Central Catholic volleyball clinches second straight state championship berth with business-like semifinal win
- Jonathan Michel
- Nov 14, 2025
- 4 min read
NORMAL — The trip from Bloomington Central Catholic to CEFCU Arena is a short one, just five miles in length.
But on Friday, it was a business trip to the Saints volleyball team.
Fueled by losing the 2024 Class 2A state title match to Breese Mater Dei by two points in the deciding set, the Saints used that fire and played like state veterans in a 25-16, 25-18 victory over Port Byron Riverdale in the Class 2A state semifinals.
“We worked really hard to have this opportunity to play again tomorrow,” Bloomington Central Catholic head coach Jenny Menendez said. “After last year losing by two to [Breese] Mater Dei, this is what we've been working for all season, and so it's truly an honor to even be at state.
We don't take that for granted, knowing that we've worked hard to get here, but we’re also very proud to be here as well.”
The opening set saw the Saints take control early and they went on to hold the lead all the way throughout.
“They did a great job of coming out, playing our game on offense, applying pressure and setting the tone and pace to the game,” Menendez said.
It also featured a milestone for junior outside hitter Kampbell Niepagen. The recently-named IVCA Class 2A All-State first teamer connected on her 1,000th career kill as part of a 6-1 run that helped the Saints take an 8-3 advantage.
“It feels really good, and especially to do it here is something super special,” Niepagen said. “I'll definitely remember that for the rest of my life.”
Niepagen went on to finish with a team-high nine kills, plus two blocks, five digs and an ace.
“It brings back all the feels and knowing we lost last year, it like cut something under us,” Niepagen said.
BCC blew the set open with a 7-1 run that featured a kill from Aubrey Fair, an ace from Niepagen and five Riverdale errors. The difference in confidence was apparent between the seasoned Saints and the Rams, who were playing in their first state semifinal since 2012.
Aiding BCC was a large contingent of students and fans, which helped make it feel like a home contest.
“I thought [we] did a really great job of handling that pressure,” Menendez said. “We acknowledged that at the beginning, in the locker room and then also in the huddle that there's going to be pressure.”
“I think it's so exciting to be under these bright lights, especially with all the fans we have just cheering us on,” BCC senior outside hitter Aubrey Fair said. “We just feed off of each other.”
Just when BCC looked like it might start running away with the second set early, 6-1 run from Riverdale put the Rams ahead 7-5 and forced a Saints timeout. Riverdale’s lead extended to 12-9, but that’s where the Saints took over and would not be denied.
BCC surged ahead on a 6-0 run behind a kill and an ace from Fair, a kill from Niepagen and a trio of Rams errors.
Riverdale closed BCC’s lead to 15-13 at one point, but down the stretch, the Saints’ lengthy front line, featuring Niepagen (six-foot-one), Fair (six-foot), Rosie Krenz (six-foot-one) and Addison Hoeniges (five-foot-10) came up big.
Krenz put down three kills, Niepagen supplied two more, Fair chipped in two kills and an ace and Certa and Niepagen combined for a block to help put the second set away.
“They do a great job of getting, what we talk about, positive block touches,” Menendez said. “Although it's not a statistical category, it is a big part of our game so across the board, our height definitely benefits us.”
Krenz and Fair both finished with six kills, senior setter Josie Certa posted a team-high 19 assists and sophomore libero Regan Baker helped led the way with two aces and 10 digs, both team-highs.
“I was a little nervous since this is my first year playing here but once I started going, everything was good,” Baker said. “It was very exciting.”
BCC’s opponent in Saturday’s state title game, scheduled for 1:55 p.m. at CEFCU Arena, is Columbia, who handily dispatched Rockford Christian 25-18, 25-8 in the other Class 2A semifinal.
“I've seen them on film multiple times, it's a good team so I'm excited to go to battle again,” Menendez said. “They've got some good right side hitters and they play really scrappy defense, so it'll be a good match for us tomorrow.”
And while it will be the same place, same time and many of the same players from last year’s state title game, the Saints hope the similarities stop there.
They want a different outcome.
“The job’s not done so we're just super excited, we're ready for tomorrow, and we just can't wait,” senior setter Josie Certa said.
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