Watch video from Friday's Class A semifinals:

LINCOLN — It's been Omaha Marian's goal all season to play for the state volleyball championship.

And the top-ranked Crusaders will get that opportunity after sweeping Bellevue East 25-11, 25-17, 25-22 in a Class A tournament semifinal today at Pershing Center. Marian, which boosted its record to 41-1, will be seeking its first championship in 10 years.

“It's exciting to get this chance,'' senior Melanie McCormick said. “We got off to a great start and kept it up the entire match.''

The Crusaders meant business from the start, opening up a quick 8-1 lead in the first set. They cruised to that first-set win and then extended their advantage by pulling away late to capture the second set.

The fourth-ranked Chieftains, who rallied from a two-set deficit in a first-round match Thursday against Omaha Burke, tried to battle back today in the third set. The score was tied 21-21, but Marian won four of the next five points and ended the match on an ace by senior setter Jordann Wilson.

Lauren Sieckmann had 13 kills to lead the Crusaders while McCormick added 10 and Michelle Pettit and Ellie Pesavento had eight apiece. Wilson finished with 24 set assists and Sieckmann, a Nebraska recruit, chipped in 16.

“We talked to the kids about getting off to a fast start,'' Marian coach Rochelle Rohlfs said. “I thought our setters did an especially great job because I didn't even know where the ball was going.''

Marian will play for the title Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the NU Coliseum — home of the Huskers.

“It's been the dream of a lot of our girls to play there,'' Rohlfs said. “But even more important is that this win puts us just one step away from the championship.''

Sophomore Janaya Fox led the 27-8 Chieftains with nine kills. Bellevue East will play in a consolation match Saturday at 10 a.m. at Lincoln Southeast.

Bellevue East (27-8) 11 17 22

Om. Marian (41-1) 25 25 25

BE (kills-aces-blocks): Emily Cook 1-2-0, Sarah Kemp 6-1-2, Mallory Babic 3-0-1, Sam Lovell 2-0-2, Taylor Burbage 0-0-1, Janaya Fox 9-0-1.

OM: Jordann Wilson 0-1-0, Lauren Sieckmann 13-1-1, Kate Elman 0-1-0, Melanie McCormick 10-2-1, Morgan Ogorzaly-Eaton 5-0-3, Andrea Spaustat 5-1-3, Ellie Pesavento 8-0-1, Michelle Pettit 8-0-3.

Set assists: BE 20 (Cook 15, Shelby Quinn 3, Babic 1, Fox 1); OM 42 (Wilson 24, Sieckmann 16, Elman 1, Julianne Mandolfo 1).

Contact the writer:

444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com