PICKERINGTON — The Mount Vernon High School boys volleyball team made good on another preseason goal, Saturday, advancing to the Division I State Quarterfinals for the second straight year.

The Yellow Jackets beat the Gahanna-Lincoln Lions for the third time this season, winning the East Region title, 25-13, 25-17, 25-20, at Pickerington North High School.

“This is a great feeling,” said Mount Vernon (23-3) senior Carter Cassell. “We have a good group of seniors, and we’ve really worked hard over the last four years. We are happy that our hard work paid off. Hopefully we can continue this at state.”

“We’ve worked hard this season, and to advance to the state quarterfinals is a big honor,” said Mount Vernon junior Chris Omahan. “Most of the team was juniors last year, and this shows the strength of the program and how experience plays into it. We have a good team, and to be able to do it two years in a row is great.”

Gahanna provided an excellent challenge for the Jackets, who had also beaten the Lions in three games in each of their other two meetings.