FAIRBON — It hasn’t mattered who’s standing across the net from Lake Catholic in the postseason. The Cougars have sent every playoff opponent home in three sets. Adena was no different in a Division V state semifinal on Nov. 7. Lake Catholic dominated the first two sets, taking both by double figures and finishing the sweep. The Cougars will play Bishop Fenwick in the D-V state championship match Nov. 8. The winner will be the inaugural champion for the division. PHOTOS: Lake Catholic vs. Adena volleyball, Nov. 7, 2024 The Cougars built an 11-4 lead in the first set, led by a spread attack from Ava and Avery Budrys-Rini and Natalya and Ahnna Bergant. The quartet combined for 15 kills in the opening frame. It doesn't matter who had the ball set to them or where they were on the court, including in the back row. "It makes it really hard for the other team to guess on the block," Ava Budrys-Rini said. "We trust every hitter in the net and it's just good to change up the set and reverse the ball often." That dominance led to a 25-10 first-set victory and flowed into the second. After a 3-2 start, the Cougars put their foot down. A 22-4 run through the rest of the set put Lake Catholic on the doorstep of its third straight state championship match. Ava Budrys-Rini and Ahnna led the charge in the second set with four more kills a piece. But one of the key pieces in keeping the run going was the play of Ava Starr. The junior setter had 37 assists in the contest and played a critical role in keeping the team focused through a big lead. "Ava Starr has stepped up to a huge plate and she's doing amazing," Lake Catholic coach Tess Connolly said. "Coming into different environments, it can be hard and nerve-wracking, everyone has those. But she's doing a great job of what needs to be identified and how to do it. She's doing a great job of running the offense, identifying match-ups and I'm really proud of her because we wouldn't have the success without her." The third set featured some treacherous waters in the third set. Midway through, things were tied at 9-9 as the Cougars made their way back into the game. Another run, this time 16-7, closed out the game and sent Lake Catholic to its third straight state championship match. "We knew they were going to use their middles a lot," the Cougars' Julia Oster said. "We prepared for that really well in practice this week. We knew what our defensive setup was going to be and we were in control." Lake Catholic's seniors are going for their third straight state championship and fourth in school history. Connolly, is going for her first title with the Cougars. The seniors have helped their first-year coach fit back into the culture they've created at Lake Catholic. The moment after the state championship match, whether the trophy is champion or runner-up, will be bittersweet regardless. "I'm going to miss them terribly," Connolly said. "When I walked into the gym the first time, I could see who those leaders are. They did a really good job of adjusting not just to me but to the season, a new system and a new team since it's very different than in past years." Bergant added: "It means a lot. I get to play with my best friends one more time. They've been there all four years." Adena coach Laura Smith, in her 40th season coaching the Warriors, had high praise for Lake Catholic after the contest. The Warriors came in on a 17-game win streak after replacing several key pieces. A sophomore setter and libero were put in tough situations to handle during the state semifinal. "The girls told us that the ball was coming at them faster than they had seen all year," Smith said. "The goal in the third set was to get 10 points and we did more than that." The Warriors were led by Katie Burns with eight kills and 29 digs from Kimmy Dalton. Lake Catholic's Avery Budrys-Rini, top, and Layla Kastner block an Adena kill attempt during their Division V state semifinal Nov. 7 in Fairborn. (Brian Fisher - For The News-Herald) The score Lake Catholic 3, Adena 0 Up next: The Cougars face Bishop Fenwick in the state final at 1 p.m., Nov. 8 at Wright State.