ONTARIO — The Spartans continue to stick to the script.
For the 26th time in 26 matches in 2026, Pleasant’s volleyball team won a 3-0 match, this time beating Centerburg 25-12, 25-10, 25-16 during a Division V regional semifinal Nov. 4 in the O-rena at Ontario High School.
Advertisement
Pleasant, ranked No. 7 in the state coaches poll for D-V, will face top-ranked Coldwater at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 back in the O-rena. The Cavaliers (22-4) also posted a 3-0 win, topping No. 3 Huron (22-4) by scores of 25-16, 29-27, 25-13.
“They just keep gaining the momentum and the confidence, and I think they want it so badly that they aren’t even willing to let a point go. I love it,” Pleasant coach Kory Ute said of her team.
Pleasant was never threatened
In a season of dominance, it might have been the most dialed-in performance of the season by the Spartans (26-0).
“This is definitely the best we’ve played skill-wise. We had so much energy. We were very honed in in what we were doing,” Pleasant senior defensive specialist Siri Veladanda said. “We all know this is the time of season where you can’t afford to make small mistakes. This is when you need to hone those skills. We knew that coming into this game.”
Advertisement
Back at the O-rena, site of their closest set of the season when the Warriors scored 22 points in a 25-22 third-set loss, Pleasant didn’t leave anything to chance. The longest run they’ve allowed this season was five points at Ontario, but against Centerburg (23-3), they only allowed the Trojans to peel off a 3-point run.
And with the exception of 1-0 to start the second set, the Spartans never trailed Wednesday night.
“It was the first thing we said when we were watching film. We’ve got to make sure we establish what we can do and do it quickly so they know,” Ute said. “I don’t want another team having any hope. I don’t want them thinking they are going to be part of the game.”
State cross country preview: Marion County sending four runners to OHSAA state cross country
Advertisement
More on Pleasant volleyball: Pleasant volleyball’s Kam Cocherl newest member of the Fahey Four club
In the first set, Pleasant went out to an 8-2 lead, and the Trojans called a timeout while trailing 12-5. They couldn’t stop the momentum as the Spartans pushed the lead to 19-8 and 23-11 before winning 25-12.
The second set was more of the same as Pleasant built leads of 6-1, 11-4 and 17-8 before closing with an 8-2 run.
For the third set, Pleasant again rushed out to leads of 5-1, 10-4 and 12-5, but three times Centerburg — champions of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference — cut it to three, the last being at 16-13. However, the Spartans finished it with a 9-2 run and advanced to their third straight regional championship match.
Advertisement
Putting together quick starts for each set was a point of emphasis for Ute.
Pleasant faced Centerburg in a Division V regional semifinal volleyball match at Ontario High School’s O-rena Nov. 4, 2026.
“They have taken that seriously the last three matches. We’re trying to hop on them quick, so we can make sure we can stick a fork in them,” she said.
Now they will face Coldwater, the team that beat them for the Division VI state championship in 2024. Pleasant is trying to return to a third straight Final Four in volleyball.
“It’s going to be not a lot of sleep and a lot of studying,” Ute said
Pleasant faced Centerburg in a Division V regional semifinal volleyball match at Ontario High School’s O-rena Nov. 4, 2026.
rmccurdy@usatodayco.com
419-610-0998
X @McMotorsport
Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Pleasant volleyball dominates again in OHSAA regional with Centerburg
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
