NASHVILLE — Carterville head volleyball coach Nathan Emrick knew his team was facing a tall task, both figuratively and literally. The Breese Mater Dei Lady Knights showed why they are a perennial power, regardless of class, with a dominant 25-19, 25-14 win over Carterville to take the Nashville 2A Supersectional and advance to the state semifinals in Normal.

Mater Dei jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the opener as Carterville struggled with the Lady Knights’ size and attack. The Lady Lions finally found a rhythm late in the first, using a 6-1 run to close within 23-19. Mater Dei tallied the final two points to win the set, then went on to complete the sweep cruising in the second.

Mater Dei improves to 34-5 and will face Lombard Montini in a 2A semifinal Friday at Redbird Arena in Normal. Carterville finishes 34-6. The 34 wins marks the best in program history to go along with the program’s first sectional championship in school history.