PLAYING — Indian Creek’s Kylie Dray bumps the ball against Beaver Local on Tuesday. - Michael S. Burich

CALCUTTA — Beaver Local appears to have the team to challenge for the school’s first district volleyball championship.

In a regular season that ended in an OVAC Class 4A championship against a very tough tournament field, the Beavers now have to see if they can put it altogether in the postseason.

“That’s all we really talk about in the postseason is districts and winning that (title),” Beaver Local senior libero Karsyn Bowyer said. “We want to be the first in Beaver Local history.”

No. 3 seed Beaver Local (21-2) looked the part at times against No. 14 seed Indian Creek in a 25-10, 25-21, 25-5 Div. IV sectional win on Tuesday.

Battling against the 6-foot, 3-inch Cara Vandeborne and 6-2 Emma Westfall in the middle of Creek’s attack, the Beavers managed to escape a potential second game upset to make sure the Redskins weren’t going to get any positive results against Beaver Local this season.

“Indian Creek blocked very well today,” Beaver Local coach Sarah Lowe said. “Our hitters definitely had a hard time getting around that block especially in that second set which helped keep that game very, very close today.”

Creek (4-19) had leads of 11-7, 18-15 and 19-17 in the second set but the Beavers were able to use their superiority in nearly all phases of the game to shift gears.

Beaver Local ended up sweeping all three of its matches against the Redskins this season with Creek averaging just 11 points in each set.

“They’re definitely one of the top teams we play every year,” Indian Creek coach Crystal Hammack said.

Eva McKnight sparked the Beaver attack at the net with 11 kills. Setter Bria Boyd had 30 assists, five kills, two aces and five digs. Addie Thurik had eight kills and five digs. Senior Giada Williams chipped in nine kills, while Bowyer had six assists, five aces and 11 digs. Outside hitter Lily Schrieber tallied nine kills and six digs. Perri Gilson had seven digs, while Sydney McNear had six kills and two digs. Taylor Pease had seven digs.

“I think (in the second set), I think we came in too strong and thought we had it when we obviously didn’t,” Williams said. “It still feels great for pulling it off in my senior year. I love playing and I love being with the people I love.”

The Beavers will reconvene at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the district semifinal against Minerva at Beaver Local. No. 6 seed Minerva defeated No. 9 seed Carrollton 25-16, 24-26, 15-25, 25-20, 15-7 on Tuesday. Beaver Local beat the Lions 25-14, 25-22, 25-21 in the first match of the season.

A lot has changed since then, though. The Lions (14-9) are currently on a seven-match winning streak.

“It’s probably one of the better Minerva teams I have seen in a couple years,” Lowe said. “They’re doing great things right now and I saw that they took a set off (state-ranked) Marlington.”

Lowe also said she wasn’t entirely happy with the way the Beavers played against the Redskins but they will have plenty of time to work out the kinks.

“It’s going to be at least six practices at a couple hours each (before we play again),” Bowyer said. “We’ll work on everything.”

Notes

• Beaver Local’s five-set victory over Union Local in the OVAC Class 4A final on Saturday meant that the Beavers would have a trophy to show for all their hard work this season.

The Jets had beaten the Beavers in the Buckeye 8 final a few weeks before, so this was a refreshing turn of fate.

“It felt good because we had not won in the four years I had been in high school,” Bowyer said. “We played as a team and got the win.”

“It was a big win,” Lowe said. “But it’s always hard to come back and play after a big match or big rivalry game. That was kind of evident of us on the floor tonight. That’s not an excuse. We have to make sure we are consistent day in and day out. We know that and I think we faltered on that a bit this evening but we’re going to go back into the gym and grind to make sure we are more well prepared for next week.”

• On the other side of the bracket No. 2 seed River View defeated No. 16 seed Maysville 25-11, 25-7, 25-7 and No. 7 seed Indian Valley defeated Philo 25-13, 25-13, 25-19. Indian Valley will play at River View on Tuesday.