

Tyson also had 17 assists, while Katie Canfield had 14.

In the first game, Notre Dame jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but soon found itself trailing 6-4. The game was within one or two points for the rest of the way until the Lady Indians rattled off the final four points.

The Lady Bulldogs pretty much dominated the second game, jumping out to a 12-3 lead and coasting to a 15-8 win.

Notre Dame had no troubles in the sectional match, crushing South Pemiscot (23-8) 15-3, 15-3 in a match that took right at 30 minutes.

Bismarck knocked off Clearwater (27-5-1) 15-8, 15-10 in the sectional game.