O’Connell Volleyball went into the 2022 WCAC tournament as the number 2 seed, defeating Ireton in the quarterfinals and St. John’s in a tough semifinal match. In the semis, St. John’s came out with a lot more energy than expected; nevertheless, the Knights finished with a win in a five-set battle. After winning such a high pressure game, the team was much more prepared to take on rival Holy Cross.

       Seton High School hosted the championship game Sunday, Nov. 6.  A matchup of number 1 Holy Cross vs. number 2 O’Connell made for a lot of excitement. The teams had played once in the regular season in a very tight match; Holy Cross took that win in five sets. 

      Seton’s stands were packed that Sunday. O’Connell had a game plan set, and they were ready to execute it. In front of the largest and loudest crowd they had played in front of yet, the Knights started off the first set very strong, putting the pressure on Holy Cross’s defense. Their hard work helped them breeze through the first set with no way to be stopped. They continued their fight through the more difficult remainder of the match, and by trusting their training, swept the Tartans in a three-set win.

        A milestone originally thought to be a reach for this young team became a reality when they returned to O’Connell with their second consecutive conference championship that Monday. Their hard work this season had paid off, resulting in yet another historic volleyball season. The team finished third in the state, falling to Norfolk Academy in the semifinals.