The OPRF Huskies are headed downstate for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Oak Park and River Forest High School's girls volleyball team beat Loyola Academy 25-20, 22-25, 25-17 on Monday, Nov. 9, at the New Trier Super-Sectional, punching a ticket to the Class 4A state semifinals, the Wednesday Journal reported. The Huskies hadn't reached the state tournament since the 1987 Class AA squad finished as state runners-up.

"Going to state means the world," senior Emmi Bozarth said. "I can't even express how I'm feeling right now. It is insane how this hasn't been done in 40 years."

The Huskies (27-8) will face Mother McAuley (36-4), the state's No. 1-ranked team, at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The third-place match is scheduled for 7:25 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, followed by the championship match at 8:55 p.m., according to the Peoria Journal Star's state scoreboard.

A match of momentum swings

Loyola (25-15) jumped to a 9-5 lead in the first set, mostly on OPRF attack errors. The Huskies recovered and took the set 25-20.

OPRF led the second set 16-13 before a rough stretch turned that advantage into a 21-17 deficit. Loyola held on to win 25-22.

The third set belonged to the Huskies. OPRF surged to leads of 4-0 and 10-2 and led by at least four points the rest of the way.

A defining moment came when coach Symone Speech called a timeout after Loyola closed to 15-11. On the next point, the Huskies kept the ball alive with multiple digs, including a corner save by Bozarth before senior Bella Gray ended the rally with a kill.

"I think it just shows the grit we have," Bozarth said. "When we start fighting for something, we don't stop."

Gray had six kills in the third set. She said she drew confidence from recording 18 kills in a Fenwick victory over Loyola last season. Gray transferred to OPRF this year from Fenwick, where she and Bozarth had been friends since playing together at Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest.

Seniors drive a program milestone

The win is a breakthrough for a senior-heavy roster. Eleven seniors suit up for the Huskies, including Bozarth, Gray, libero Devyn Kleidon, Anyiha Scott, Edie Carol, Jaida Garland, Celia Jackson and Mia Mahoney. Juniors Eva Truss, Lura Weiner and Marguerite Ostry round out the 11 court players who contributed Nov. 9.

Last season, the Huskies lost in the supersectional to Lockport, which went on to finish third in the state. That loss stung.

"To see them working through it and doing the things to get back in finding their groove, it was a beautiful way to win," Speech said.

Speech played for OPRF and coached the team to a sectional title last season. In preseason coverage published in August, she told the Wednesday Journal: "Of course, we would love to go all the way and compete for a state championship … but more than anything, I want this group to finish the season feeling proud of the work they put in and the growth they experienced together."

What's next in Normal

Mother McAuley, which the Chicago Tribune reported beat two-time defending Class 4A state champion Marist for the sectional title on Nov. 5, won its own supersectional over Downers Grove North 25-12, 19-25, 25-22. UConn commit Keira McQuillan is among the Mighty Macs' key players.

Kleidon, a four-year varsity player committed to the University of Idaho, said she's focused on soaking in the trip.

"I'm just looking forward to having fun this last time playing with all of my best friends," Kleidon said.