GOING UP FOR IT — Catholic Central’s Natalie Cherepko goes up to send the ball past Rosecrans’ Kinslie McVicker, Izzy Dimattio and Ellie Worden during Wednesday’s tournament match inside the Mickey Barber Gymnasium. - Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE — Veteran Catholic Central volleyball coach Sherri Barber wanted her team to come out strong in Wednesday’s tournament opener.

In what would be their last game inside the Mickey Barber Gymnasium, her team’s senior group led the way in them doing just that.

The Crusaders won the opening set against visiting Bishop Rosecrans by a dominant 25-6 margin and carried that momentum to a sweep into the next round, winning the second set 25-16 and the third 25-19 to close things out.

“It’s nice to get a tournament win at home for this group,” Barber said. “They deserve it, they played well. This is five in a row we’ve won now, we played well in the OVAC consolation games. Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.

“These girls have worked hard all season. They were ready to go from the start, they don’t want their season to end.”

Central (14-8), the No. 6 seed in the Division VII, East 2 District bracket, advances to face No. 3 seed Strasburg on Monday at a site to be determined in the district semifinals.

Rosecrans (3-18) opened a 7-2 lead in the third set trying to keep its season alive, but Central rallied back to knot it at 16-all and finished the sweep by scoring nine of the last 12 points.

“We had 17 aces which is a lot in three sets and we hit the ball well,” Barber added. “We’re just playing really well right now, hopefully we can keep it going.”

Leading the way for Central was Ava Marcino with 12 kills, 13 assists, six aces and 25 points, Lilly Balzano with 10 kills, nine assists and six points, Natalie Cherepko with 14 kills, five aces and 13 points and Emily Walker with 11 kills, five aces and 16 points.