A dominant third set earned Traverse City Christian Sabres (29-16-2) back-to-back regional championship titles after defeating Onekama Portagers (35-10-3) 25-23, 25-21, 25-10 Thursday during a MHSAA Div. 4 regional at Buckley.
"We played together well and were energetic… We realized it's now or never, we had to put everything on the court," Traverse City Christian sophomore Ashlynn Stimpson said. "Winning regionals is really important, and I want to see us go far. We learned a lot from last year, and it means a lot to me."
The Sabres will battle the Fowler Eagles (33-8-2) for a right to advance to the Final Four Tuesday at Clare, 7 p.m.
The Eagles defeated Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 16-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-11.
TC Christian has won a third title over the past five seasons.
"It's going to take bonding closer as a team and starting every game off like we want to win (quarterfinals)," TC Christian senior Lydia Critchfield said. "We always tell ourselves to win the first point so we can build momentum for each game."
Onekama started off the first set on fire, up 7-3, then forced a Sabres timeout, 10-6.
The Sabres would come back to take the lead 15-14 after a blistering Critchfield shot.
A Sabre block by junior Olivia Strehl kept a two point lead, before Onekama retook the lead in 21-20, behind several acrobatic digs from Onekama junior Ava Mauntler.
The Sabres would claw back and take a 23-22 lead, and eventually a 25-23 win, after multiple errors from both teams.
TC Christian took set two 25-21 after another round of quality volleyball from the Portagers and Sabres.
TC Christian jumped out to a 10-6 lead, forcing a Portager timeout.
Stimpson had a stellar kill and senior Kirsten Crosby had an impressive block to take a commanding 14-10 lead, before the Poragers came storming back to tie off a massive kill from Onekama senior Carley Guerne, 14-14.
The Sabres would recapture the lead 18-15 and stayed there for the rest of the set. Onekama senior Hailey Hart kept the Portagers competitive with multiple kills.
Sabre senior Lydia Tebben found an ace from the serving line, then earned an important dig to finish off the second set (2-0).
The third set was all Sabre, as Strehl really loosened up the arm and earned multiple kills throughout the round to start a 12-7 run.
After going up 20-9, Critchfield finished the game off with an ace to capture a regional championship, 25-10.
"I'm proud of us working together. We put a lot of time on and off the court, and I'm excited about how well we work together. Our team chemistry has come a long way," Strehl said. "We found our flow tonight, and we ran with it. There was no hesitation, and we played with nothing left to give. It's a special experience and something exciting to be a part of."
Strehl had 12 kills and a block, along with Stimpson's 11 kills, seven digs, three aces, and a block.
Tebben had 14 digs and an ace; Kirsten Crosby 10 kills and a block; Mackenna Crosby 14 digs, four assists, an ace; freshman Promise Bouwmeester 12 assists, four kills, 18 digs, an ace; Critchfield 23 assists, five digs, an ace.
"This team hasn't stopped learning for one second, and every game we've had this postseason has been something that we've learned in practice. They want it so bad that every time we are coming fresh and ready for what's next," TC Christian coach Kristyn Johnson said.
The Sabres took the championship in three sets after nearly falling to Bellaire in five sets on Tuesday night in a thriller. With an overall team effort, the semifinals were led by the seniors, and it was in the championship that the underclassmen rose to the occasion.
"This game speaks a lot to our team that we have so many people we can rely on, and that different people on different nights can have the game, and take it for our team, and we can rely on all of our team to do that," Johnson said. "If we keep playing together, the sky's the limit. We are still learning, we're still growing, so I'd love to see them keep this going. They really want it."
The Portagers ended an impressive 2025 season with a 25-10-3 record, a district championship, and a share of the Northwest Conference Championship.
Hailey Hart 14 kills, 8 digs; Delaney McCarthy 8 kills, 3 blocks, 8 digs; Carly Guerne 4 kills; Kaelyn Guerne 3 blocks; Elizabeth McKeough 22 assists; Ava Mauntler 16 digs, 2 aces, 5 assists, kill; Abby Sell 2 blocks.
"This team wouldn't be what it is without those four seniors (Carly Guerne, Hailey Hart, Aleah Blackmore, Aubry LeSarge); they're glue, they're great leadership role models for younger kids. They put everything on the court tonight. I'm going to miss them," Onekama coach Linda Elo said. "It's an honor to get here; the girls did a great job getting to this spot. It takes commitment, dedication, and hard work."
