MEADVILLE, Pa. – Mercyhurst Prep completed its storybook run to the first D10 volleyball title in program history on Wednesday, beating Cochranton, 3-1 (25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 25-9).
The D10 title win comes on the heels of knocking off perennial D10 power and defending PIAA runner-up Meadville in the semifinals.
The Lakers bounced back from a second-set loss to dominate the third and fourth sets, led by Octavian Sperry, who had 14 kills, 11 digs, and three aces.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, fell for the third consecutive year in the D10 final after losing to Meadville in 2021 and 2022.
The win for the Lakers came on the heels of a regular season split with the Cardinals.
Chase Miller’s kill clinched the second set for Cochranton, but it was all Mercyhurst Prep after that, as the Lakers jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the third set and never looked back.
The fourth was much of the same as the Lakers came out to a 10-5 advantage and closed the match on a 15-4 run.
Dave Bahm had 11 kills, four aces, and five digs for the Lakers, while Anthony Nartucci had six kills, four aces, and four digs, Eli Olszowka had 18 assists and Josh Wingenbach had 22 assists and eight digs.
For Cochranton, Miller led the way with 24 kills, while Landon Homa had 18 kills and 10 digs, Andrew Custead had 60 assists, Dawson Carroll had 10 digs, Brady Rynd had seven kills, and Noah Cummings had four kills.
Both team advance to the PIAAs, with Mercyhurst Prep taking on WPIAL runner-up Ambridge in the first round on Tuesday, June 6, while Cochranton will take on WPIAL champion North Catholic.
(Stats courtesy Alex Topor/Meadville Tribune)
