The OPRF Huskies girls' volleyball team is one win from a trip to state.
Oak Park and River Forest High School (26-8) faces Loyola Academy in the Class 4A New Trier Supersectional at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in Winnetka. The winner advances to the IHSA state tournament.
The Huskies earned their spot by sweeping DePaul Prep 25-18, 25-13 in the Jones Sectional final on Thursday, Nov. 5, as first reported by the Wednesday Journal. It was the program's second straight sectional title, the first back-to-back run since 1986 and 1987. OPRF has not reached state in 39 years, according to the Wednesday Journal.
The stakes are clear.
"This is something we've all dreamed of since the beginning of the year," senior outside hitter Emmi Bozarth said, according to the Wednesday Journal. Last season, OPRF's run ended at the supersectional with a two-set loss to Lockport.
Loyola brings its own momentum
Loyola Academy won the Schaumburg Sectional title the same night, beating New Trier 25-21, 29-27, The Record reported. It is the Ramblers' first sectional title since 2022 and the first under coach Lionel Ebeling, who also coaches the school's boys volleyball team.
The second set went down to the wire. Tied 27-27, consecutive kills from Loyola's Audrina Harvey and Makenzie Nash sealed the match. Senior libero Addi Daigler anchored the Ramblers' defense with 13 digs, and senior Kaelyn Pasma powered a mid-set run in the opener with four kills and an ace.
A win Monday would send OPRF to the state tournament for the first time since the 1987 season, when the Huskies also won consecutive sectional titles.
