Two volleyball teams stare across the net
The Mount Vernon volleyball team tangled with Nordonia at Friday's state semifinal match on the campus of Wittenberg University. Credit: Ohio High School Athletic Association

SPRINGFIELD — There may not be a hotter boys volleyball team in Ohio than the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets.

And what a time to get hot!

The Cinderella season that coach Chad Sivewright’s squad is authoring has reached the Division II state championship game at Wittenberg University’s Pam Evans Smith Arena.

The Mount Vernon boys volleyball team is shown here during Friday’s Division II state semifinal win against Nordonia at Wittenberg University. The Yellow Jackets will play Cincinnati McNicholas for a state championship at the same site on Saturday at 3 p.m. Credit: Ohio High School Athletic Association.

In Friday night’s Final Four clash, Mount Vernon overpowered favored Nordonia in a three-set sweep, 25-17, 25-14 and 25-19. The Knights’ season ends with a 20-7 record.

Zach Black and Hunter Thompson topped MV at the net with 11 kills apiece. Black and Thompson had seven digs each, too.

Isaiah Campbell was the quarterback of the offense with 29 assists. Black collected 15 points, Thompson 14 points and Cooper Swanson chipped in 7.5 points.

Mount Vernon beats NordoniaDownload

The Yellow Jackets (17-10) will play for a state championship in the newly sanctioned Ohio High School Athletic Association varsity sport on Saturday at 3 p.m. again at Wittenberg.

How hot is Sivewright’s squad?

Mount Vernon is riding a 10-match win streak and has rolled in 12 of its last 13 outings. In fact, the Yellow Jackets have won 15 of their last 16 sets over the past five contests.

The last loss was more than a month ago, a straight-set defeat at the hands of Lakota East on April 26.

Next up in the state championship match will be Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas. The Rockets (25-1) smashed Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 in the earlier state semifinal.

A caravan of supporters gathers to salute the Mount Vernon boys volleyball team before Friday’s state semifinal match in Springfield. Credit: Dan Werner.

Hometown caravan

By Dan Werner

It’s almost 100 miles from Mount Vernon High School to Pam Evans Arena on the campus of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.

Yet the Mount Vernon boys volleyball team certainly didn’t lack support at Friday’s state semifinal encounter.

Well-wishers formed a caravan to honor the team in downtown Mount Vernon on Friday morning.

Dodging raindrops and proudly sporting Mount Vernon Yellow Jacket gear, Steve and Jan Hall went to support their grandson, team member Cooper Swanson.

No doubt Saturday’s state championship match will draw an even stronger crowd as Mount Vernon plays for the crown.

Steve and Jan Hall were among the Yellow Jacket supporters that gathered in a support caravan on Friday before the Final Four match. Credit: Dan Werner.

I've lived in Richland County since 1990, married here, our children were born here. This is home. I have two books published on a passion topic, Ohio high school football. Others: Buckeyes, Cavs, Bengals,...