McNicholas beat Anderson in straight sets Saturday, Oct. 3, at Anderson High School, claiming the "Queen of the Hill" rivalry title for the second consecutive year.
The Rockets improved to 16-1 with the road win on Forest Road. McNicholas, which competes in the Greater Catholic League, also locked up its fourth straight GCL championship with a win on Thursday, Oct. 1, according to the school's social media account.
McNicholas Athletics said on X that the Rockets traveled to Forest Road and swept the Raptors in straight sets for the second year running.
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Anderson, which entered the match 9-4 overall and 7-2 in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, according to the Raptors' schedule page. The Raptors won the 2024 ECC championship under head coach Julia Mulvey, who earned ECC Coach of the Year honors that season. Anderson went 19-3 in regular-season play in fall 2025.
This season has followed a familiar script. Anderson lost three of its first four matches before stringing together wins. Senior middle blocker Julia Birck reflected on that pattern in an August season preview in the Raptor Report.
"Last year, when we won the ECC, it went from a bad start at the beginning [to us] winning the rest of our games in the season," Birck said in the Aug. 24 preview.
Junior Alexis Braddock, a varsity opposite and outside hitter, echoed Birck in the same article, noting that both years started rocky but expressing confidence the team could turn things around.
Senior setter Rylie Ritter broke Anderson's career assists record on Sept. 13 against Harrison, surpassing the previous mark of 1,691, according to the Raptor Report.
Ritter and the Raptors now face a packed stretch to close the regular season. Anderson hosts Kings on Tuesday, Oct. 6, then travels to Forest Hills rival Turpin on Thursday, Oct. 8. The Raptors visit Seton on Monday, Oct. 12, host Winton Woods on Tuesday, Oct. 13, and close at Milford on Thursday, Oct. 15. McNicholas returns to action Monday against Ursuline Academy.
