FOSTORIA – For the second straight season, the Lady Rams will battle New Breman for a trip to the OHSAA State Final Four on Saturday as the Lady Rams defeated Buckeye Central 3-1 in a late Thursday night contest from Fostoria High School in the second game of the Regional Finals.

New Breman, 24-2, defeated Fairview, 23-3, in five sets, 3-2 to advance to the Saturday rematch.

The initial set, which didn’t start until nearly 9 pm, saw the Lady Rams jump out to a quick 10-7 lead. Tinora pushed their lead out to 15-20 midway through the first set. The Buckettes of Buckeye Central rallied to take a 18-17 lead over Tinora. The Lady Rams would close the set on a 8-1 run, grabbing the the set 25-19, taking a 1-0 lead. Tinora freshman Addison Dominique with a big opening set for the Lady Rams.

The second set was all Tinora. Multiple errors by Buckeye central saw the LAdy Rams again jump out to a early lead, this set 11-3. Several timeouts by Buckeye Centrals coach Missy McDougal did not phase the Lady Rams as they went on to a 25-11 win, taking a commanding 2-0 set advantage over the Buckettes. Creps with four kills to end the set for Tinora.

Just when all appeared lost for Buckeye Central, and after seeing Tinora jump out to a 5-2 third set advantage, Buckeye Central rallied to take a 8-7 advantage. The teams would trade leads over the next few points before the Buckettes would finally grab a 16-15 lead. Tinora would never get the lead back in the set, falling 25-20, the LAdy Rams still maintained a 2-1 set advantage.

Tinora’s Tatum Creps, a Bluffton commit, wanted the night to end as we approached 10:15 pm on the wall clock. Creps came out swinging, giving Tinora a 5-0 lead, then extending it to 12-5. Back-to-back aces for Paige Gamby exteded the Tinora lead out to 14-5 lead and forces the second timeout of the set from Buckeye Central. The Lady Rams extended their lead out to 18-8 before taking the fourth and final set, 25-12. Tinora advances with a 3-1 win.

Arrival time at home: 11:45 pm LOL

Buckeye Central sees their season end at 20-6.

The Lady Rams improve to 24-2. The Lady Rams are back in action Saturday at 2 pm vs New Breman at Fostoria HS. A trip back to the Final Four is on the line.

The Higbea Player of the Game went to Addison Dominique, congratulations!!

Tinora stats: – Macy Behnfeldt 17 digs, 2 aces, 19-21 serving, 20-22 serve receive; Paige Gamby 15 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces, 13-13 serving, 2 blocks, 20-21 serve receive; Tatum Creps 21 kills, 5 digs, 5 aces, 11-14 serving, 2 blocks; Ella Schaublin 11-14 serving, 34 assists; Jayden Sines 6 digs, 15-15 serve receive; Christina Meyer 4 digs, 14-16 serving, 3 aces; Addison Dominique 5 kills, 3 digs, 6 blocks; Kalli Wells 3 digs, 2 blocks; Brooklyn Behnfeldt 9 digs, 11-11 serving.