CALCUTTA — Beaver Local is playing its best volleyball at just the right time of the year.

The Beavers punched their ticket to Saturday’s OVAC 4A championship match by eliminating fellow volleyball power Oak Glen 3-0 in an OVAC semifinal Tuesday night before a large crowd in the Beavers’ gym.

The win improved the Beavers’ record to 19-2 and they will play for the OVAC 4A championship Saturday at 5 p.m. against Union Local at the ECO Center in St. Clairsville. The Beavers also played in the OVAC 4A title match last season.

Need an example of how well Beaver Local is playing? Consider this: Just two weeks ago, Beaver Local was taken to five sets before posting a hard-earned 3-2 win over Oak Glen in a regular-season match.

Fast forward to Tuesday night’s rematch and the Beavers captured momentum early and never relinquished it in their three-set triumph which included winning set scores of 25-16, 25-19 and 25-19.

“Both teams played great both games, but I think Oak Glen had a little bit more errors this time and we were able to play a little more consistent,” explained a pleased Beaver Local head coach Sarah Lowe. “The last time we would make a run and Oak Glen would make a run and it kind of went back-and-forth. This time we were able to limit a little bit more of those runs from happening, and so I think that helped us be a little more successful. But again, it was a great match on both sides of the court.”

“Beaver Local is a fantastic team and they’ve had a strong season all year long,” said Oak Glen head coach Morgan Saddler. “They came in ready to play and we were a little flat tonight.”

Beaver Local had a number of players turn in outstanding efforts, led by senior middle hitter Eva McKnight who tied for most kills in the match with seven to go along with a block.

“I’m really excited, we got the opportunity to play in it (the OVAC title game last year), and sadly, we didn’t make it out on top, but I have a feeling if we play our best and we give it our all, we have a pretty good shot,” said McKnight, who leads the team with 167 kills on the season.

Beaver Local’s other stat leaders included Addie Thurik (five kills, four digs, one block), Bria Boyd (24 assists, two aces, seven digs), Glada Williams (two kills, two blocks), Karsyn Bowyer (14 digs, three aces), Lily Schrieber (five kills, six digs), Perri Gilson (seven digs), Sydney McNear (seven kills), Taylor Pease (five digs, one ace) and Sydney Wilson-Plunkett (two aces).

“Honestly, I think it (a key to the win) was our connection,” added McKnight. “We’ve been working on our blocking and I think that really helped us and we did block a lot better than the last game (against Oak Glen). “Our energy was better and we made sure to not let up at all.”

Lowe said her entire team played an outstanding game.

“Truthfully, we definitely had some big hitters who were making an impact in front, but to say that one hitter goes out and makes a difference, that doesn’t happen without our key defenders back there digging out some of those strong swings that Oak Glen was providing and our setter, Bria Boyd, made extremely smart choices tonight and we had some of our servers back there who were going strong,” observed the Beaver Local coach. “I don’t think I can highlight one person, but I think I can highlight everybody who was on the floor tonight.”

Beaver Local set the tone of what was to follow in the first set. After Oak Glen had taken as much as a 11-9 lead, the Beavers answered with a 10-1 run and went on to win that set, 25-16.

“Our players definitely came out strong and were well-prepared for this game,” said Lowe.

Beaver Local duplicated that feat in the second set. After trailing by as many as five points (11-6), the Beavers answered with a 19-8 run to capture the second set, 25-19.

“That’s something we’ve been working on all season long is to stay consistent, and if we get a chance to make a run to stay on it,” noted Lowe. “Tonight was one of the key moments we’ve done that and succeeded.”

“They played with a lot of momentum,” explained Saddler of Beaver Local.

Oak Glen went out to a 7-6 advantage to open the third set, but again, Beaver Local answered and took the lead for good at 11-10 and never looked back to win the set and match, 25-19.

Oak Glen’s stat leaders on the evening included Brooklyn Six (11 kills), Averi Martin (eight kills), Brayley Lash (eight kills), Mikalyn Balch (21 assists), Keira Vick (11 digs) and Layla Skavenski (five digs).

Oak Glen is now 19-8-3 following Tuesday’s setback.

“One day doesn’t define who we are,” said Saddler. “We’ll regroup and move forward. Hats off to Beaver Local, they played fantastic and good luck to them in the championship.”

Lowe said her team is looking forward to a rematch with Union Local in Saturday’s OVAC 4A title match.

“We played Union Local in the Buckeye 8 championship and we lost in three sets,” she said. “We were not playing at our best and I would love to have the opportunity to face them once again.”

Lowe is hoping a large contingent of Beaver Local fans make the trip south to see her team play Saturday.

“I hope to see the Beaver Local community come out and support the girls down there in St. Clairsville, because with it being so close to Union Local, I’m sure that they will fill the stands and I would love to see our community come down and support our girls for all their hard work,” closed Lowe.

Beaver Local also won the JV match Tuesday by a 25-22, 25-11 final over Oak Glen.