Top-seeded Oyster River is heading back to the Division II championship after a 3–1 semifinal win over No. 4 Milford on Thursday night at Pinkerton Academy.

These two teams last met on September 18, when Oyster River completed a reverse sweep in Milford. The Spartans hadn’t forgotten, and they came ready to play. Milford opened strong, capitalizing on several early hitting and serving errors from the Bobcats to take the first set and build some early confidence.

From there, Oyster River tightened things up. Once their serve receive steadied, they started finding rhythm and spreading the offense. Setter Gracy Spirito returned to the rotation after a recent medical issue and made an immediate impact running the offense. Libero Aubrey Young was her usual steady self, covering the court and keeping rallies alive as the Bobcats settled into their tempo.

Milford didn’t back down. Senior Savannah Watson carried much of the offensive load, finding ways to score against a disciplined defense, while libero Piper Greenhalgh anchored the back row with some of the best defensive reads of the night.

Oyster River’s middles were quieter than usual, and they’ll need more production there — both offensively and defensively — if they want to go toe-to-toe with Somersworth in Saturday’s Division II championship. But a win’s a win, and the Bobcats remain unbeaten heading into the final.

Kennidy Asche brings you all the play-by-play, while Josh Rose brings you all the highlights and the post-game interview/celebration with the entire team.

Our coverage is brought to you by our partners at Core Orthopedics of Exeter Hospital, The Christmas Dove, and the Milford Volleyball Boosters.