McNick makes it back to DII state volleyball tournament

MT. WASHINGTON – They’re back.

For the second time in as many years, McNicholas High School qualified for the Division II state volleyball coaches association tournament. The Rockets finished fourth last season and hope to improve on that position.

“It’s really awesome going two years in row, especially after losing so many seniors from last year,” said McNick senior co-captain Elliot Painter, who plays outside hitter and setter. “We’ve come a long way.”

The Rockets were scheduled to face Greater Catholic League Coed foe Kettering Alter in the semifinals May 24 at Hamilton High School. The Rockets lost in three sets at Alter in April and fell again to the Knights in straight sets at home May 6.

“(Winning) will depend on if they getting our heads or not,” McNick head coach Julie Mulvey said before the game. “Last time we played them, they did, and it got to the point where nobody was doing their jobs and they beat us pretty bad. They have an amazing left side and they have a serve who has given us some trouble, but that’s what we’ve been practicing. It’s a lot of mental tomorrow, just staying focused.”

Senior co-captain Grant Tore - a defensive specialist - agreed.

“This time I think we’re a lot better mentally prepared,” he said. “There’s nothing we have to hold back on this time.”

Painter - a Milford resident - began playing volleyball in grade school at St. Veronica.

“It’s fun seeing everybody on their high school teams now,” he said. “I have friends at Moeller and at St. X (the Bombers compete in the Division I state tournament) and it’s good to see them playing.”

Tore - who lives in Union Township - didn’t take up the sport until his sophomore year. He ran cross country for McNick each of the last two seasons, but enjoys the camaraderie of volleyball more than the solitude of running.

“I like how it really is a team game and everybody has to work together for it to work,” he said.

McNick was 12-11 in the regular season, including a 5-5 record in the GCL Coed.

McNick beat Roger Bacon 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 14-25, 15-13 May 17 to qualify for state, avenging a five-set loss to the Spartans a little more than week earlier.

“Beating Bacon two years in a row to get to state is really huge,” Painter said. “They beat us on their floor on their senior night, so it was nice to get them back. But doing it two years in a row was great.”

The McNick-Alter winner was scheduled to meet either Walsh Jesuit or Columbus Bishop Waterson for the state title May 25. The Rockets lost on the road in four sets to Walsh in the second match of the season March 24.

“We’ve played them and we wouldn’t have to play them on their home floor this time,” Mulvey said of Walsh. “It would be a great match if it got to that. We haven’t seen Watterson, but they are capable of beating Walsh. We just want to get there. It won’t matter who we play.”

For complete tournament results, please visit www.cincinnati.com/preps.