Both Academy of the Holy Names and Pine Crest had endured state tournament droughts.
The Jaguars advanced this season for the first time since 1997. The Panthers were back for the first time since 2007.
Pine Crest extended their stay with a 3-1 (25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16) victory over Holy Names. The Jaguars made the Panthers earn their extra time.
After falling behind 2-0, Holy Names fought back in the third. The Jaguars kept it close with timely kills by Avery Stanechewski. Both teams exchanged ties down the stretch before Holy Names reached set point with a block and then closed it out with an ace from freshman Vanessa Davila to force a fourth set.
Pine Crest jumped out to a 19-12 lead in the fourth. Holy Names scored four straight, including back-to-back kills by sophomore Camille Opp. But the Panthers went on a 5-2 run to close out the set and win the match.
Opp led the Jaguars with eight kills, followed by Stancechewski with seven. Courtney Vogler and Katherine Pickard each had six.
Pine Crest will play for the 4A title LIVE on BHSN Thursday at 7 p.m.