MELROSE — The Central Catholic bench players stood up and paraded over to the right side of the bench to watch match point from there, eagerly waiting to charge the court and celebrate their return to the state title game.
The Central players who were in the game had a little trouble putting the finishing touch on the semifinal though. Quincy won four straight points before 6-foot-2 hitter Kendall Desrosiers finally ended it in style by smashing an extremely hard kill.
The bench players sprinted out and everyone celebrated near the net together.
"Last year we had the chance to do it but this year we just know it's our time," Desrosiers said.
The final point of the semifinal summed up the entire match.
Central's two tallest hitters —Desrosiers and 6-foot-3 Katie Zenevitch — took control of the match as they combined for 16 kills to lead Central to a 25-20, 25-15, 25-20 sweep over Quincy at Melrose High School.
Central advanced to play New Bedford in the Division 1 state championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough.
Central lost 3-0 to Medfield in the Division 2 state champion game last year.
Maybe Desrosiers' biggest kill came in game No. 1 when Quincy chipped away at a nine-point deficit by winning six straight points to bring the score to 15-12.
Desrosiers, however, rifled a kill over the left side of the net that the Quincy defenders had no chance at all of digging.
"We wanted the momentum back and that was important for us to continue on and keep the lead in that game," Desrosiers said.
Meanwhile, Zenevitch was just as sharp near the net.
"I knew I could get my hit off against these girls," Zenevitch said.
Zenevitch, one of four senior captains, starts. Desrosiers comes off the bench.
Both rotate out for defensive subs whenever their turn comes to play the back row.
Both use their height to dominate.
"Kendall's strength for us is her ability to put the ball on the floor and to terminate the play," Central coach Gannon Paris said. "She is — at point of contact — above mostly everyone who is blocking her. So if we can be disciplined as to where we place the ball, then she's going to be able to take it from there."
Paris added that Zenevitch also always has the chance to dominate when she receives strong sets.
"(Zenevitch) is playing really well," Paris added. "Same thing as Kendall. ... She's going to have an advantage to end the point in our favor."
Central (22-0) returns five starters and nine lettermen from last year's Division 2 runner-up team that also went into the championship game with an undefeated record.
"I think last year was a learning experience for us," Desrosiers said. "Last year we were a great team. This year, I think we have just as much talent and we just want it so much more. We have so many seniors on the team that want it. We want to do it for them."
Central has lost only seven games this season in its 22 matches. It has earned sweeps in 15-of-22 matches.
"We'll go in with the same attitude as last year but I hope the outcome is different," Zenevitch said. "We'll practice the next few days and just work our butts off."
Central Catholic 3, Quincy 0
Kills: CC — Katie Zenevitch 9, Kendall Desrosiers 7
Blocks: CC — Lindsay Phenix 2
Assists: CC — Carolyn Eddy 23
Service points (aces): CC — Phenix 14 (4)
Digs: CC — Kayla Maloney — 15
Quincy (22-0):20âÇ15âÇ20 — 0
Central Catholic (20-1):25âÇ25âÇ25 — 3
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