Omaha Duchesne senior Katie Wright knew exactly what Friday night’s district final volleyball championship over Omaha Mercy meant to everyone associated with her school.

“This is the first time we’ll be going to state in 128 years,” she said. “This is really awesome.”

Give credit to Wright for knowing the history of Duchesne, founded in 1881. Then give Wright and her teammates credit for making history, nailing down the Cardinals’ first-ever state tournament berth with a sweep over the Monarchs — ranked 10th in Class B — in the B-3 final at Omaha Westside.

Duchesne captured that tourney berth in compelling fashion, winning the first two sets 26-24 and 30-28. The Cardinals had all the momentum and took advantage, rolling to a 25-15 win in the final set.

“I’m so proud of our team,” first-year coach Robin Etter said. “We had lost to them twice coming in, but the third time was the charm.”

The teams battled through a close first set, though Duchesne had the upper hand most of the way. The score was tied at 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 before a serve by Mercy was ruled just out and a shot by the Monarchs’ Colleen Ourada failed to clear the net.

The second set went much the same way, with the score tied 18 times before it was over. Duchesne fought off four set points and finally won it when the Monarchs’ DeAndra Richardson netted a shot.

Those two close losses seemed to deflate Mercy, which staggered through the third set. Duchesne opened up an early six-point lead and closed the match on a kill by Ashley Hasebroock.

The defeat was a difficult one for the Monarchs, who have lost in the district final each of the past four years.

Wright, a Pittsburg State recruit, led the Cardinals with 11 kills and 18 set assists. Hasebroock finished with eight kills, sophomore Hannah Benedix had six and senior Emily Schulte added five.

Junior Reid Rauterkus paced Mercy with 15 kills while senior Beth Meisinger added 14 and senior Jill Shepherd had 38 set assists.

Om. Duchesne (16-12)................26 30 25

Om. Mercy (16-13).............24 28 15

OD (kills-aces-blocks): Emily Crnkovich 3-1-1, Ashley Hasebroock 8-0-0, Lauren Dahlquist 0-0-1, Hannah Benedix 6-0-0, Katie Vazquez 0-1-0, Katie Wright 11-1-1, Emily Schulte 5-0-2.

OM: Jill Shepherd 1-3-0, DeAndra Richardson 0-1-0, Colleen Ourada 6-0-0, Janice Riesberg 5-0-0, Reid Rauterkus 15-3-0, Beth Meisinger 14-0-1.

Set assists: OD 20 (Wright 18, Dahlquist 2); OM 40 (Shepherd 38, Richardson 1, Meisinger 1).

B-1, at Lincoln Southwest

Three-time defending state champion Lincoln Pius X advanced to state with a 25-14, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20 district final win over Beatrice. The victory avenged a loss that the Thunderbolts suffered against the Lady Orange two weeks ago.

B-2, at Millard North

Omaha Gross, ranked No. 1 in Class B, swept past Omaha Skutt 25-18, 25-20, 25-15. The Cougars earned their 22nd trip to state while the Skyhawks appear poised to get one of two available wild cards.

B-4, at Utica

Seward earned a return trip to state with a 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 sweep of Aurora. The Bluejays went to state last year for the first time since 1993 but were eliminated in the first round.

B-6, at Sidney

Ogallala will return to state for the 23rd time after a 25-21, 25-21, 25-18 district final win over Scottsbluff. The Indians, who have won three state titles, were ousted in the tourney’s first round last year.

Contact the writer:

444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com