BULLDOGS TAKE THEIR PLACE IN THE SEMIS

CORTLAND OH- Lakeview’s volleyball team displayed their dominance with a resounding 25-10, 25-10, 25-15 sweep over Brookfield, securing their place in the district semifinals.

The individual stats for Lakeview’s standout players were nothing short of impressive. Hallie Capan led the way with 12 service points, Paige Schwartz added 4 aces to her name, while Reagan Price made a significant impact with 18 kills. Mallory Mailach played a pivotal role in orchestrating the offense, tallying an impressive 40 assists.

The blocking game saw Addy Allen, Mallory Mailach, and Reagan Price each contribute with one block to fortify Lakeview’s defensive efforts. On the defensive front, Addy Allen showcased her prowess with 12 crucial digs.

With this commanding victory, Lakeview now advances to the district semifinals, where they’ll face off against Kirtland. The much-anticipated match is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 at Medina.

LISBON LOCKS DOWN A SECTIONAL TITLE

By Ty Bartell

ELYRIA OH- The volleyball playoffs are in full-swing and plenty of teams have entered the tournament
with big aspirations of the season culminating in Dayton. The first step for all those teams? Get through Sectionals and make it to Districts. In the Division 4, Region 13, Northeast 3 bracket, the #19 seeded, Lisbon Blue Devils played #34 seeded, Richmond Heights Spartans at Open Door Christian High School in Elyria.

With a two hour drive to make prior to the match, Lisbon looked a little sluggish coming off the bus in set one, but battled through and managed to secure a 25-18 opening set win. Holding the 1-0 set advantage, The Blue Devils got better as the match went along, getting more convincing with each set win. 25-12 was the final, in favor of Lisbon, in set two. Holding the two sets to non advantage, The Blue Devils were playing with all the momentum and it showed! Capturing an emphatic 25-9 set three victory, winning the match 3-0 and booking a Blue Devil ticket to Districts!

Lisbon was led by Eliza Baker who notched the double-double on the evening with 11 kills and 14 digs. Maddie Marshalek also found success out of the middle with 9 kills on offense. While Izzy Lannon was loving the number seven, grabbing 7 kills and 7 digs in the match. Stefanee Stacey was the engine that made everything go, setting-up the offense effectively, to the tune of 26 assists in the win!m

#19 Lisbon (12-11) will now go to the District Semi-Final in a match against #3 Open Door Christian Patriots (24-0) on Tuesday, October 24th in the second of two District matches at North Olmsted High School. Stay up-to-date with all The Blue Devils scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!m

CLIPPERS GLIDE INTO THE NEXT ROUND

COLUMBIANA OH- Columbiana displayed their volleyball prowess in style, securing a well-deserved spot in the district semifinals with a commanding 25-11, 25-16, 25-9 sweep over Grand Valley.

The Columbiana squad put forth a fantastic team effort, with several players making significant contributions. Ellie Jackson was instrumental, showcasing her versatility with 8 kills, 6 assists, 11 digs, and 2 aces. Cameron Perkins proved to be a double-double machine, amassing 5 kills, 15 assists, and 15 digs, while Maryn Hepler added 5 kills and 10 digs to the team’s success. Ava Heinrich played a key role in the defense with an impressive 16 digs.

Columbiana’s stellar performance in this matchup earned them a well-deserved ticket to the district semifinals. In the upcoming clash, they’ll face off against the 6th-seeded Mineral Ridge, promising another exciting showdown. The game is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 at Grand Valley High School.

GIRARD GOING BACK TO DISTRICTS

GIRARD OH- Girard, in a momentous victory, punched their ticket to the districts with a resounding sweep over the 11th seeded Perry. This victory held even greater significance as it marked the final home game of the season for Girard, leaving their fans with a memorable 25-19, 25-11, 25-16 win.

The Girard team put on an impressive display with several standout performances. Nico Cochran and Bree Latell led the way in the kills category, each contributing 12 crucial points to the victory. The team’s offense was orchestrated effectively by Bailey Walters, who tallied an impressive 26 assists.

In the service department, the trio of Molly Durkin, Bailey Walters, and Alexis Pieton was instrumental in maintaining control of the game, with each player contributing 9 service points. Bailey Walters stood out with her serving, notching 5 aces, while Bree Latell added 3 more to the total.

Defensively, Nico Cochran was not only an offensive force but also a strong presence on the backline, recording 10 digs. Kyra Bell contributed 9 digs, and Bree Latell showcased her all-around game with 8 digs. The defensive efforts were complemented by the blocking game, with Bree Latell, Nico Cochran, Alexis Pieton, and Brooke Perry each contributing a block to fortify the Girard defense.

