OPRF volleyball earns first downstate berth since 1987

Bella Gray, Devyn Kleidon, and Emmi Bozarth smiling and posing together. Credit: Bill Stone Oak Park and River Forest High School seniors Emmi Bozarth and Bella Gray ended the 2025 girls volleyball season consoling each other after their teams both lost in the super-sectional. On Monday, the long-time friends were together again after super-sectionals but this time embracing and smiling. Now teammates, they and the Huskies are headed downstate for the first time since the 1987 Class AA state runners-up. OPRF advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals by beating Loyola Academy 25-20, 22-25, 25-17 at the New Trier Super-Sectional.   “Going to state means the world,” Bozarth said. “I can’t even express how I’m feeling right now. It is insane how this hasn’t been done in 40 years. Honestly, we were playing not only for each other but every single team that hasn’t gotten to this point in the program.”  The Huskies (27-8) will play Mother McAuley (36-4), the st