Sacred Heart Tops Leland to Advance to Second Straight State Semis

BUCKLEY – Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart beat Leland three sets to one in a Division 4 State Quarterfinal match in Buckley on Tuesday night.

The Irish raced out to an 8-0 lead before Leland was able to settle in and make it close in the first set. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart edged Leland 25-21 in the opening frame.

Leland responded by jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the second set. The Comets went on to win that set 25-14.

But the Irish closed it out with a 25-15 win in the third and a thrilling 26-24 win in the fourth, punching their ticket to the state semifinals for a second straight season.

Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart will face Crystal Falls Forest Park in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. in Battle Creek.

The Irish lost to Inland Lakes in the state semifinals a season ago. Crystal Falls Forest Park beat Inland Lakes in its quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday.