Justin Edmonds, shown earlier in the season, and the Campbell Cougars were a happy group after beating Hopkinton in the first round of the Division III boys soccer tourney on Thursday. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

They went down fighting

It was a heartbreaking Thursday night for the Nashua High School girls volleyball team, but they can take solace in the fact they left it all on the floor in a tough five set loss in the Divsion I quarterfinals at Exeter.

Bishop Guertin was swept by Bedford, leaving Hollis Brookline as the lone local left in the Divsion I tourney.

But it was a good day/night for Campbell, as the Cougars boys soccer and girls volleyball teams won their tourney openers. Milford also won its Divison II prelim at Kingswood, so both area Divison II teams move on to the Saturday quarterfinals.

Here’s the day’s tourney rundown:

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

DIVISON I QUARTERFINALS

EXETER 3, NASHUA NORTH 2

The Titans forced a fifth and deciding set with with 25-19 win, but fell 15-13 in the last set in their first quarterfinal in eight years. They won the opener 25-20, then dropped two straight, 12-20, 22-25.

Alyssa Stanton wrapped up a brilliant career with 16 kills, 28 digs and two aces. Kelechi Okorie had 13 kills, three digs, and three blocks, while Ela Landry (11 kills, six digs, two aces, one block), Kailyn Sung (51 digs, one ace), Mardy Novak (27 assists, five kills, 28 digs, four aces, one block) and Sasha Riabova (20 assists, five digs, two aces) all were good factors for North.

The Titans finished 14-6.

“Although we would have loved to have moved on tothe semifinals and gotten the chance to face Bedford, these girls did exactly what I’ve always known they could do,” Titans coach Nicole Fitzgibbons said, “which is leave their hearts on the floor.”

NO. 1 BEDFORD 3, NO. 8 BISHOP GUERTIN 0

The Cardinals (13-7) saw their season come to an end but they nearly got a set from the Bulldogs, which doesn’t happen often. Still, they suffered a 25-8, 25-11, 25-19 sweep.

Larisa Comolli had seven kills and Brooke Muller four kills and eight blocks to lead the Cards.

Bedford moves on to face Exeter in Tuesday’s semis at Pinkerton Academy.

DIVISION II PRELIMS

NO. 4 CAMPBELL 3, NO. 13 LACONIA 0

The Cougars enjoyed a 25-22, 25-23, 25-18 sweep, in which they rallied in the second set after trailing by 10 points.

Libero LeAnn Ramos set the pace for Campbell, and Madison Bruner also played well.

The Cougars (12-3) now host No. 5 St. Thomas in Saturday’s quarterfinals at 6 p.m. The Saints blanked Manchester West 3-0 last night as well.

NO. 9 MILFORD 3, NO. 8 KINGSWOOD 1

The visiting Spartans (10-7) prevaled 25-17, 18-25, 25-19, 25-21, led by Bailey Johnson’s 24 kills, two blocks, 10 digs and three aces.

Hannah Harrington (29 assists, one kills, three digs, three aces), Alena Letendre (two aces, 14 digs, seven kils, one assist), Abby Krulis (six kills, two blocks) and Kassie Cupin (one ace, seven digs) also helped out.

Milford now heads to face top seed Oyster River in Saturday’s quarterfinal at 6 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER

DIVISION III PRELIMS

NO. 2 CAMPBELL 5, NO. 15 HOPKINTON 1

Luke Delia had two goals while Jaxon Jozokos, Adin Brown, and Nathan Roche each scored a goal as the Cougars (15-2) advance to a Sunday home quarterfinal against Hillsboro-Deering.

Wyatt Hemming had two assists while Justin Edmonds and Tyson Landry each had an assist for Campbell, which led 3-1 at the half.

“We were able to get one early and that helped us get a rhythm,” Cougars coach Brian Henderson said. “We look forward to preparing for Hillsborough.”

TODAY’S GAMES

It’s a big girls soccer day. The big one will be No. 5 Bishop Guertin traveling to face No. 4 Timberlane in the Division I girls soccer quarterfinals. No. 6 Merrimack will also have a challenge as they visit No. 3 Bedford, also at 3 p.m.

In the Divison II girls soccer quarters, No. 5 Milford is at No. 4 Pembroke, while No. 2 Hollis Brookline will be at home vs. No. 7 Merrimack Valley, both games at 3 p.m. If both locals win, they advance to Tuesday’s semis at Stellos Stadium.

And, in Divison III, the No. 8 Campbell Cougars (10-7) will be at No. 1, unbeaten St. Thomas (15-0-1) in the quarters at 3 p.m. The winner advances to Monday’s semis at Laconia’s Bank of New Hampshire Stadium.