Alter trailed 2-1 (23-25, 25-13, 18-25) before rallying to win the final two sets 25-19, 15-9.
“We’ve done that a number of times where we were down and came back,” Jasinowski said. “I usually feel good about our chances going five sets because we work so hard in the gym. I feel like we are conditioned to play volleyball into a fifth set.”
The victory sends Alter into the postseason with a two-game win streak. Prior to that the Knights had dropped three of four matches. Two of those losses came to Cincinnati Mother of Mercy, ranked No. 3 in D-I, and No. 5 Mason. Alter also lost to D-I Springboro.
“We started the year and felt really good about ourselves,” Jasinowski said of the Knights, who were ranked No. 1 in the first state poll. “The second half we had a couple losses. (Beating Centerville) doesn’t mean anything (in the league standings), but the confidence boost knowing that we can beat a solid team helps a ton.”
The Knights are led by seven seniors: Kelly Heyd (defensive specialist, libero), Marie Gross (middle hitter), Alex Trame (outside hitter), Elizabeth House (defensive specialist, libero), Abby Shaffer (middle hitter), Jess Ward (outside hitter) and Audrey Binzer (setter, middle hitter).
Heyd, Gross, Shaffer and Binzer are all four-year varsity players.
“We need those cornerstone players to play well,” said Jasinowski said.
Alter opens the D-II sectional at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lebanon against the winner of Franklin vs. Dunbar. It’s the first step toward reaching the D-II state tournament, a place the three-time state champion Knights haven’t been since 2014. Alter has advanced to state nine times overall.
“I think we can,” Jasinowski said. “ We have the tools to make a deep run.
“It’s a little different than years past where there was kind of an expectation. I think Ohio volleyball has improved across the board. I think there was a time we were the cutting-edge program. In our early state championships I think we were ahead of everyone else on what we did on the floor. Other teams have caught up. There’s a lot of parity in volleyball and it makes it tougher to get there.”
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