The perfect season will not come to fruition for the Oak Grove Panthers, as the Helias Crusaders took Oak Grove the distance and defeated them in five sets Friday, Nov. 7 in a MSHSAA Class Three Volleyball State Semifinal in St Joseph.

Oak Grove won the first set 25-21, but dropped the second set by an identical 25-21 result. The Panthers claimed the third set 25-18, but was forced to a fifth set after falling 25-22. In the decisive fifth set, Oak Grove scored the first five points, but after exchanging points, Helias seized control with two attack aces by Sophie Verslues and four kills. The Crusaders then scored the final five points of the contest to book a spot in the title game, winning 15-8.

Paisley Hudson recorded 25 kills for the Panthers, while Piper Hudson added 23. The two also combined for 44 of the team’s 94 digs, while Ava Chrisco led the Panthers with 26. Emery Brown had 54 assists while scoring three of Oak Grove’s nine service aces.

Oak Grove will face Saxony Lutheran for third place Saturday morning at 10 a.m., while Helias advance to face Mt Vernon at noon for the Class Three State Championship.