With this impressive victory, Girard now advances to the district semifinals, where they’ll face off against Aurora. The upcoming matchup promises to be an exciting clash of volleyball talent and is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 at Streetsboro.

WARRIORS PRESS ON TO NEXT CHALLENGE

KENSTON OH- In a thrilling OHSAA Sectional Final matchup, West Branch embarked on a road trip to face off against the #8 seed Ursuline at Kenston on Thursday night. The contest proved to be a battle of endurance as the Irish and the Warriors engaged in an intense exchange, splitting the first two nail-biting sets. Ursuline narrowly claimed set one with a score of 27-25, while West Branch countered with a hard-fought set two victory, winning 28-26.

However, the Warriors were far from done, as they seized control in the subsequent two sets, leaving no room for doubt in the outcome. They clinched each set with a convincing 25-10 scoreline. This triumph propelled West Branch to a 15-9 season record and secured their spot in the OHSAA District Semi-final. Their next challenge awaits them in the form of the second-seeded Kenston on Wednesday, October 25th, at Streetsboro.

Key contributors in this remarkable victory included Isabelle Martig, who notched 12 service points and delivered 15 crucial assists. Carter Shepherd added 10 points to the scoreboard, while Josie Milliken impressed with 14 assists. On the defensive front, Kendyll Kaley was a formidable force, leading West Branch with four blocks, while Mikalyn Fitts demonstrated her attacking prowess with an impressive 15 kills. Ragan Greeneisen showcased her defensive skills with 18 crucial digs.

FITCH GRABS THE EXPRESS TICKET TO DISTRICTS

By Ty Bartell 

AUSTINTOWN OH- As playoff volleyball is upon us, The Austintown-Fitch Falcons volleyball team looks to
carve their way through a very tough Division 1 state tournament. Entering the postseason as the #3 seed in the Region 1, Northeast 2 bracket, The Falcons were already booked in the Sectional Final, where they hosted #36 seeded Lyndhurst Brush.

In a dominating display of effective volleyball, Fitch brushed-off Lyndhurst in straight sets 25-6, 25-2 and 25-8. Wasting little time in booking their ticket to the District Semi-Final. Leading the way for The Falcons was Jordan Smith who finished with a team-high 12 kills, pairing that with 5 digs in the match. Afton Roby was effective at scoring in multiple ways, ending the night with 6 kills and an impressive 7 aces! Tied for a match-high in that category. Also with 7 aces was Kylie Folkwein who also had a team leading 9 digs and also notched 6 kills in the match. While Rylie Simons was, once again, a fine-tuner on offense with 26 assists and 4 aces in the win!

Austintown-Fitch (18-5) will now face a familiar foe in the District Semi-Final as The Falcons are set to square-off with the #5 seeded Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lions (11-11) on Tuesday, October 24th. Fitch had a previous encounter with The Lions in the regular season, back on August 29th when The Falcons came back down 2-1 to take the match 3-2. Their Tuesday meeting will be the first of two District Demi-Final matches, slated to start at 6 p.m. and will be played at Akron North. Keep updated with all postseason volleyball scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

BLUE DEVILS BULLY THEIR WAY INTO DISTRICT ROUND

By Ty Bartell

BERLIN CENTER OH- The post-season tournament is finally here for high school volleyball in the state of Ohio!
With four different divisions to crown four different volleyball state champions, plenty of local teams across all four divisions have high hopes of getting to Dayton. In Division 4, one of those local powerhouses have been The Western-Reserve Blue Devils volleyball team. Entering the tournament as the #2 seed in the Region 13, Northeast 2 bracket, The Blue Devils made it to the Sectional Final after blasting #39 Valley Christian in the Sectional Semi-Final.
Western-Reserve’s second round draw? A familiar opponent in, a fellow Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (MVAC) Scarlet Division foe, the #23 seeded Lowellville Rockets. Entering the playoff match on Thursday, The Blue Devils had won 31 consecutive matches against The Rockets, dating back to 2008! Thursday saw much of the same dominance on display, as Western-Reserve claimed the match in straight sets 25-14, 25-11 and 25-11. Effectively extending their streak to 32 consecutive match wins.

Haylee Fellows was an engine on offense, setting her attackers up to the tune of 30 assists while double-doubling it up with 13 digs as well. Alyvia Hughes also recorded a double-double with her 20 kill and 12 digs performance. Hughes was also active at the net and behind the service line with 2 aces and 2 blocks as well. Lisa Eichert played a great opposite to Hughes, with Eichert ending the evening with 13 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces and 1 block. Angelina Cappabianca tied it all together in the middle as she finished with 11 digs, 7 kills, 2 blocks and 3 assists in the win!

