Bishop Guertin's Gilli Tejeda watches as the Cards' Caitlyn Harrington hits a return during Thursday's Division I quarterfinal vs. Dover at the Colligadome. (Photo by Dan Attorri)

NASHUA – Any thoughts that Dover would be sluggish after a long bus ride to Nashua were quickly erased. The first two sets of Thursday night’s Division I volleyball quarterfinal between the No. 6 Green Wave and No. 3 Bishop Guertin felt like a Dover home game.

The Cardinals played better as the night wore on but couldn’t overcome a two-set deficit as Dover (15-5) upset Bishop Guertin (16-4) in four sets, 25-18, 25-20, 18-25, 25-23, bringing the Cardinals’ season to an end.

The Green Wave beat the Cardinals in five sets in Nashua just 10 days earlier and replicating that effort in a playoff match was going to be difficult. But that’s exactly what Dover did.

“Those Dover girls brought it. I give them all the credit in the world,” Bishop Guertin head coach Matt Erb said. “They played awesome. They did the little things that added up to get them this win. We played ok, not our best, but we’ll learn from it.”

The Green Wave, who now face No. 2 Londonderry in Tuesday’s semis at Pinkerton Academy, won the first three points of the match and never trailed in the first set. BG was able to tie the set, 12-12, but strong serving from Dover sophomore Ali Sullivan helped the Green Wave pull away towards the end for the 25-18 win.

The Cardinals took their first lead by winning the first point of set two, but trailed by as many as five points before they came back to take a 13-12 lead.

“It was a matter of executing better and it was a lot of waking up and being more motivated and getting the fire under us,” Erb said.

The set was tied 18-18, but another late run gave Dover the 25-20 win, despite the energy and momentum in the gym starting to shift.

BG held a slim lead for all of set three thanks to big hits from senior Annie Hammond and junior Caitlin Harrington, and some good service runs from sophomores Alissa Maillet and Claudia Daniel. The Cardinals took set three, 25-18, and led 20-14 in set four.

But aces from Sullivan and sophomore Jovie Meeker and a big block from senior Quinn Carberry cut BG’s lead to 23-21 and contributed to a 4-0 Dover run to end the match.

“We were ready, we thought (Dover) might not be as ready, but they came in on a mission,” Erb said.

Senior right hitter Lydia Miller made several big plays for the Cardinals throughout the match.

“She didn’t stuff up the stat sheet for us tonight, but holy crap she did all the little things,” Erb said. “She was serving well, she dove for the balls, she blocked well.”

All five Cardinal seniors contributed on the court. Hammond was played as an outside hitter, Thalia Drapeau was strong in the middle at the net, and Avery Zapanas and Jenna Hort played especially well defensively.

“All the seniors played today and they all fought hard for their season,” Erb said. “Those seniors led. They were some of the best leaders I’ve ever had. Those girls fought. They were experienced and mature, and they fought. I hope these underclassmen learn from it.

“It was a phenomenal season, my first season head coaching. One loss isn’t going to take our season away from us, but credit to Dover they played awesome.”