HERMANN — After picking up three wins last week, the Hermann Lady Bearcats are heading back to Cape Girardeau for another chance to bring home their 16th state volleyball title.

Hermann (20-17) secured their spot among the final four teams left standing in Class 2 when they hosted the Stover Lady Bulldogs Saturday, Oct. 28, in a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal game, and just like last year, they handed Stover the loss. The win came with a bit more drama than last season’s contest however, as the game took four sets to be decided.

Hermann quickly established a good lead in the first set and, although Stover was able to cut their deficit to as few as two points, the Lady Bearcats played their best when things got tight and were able to come away with a 25-19 win.

The second set proved to be more difficult for Hermann with Stover showing a better presence at the net and making Hermann pay for any miscue. The score remained close and neither was able to put much distance between them and their opponent, but it was Stover that finally managed to play better down the stretch, taking the set and tying the game 1-1.

The third began to develop in much the same way the last set had, with Hermann calling a timeout after falling behind 9-12 and the Lady Bulldogs riding the energy of a cheering crowd that had made the trip to Hermann High School. But the Lady Bearcats quickly regrouped and displayed better coordination on defense and offense to go on a 12-4 run that prompted Stover to take a timeout in order to halt the offensive outburst that had seen them fall behind 21-16. The timeout proved to be little more than a pause in the action however, and Hermann quickly put up four more points to win the set 25-17.

The Lady Bearcats would keep up that momentum heading into the fourth set and hammered away at Stover with great effect. Their defense and digging were much improved from previous sets, and their relentless attack in the middle and on the outside led them to their largest victory of the afternoon, 25-15, giving them a quarterfinals victory and setting them up for a date with Bishop LeBlond in the State semifinals.

The win gave Hermann their eighth straight year going to the final four in Cape Girardeau, but even with the pedigree Hermann’s volleyball program has garnered over the years, it was not something everyone expected from this relatively young team with a first-year coach at the helm.

“With the team we have right now we’re very young so some people didn’t think it would be in the cards,” head coach Hilary Hays said. “It means a lot to get this one.”

On their way to Saturday’s win, Hermann also secured their eighth consecutive district championship by knocking off Father Tolton Monday night, Oct. 23, in Hermann. They did so in convincing fashion, defeating their opponents in straight sets by the scores of 25-15, 25-17, and 25-20.

They followed up that with a win on the road Thursday night, Oct. 26, in the sectional game against Whitfield. Much like in their victory over Stover, the Lady Bearcats dropped a set to Whitfield but played their best volleyball in the final two sets to come away with a three-sets-to-one win.

Coach Hays and her team will next take the court against the Bishop LeBlond (30-6) Golden Eagles in the Class 2 State Tournament semifinals Friday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

A win against Bishop LeBlond would send them to the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 12 p.m., or to the third-place game that same day at 10 a.m. if they lose.