State semifinal night, November 12, 2026, was brutal for Northside Christian and Newark Catholic. Both teams saw their seasons come to a sudden, heartbreaking end at Wright State, falling in three-set losses and watching their championship hopes evaporate right before our eyes. What a gut punch for two squads who fought hard all season.
Northside Christian’s Incredible Run Hits a Wall Against Undefeated Calvert
Northside Christian, making its first-ever state tournament appearance, ran into an absolute buzzsaw. They faced Tiffin Calvert, a team that rolled into the semifinals with a perfect 28-0 record, and Calvert lived up to the hype. They dominated from the jump, sweeping Northside Christian 25-8, 25-12, 25-16. That’s a tough way for a dream season to end, especially when you consider Northside Christian finished with an impressive 25-3 record.
Senior outside hitter Karis Vanderwarker gave it her all, racking up seven kills, five digs, and three aces. Fellow senior Lexi Baker, running the offense from setter/libero, dished out 14 assists, added four digs, and even chipped in a kill. Junior middle hitter Salma Bah also contributed with six kills, three digs, and an assist. But Calvert was just too much. Bryn Dircksen led their attack with 31 assists and nine digs, while Bella Borgio hammered home 12 kills and picked up eight digs. Calvert is a seasoned team, playing in their fourth consecutive state tournament and gunning for their third overall state title, their first since 2020. They were state runners-up in both 2023 and 2024, so you know they are hungry.
Newark Catholic’s Title Defense Starts Strong, Then Falls Apart
Over in the other semifinal, Newark Catholic, the reigning Division VI state champion, had a heartbreaking collapse against Fort Loramie. The Green Wave (21-5) started the first set on fire, surging to a commanding 9-1 lead. Can you believe it? A 9-1 lead in a state semifinal! And then, it just disappeared. They couldn’t hold on, losing that first set, and ultimately the match, 3-0 to Fort Loramie (23-4) with scores of 27-25, 25-18, 25-19.
It’s absolutely brutal to see a team with so much momentum lose control like that. Leah Caudill gave everything she had in her final match for Newark Catholic, smashing 15 kills. Sophia Basham was right there with her, adding 14 kills. Gabbie Hill racked up 22 assists, and Calla Whitlach was a force defensively with 17 digs. Despite the incredible efforts, they just couldn’t sustain that early magic.
With Northside Christian and Newark Catholic’s seasons now over, the stage is set for an epic Division VII state final. Undefeated Tiffin Calvert will battle Fort Loramie tonight, November 13, at 6 p.m. at Wright State. Fort Loramie is looking for their second state title in three seasons, while Calvert is hunting for that elusive championship after two runner-up finishes. It’s going to be an intense showdown.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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