#2 Western-Reserve (23-1) will now head to Columbiana High School on Tuesday, October 24th for the District Semi-Final match against #12 Newton Falls (15-8) representing The MVAC Grey Division. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to the District Championship match! Stay up-to-date with all post-season volleyball scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

Game Photos HERE: https://ysn.smugmug.com/10-19-vb-reserve-lowellville/10-19-vb-reserve-lowellville/100EOS1D/

CAMPBELL IN DISTRICTS FOR THE FIRST TIME

MENTOR OH- Campbell’s volleyball team etched their name into the program’s history books with a resounding victory in the sectional finals, securing their first-ever ticket to the district tournament. They did so in style, sweeping Warren JFK with set scores of 25-13, 25-20, and 25-20.

The triumph was a collective effort, with standout performances from various players. Cyra Cross and Elysia Rudolphi showcased their serving prowess, each recording 2 aces to keep the scoreboard ticking. Kendall Brunn led the offensive charge with an impressive 12 kills, while MiLeena Williams and Cyra Cross added 8 and 4, respectively. The defensive line was held strong by Kendall Brunn and Angeliz Diaz, each contributing 2 crucial blocks. Carla Ramirez Ortiz orchestrated the team’s plays, tallying an impressive 29 assists. In the backline, Cyra Cross and Angeliz Diaz were instrumental in preserving the rallies with 7 and 6 digs, respectively.

On the opposing side, Warren JFK displayed their own strengths. Jasmine Ridley stood out with 2 aces, while Hannah Myers delivered 6 crucial kills. Danielle Wickham served as the team’s playmaker with 11 assists, and Aniyah Johnson demonstrated her blocking prowess with 4 crucial blocks. Jasmine Ridley was a standout in the digging department, registering a remarkable 17 digs.

With this victory, Campbell’s volleyball journey advances to the district semifinals, where they will face the formidable top-seeded Mentor Lake Catholic. The showdown is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 at Grand Valley High School.

TIGERS RUN RIGHT INTO A DISTRICT SEMIFINAL

BERLIN CENTER OH- In the sectional final showdown between Newton Falls and Windham, it was Newton Falls who emerged victorious in a convincing manner. The Tigers dominated the match with a resounding 3-0 win, securing their passage to the next round with set scores of 25-17, 25-9, and 25-19.

Newton Falls showcased a well-rounded performance with notable individual contributions. Dani Drake was instrumental in orchestrating the team’s offense, tallying an impressive 27 assists, ensuring her teammates were in optimal positions to score.

Lauryn Bervish exhibited her versatility, amassing 20 points and making 10 crucial digs, underlining her importance as a key player on both sides of the net. Jada Blutcher made her presence felt with 11 kills, adding to the team’s offensive firepower, while Torrie Fanton showcased her all-around game with 17 points and 12 digs.

With this dominant performance, Newton Falls secured their place in the next round, where they will face Western Reserve. The upcoming matchup is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24th, at Columbiana High School, with a 6:00 pm start time.

Game Photos HERE: https://ysn.smugmug.com/10-19-vb-newton-falls-windham/10-19-vb-windham-newton-falls/101EOS1D/

REBELS BREAK THROUGH BEACHWOOD INTO DISTRICTS

COLUMBIANA OH- Crestview’s volleyball team displayed their dominance and determination in the sectional final, as they powered their way to a convincing victory over Beachwood. The Rebels made quick work of their opponents, securing a straight-set win with scores of 25-2, 25-6, and 25-9, which propelled them into the upcoming district tournament.

The match was marked by several impressive individual performances from the Crestview squad. Grace Auer was an absolute standout, delivering a remarkable triple-double performance with 16 kills, 14 assists, and an impressive 12 aces. Her 23 service points showcased her consistency and precision from the service line, setting the tone for Crestview’s dominance.

Abbey Emch contributed with 7 kills and 9 crucial digs, underlining her importance as an offensive threat and defensive presence. Lydia Campbell showcased her blocking skills with 5 kills and 1 block, adding to Crestview’s strong net play. Lainy Auer displayed her versatility with 4 kills, 19 assists, 4 aces, and 15 service points, ensuring Crestview’s well-rounded performance.

With this impressive victory, Crestview secured a berth in the district semifinals, where they will face Dalton on Wednesday, October 25th, at Medina High School with a 6:00 pm start time.