Photo/KRISTIN MAZGAJ UNION LOCAL sophomore Torre Kildow goes up for a hit as Harrison Central’s Becca Banks attempts to block during Monday’s Division III sectional semifinal at Harrison Central. The Jets won in a sweep and Kildow had helped lead the way with 12 kills.

CADIZ — The Union Local volleyball team couldn’t get to the court fast enough Monday evening.

Coming off its first loss of the season, to Beaver Local in Saturday evening’s OVAC Class 4A championship game, the Jets wanted to try to erase the bad taste from their mouths and begin what they hope is a long journey in the OHSAA postseason.

Union Local — the second seed in the Eastern District’s Division III field — posted a hard-earned sweep despite a valiant and gritty effort from Harrison Central. The Jets prevailed by scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 26-24.

“From now on, every match is going to be tough, no matter who you’re playing,” UL head coach Kaye Sechrest said. “Everyone is even at this point and you know if you lose, you go home.”

The Jets showed little hangover from the OVAC as they scored the first 11 points of the match to take total control of the first set.

“These kids are tough,” Sechrest said of how the Jets came out in the first set fresh off their first loss. “(The OVAC loss) was heartbreaking. It really was and I knew the kids were upset, but they bounced back well. We’re lucky to be playing at all, so we just have to move on from here. The season wasn’t over (after the OVAC).”

On top of dealing with the post-OVAC effects, the match was shifted to Harrison Central High School despite the Jets being the higher seed out of an abundance of caution because of the ongoing COVID-19 issues.

“These girls are mentally tough and good at moving past any distractions that they may face,” Sechrest said.

On top of all of that, they had to deal with a much-improved Harrison Central squad, which finishes its season with a 9-13 record.

Harrison Central had opportunities to seize control of the match in both the second and third sets. The Huskies actually led the second set 19-16 before the Jets scored the final nine. In the third, Harrison Central was unable to close out any of the four set points it had before the Jets closed it out.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had that all season where we dig ourselves a hole where we have to try to climb back out, but after that first set, I thought we settled down and played pretty well,” Harrison Central head coach Sarah Hawthorne said. “We had a few miscommunications, a few times a ball hits a girl’s hands and falls at a weird angle where no one can there. That’s the game of volleyball, I guess.”

Union Local was led by its talented trio of Torre Kildow, Casey Kildow and Reagan Vinskovich.

Torre Kildow had 12 kills, 13 assists, nine digs and four aces. Casey Kildow, meanwhile, had eight kills, 18 assists, 10 digs and five aces.

Vinskovich added 10 kills and five digs.

Baylee Rex had four aces and Emily Kellaway pitched in with 10 digs.

“Harrison Central is tough and they have definitely improved, so they deserve credit for that,” Sechrest said. “They beat us one set earlier this season, so when you beat someone a set, you know you can do it.”

Harrison Central, meanwhile, was led by McKayla Dunkle’s 11 kills and five blocks. Audrey Corder added six kills, while Lexi Ferguson had 17 assists. Maddy Butler added 13 digs. Danica Rensi was charted for five digs.

Next up for the Jets is a sectional co-final match against Coshocton, which swept Bellaire. The match is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.