Cathedral High School's volleyball team is used to celebrating titles.

The Irish (15-10) have won four state titles since 2001 and reached the Class 4A state final five of the past six years.

But this campaign is different for Cathedral as the Irish replaced six two-year starters off last year's state champion team. The Irish have lost more games this season (10) than they had in the previous three seasons combined (seven).

However on Thursday night, the Irish took a big step toward returning to their lofty perch with a tight four-game battle against rival Bishop Chatard (16-8) in the City Tournament final at Broad Ripple High School, winning 25-27, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23.

Irish coach Jean Kesterson said her young team is getting better. Thursday's performance against the seventh-ranked team in Class 3A showed it.

Senior Kathryn Treadway led the way with 24 kills, while senior setter Erin Bucherl dished out 31 assists. Treadway and Bucherl are two of just three seniors on the Irish roster and have taken it upon themselves to continue Cathedral's winning ways.

"I learned so much under so many great leaders, I'm trying to do the best I can," said Treadway, a four-year varsity performer. "And the other seniors are doing the best they can to get us back to where we need to be. Tonight was huge for us."

Chatard won a tense first game 27-25 but fell behind early in the second game 5-0. Trojans coach Larry Leonhardt said in years past, Chatard might have capitulated. On Thursday, the Trojans fought back, trimming a 21-11 lead to 24-22 before dropping the game 25-22.

"I liked the way we responded because when we've been put in that situation before, we have just absolutely gone away," Leonhardt said. "They didn't go away. They fought their way through it, and even though we didn't get that game, I liked the way we played it. That's something to build on."

The third game was another tight affair, but Treadway's onslaught of lethal strikes proved too much for the Trojans.

Cathedral's blocking, notably junior Emily Pollom, was key in the fourth game. The Irish led for much of the game before a late Chatard rally, which included three match-saving points, forced a suspenseful ending.

Trojans junior Erica Stahl led the team with 10 kills, while junior libero Sara Arias finished with 14 digs.

Sectional play begins Oct. 20, and both teams have their sights set on advancing deep into their respective state playoff draws.

Despite losing the most games at Cathedral since 1987 when the Irish went 14-17, Kesterson is optimistic this group has what it takes to add to the Irish's 10 straight sectional titles.

"Class 4A is just about as wide open as I've seen in it 20 years, so you know you just have to be healthy and playing well, and get a little luck at the end of the season," she said. "We knew the beginning of the season was going to kind of be rough, especially with our tough schedule. But we're better for it now."

Chatard, which lost to Brebeuf Jesuit in the sectional final last season, has a difficult road as it pursues its first sectional title since 2004.

The Trojans' sectional features 3A No. 2 Brebeuf Jesuit and No. 5 Roncalli.

Chatard beat Roncalli in four tight games Sept. 14 and was swept by Brebeuf on Sept. 17.

Leonhardt is confident his team is good enough to contend for the title. It's just a matter of his team believing it.

"We're a really, really good team. We're still working on trusting that, and trusting our game," Leonhardt said. "We made progress in that tonight."