Scouting area volleyball district tournaments
Oct. 17—A look at upcoming high school volleyball sectional/district tournaments involving area teams:
Division I
Northeast 1 — Mentor
Top seeds: 3 GlenOak, 4 Austintown-Fitch, 6 Hudson, 12 South
Other area teams: 16 Mayfield, 17 North, 26 Euclid, 31 Madison
Favorites: GlenOak, Austintown-Fitch
Up next: District champion advances to Hudson Regional
Northeast 2 — Solon
Top seeds: 2 Chardon, 5 Twinsburg, 7 Walsh Jesuit 9 Green
Other area teams: 27 Brush
Favorites: Chardon, Twinsburg
Up next: District champion advances to Hudson Regional
Outlook: The Hilltoppers come in with a 20-2 record and look to replicate last year's run to the regional semifinals. Chardon features three strong attackers with Emma McCartney (4.8 kills per set) and Skylar Toth (2.9 kills per set) on the outside and Natalie Zemba (2.3 kills, 1.3 blocks per set) in the middle. Add in the work of setter Annabel Frieden (10.3 assists per set) and it's expected for Chardon to continue its successful run that they've had this season. McCartney and Toth also play roles in the all-around game as they average 3.5 and 3.4 digs respectively.
Northeast 3 — Hudson
Top seeds: 1 Jackson, 8 Riverside, 10 Lakeside, 13 Mentor
Favorites: Jackson, Riverside
Up next: District Champion advances to Hudson Regional
Outlook: It's a return to form this season for Riverside as the Beavers (14-8) earned a high seed with a diverse attacking bunch. They feature four players averaging 2 or more kills per set, with Hannah Crevling leading the way at 2.5 per set. The attack is set up by sophomore setter Courtney Johnson, who averages 8.6 assists per set. Riverside's back row is led by Brianna Herman, who averages 4.2 digs per set. Mentor (13-9) has been strong in their front row with the duo of Kylie Maxwell and Gwyneth Gill both averaging just under a block per game, and anything that has gotten over their hands, Jessi Kerul has handled as she's averaged 3.9 digs per set. Add in a pair of freshman hitters in Kayden McKinney and Melody Garrett and Mentor has several weapons at their disposal. The Cardinals start with a challenge as they face a talented Maple Heights team in a sectional final.
Division II
Northeast 1 — Streetsboro
Top seeds: 3 NDCL, 5 Jefferson, 6 West Branch, 8 Canfield
Other area teams: 12 Perry, 15 Geneva
Favorites: NDCL, Jefferson
Up next: District champion advances to Stow Regional
Outlook: After a rough stretch during which it dropped four in a row, NDCL recovered to win five of its next six to finish at 13-7 and earn the top seed of the bracket. They are led by Caroline Jurevicius, who averages 4.7 kills, while Emma Blankenship and Caitlyn Cvitkovic each average just under a block per set and the setting duo of Grace Daniels (5.5 assists per set) and Marissa Brock (5.3). Perry (15-7) is also in the top half of the bracket, and is led by the duo of Holly Nadinic (1.6 blocks per set) and Madison Miner (4.8 kills per set) in the front row. Miner also has 47 aces followed closely by Cara Vitale with 44.
Northeast 2 — Jefferson
Top seeds: 1 Girard, 2 Marlington, 4 Kenston, 7 Howland
Other area teams: 10 West Geauga
Favorites: Girard, Marlingon, Kenston
Up next: District champion advances to Stow Regional
Outlook: This is a very crowded bracket with the top two seeds in the pool along with three other single-digit seeds. On the bottom half of the bracket, Kenston found its stride with wins in nine of its last 11 to finish 16-6. It's a deep attack for the Bombers, as they have four players averaging at least a kill per set led by Riley Rosneck, who sits at 3.3. Those attacks have been set up by a pair of junior setters in Janie and Lindy Kerchenski. Both Rosneck and Emma Brownfield have also been strong on the block with 0.5 and 0.7 per set respectively. An experienced back row sees four players averaging over 2 digs a set with Maria Insana (3.1) and Kate Hershberger (3) leading the way.
Northeast 3 — Parma Heights
Top seeds: 2 Holy Name, 5 Padua, 7 Copley, 11 Hawken
Other area teams: 19 Beaumont
Favorites: Holy Name, Padua
Up next: District champion advances to Stow Regional
Outlook: After its first conference title in 38 years, Hawken (19-1) was rewarded with a sectional semifinal against Beaumont before a probable showdown with second-seeded Holy Name in a sectional final. With the potential of Chidimma Obi (2.6 kills per set), the Hawks will need the other hitters to step up again. Molly Jared and Sancia Williams did so against West Geauga to take the CVC Chagrin title. Emily Monachino has been able to do a little bit of everything for Hawken as she averaged 3.2 kills, 2.6 assists, 2.6 digs, 0.5 blocks and 43 aces on the season.
Northeast 5 — Oberlin
Top seeds: 1 Gilmour, 12 Norton
Other area teams: 23 Chagrin Falls
Favorites: Gilmour
Up next: District champion advances to Galion Regional
Outlook: After a mixed bag of results to open the season, Gilmour finished winning six of its last seven to sit at 14-8. The young attack found its footing with the trio of Marlie Davis (3.3 kills per set), Anna Rarick (2.9) and Kayla Channell (2.8) up front and both Daria Whitner (1 blocks a set) as well as Channell (0.8) have been strong in the middle. The experience with the duo of Ella Jackson (9.2 assists per set) and Laney Klika (6.6 digs per set) have helped guide the Lancers this season. It's a potential all-area matchup in the district semifinals if Chagrin Falls can overcome the challenge of Brookside or Clearview.
Division III
Northeast 1 — Medina
Top seeds: 1 Lake Catholic, 6 Berkshire, 7 Garrettsville Garfield, 8 LaBrae
Other area teams: 16 Andrews Osborne
Favorites: Lake Catholic, Berkshire
Up next: District Champion advances to Barberton Regional
Outlook: In an expected move, the next five seeds went to the other district bracket after Lake Catholic (20-2) made its choice. The Cougars attack is led by Katie Sowko with 4.2 kills per set with Natalya Bergant (2.8), Ava Budrys Rini (2.1) and Claire Duricky (1.9) right behind her. Their offense is set up by the assists from Hannah Pattie who averages 11.6 per set. A very experienced back row is highlighted by Emma Briganti who averages 3.9 digs per set. In the bottom half of the bracket, both Berkshire and Andrews Osborne took byes to sectional finals. The Badgers junior outside hitter Maddie Smetana leads the Badgers with 3.6 kills per set with the next closest player being Sierra Berman with 1.9 per set. But where the Badgers make their hay is the back row and at the service line. Berman, Katelyn Miller, Smetana and Samantha Winter all average over 2 digs a set as well. Marissa Rish and Katelyn Miller are in the top five in the area in aces as both have 53 on the season. The only players ahead of that Badgers duo in aces? That would be the Phoenix trio of Mencia Revuelta (74), Iris Parker (62) and Zenha Gerson (59).
Northeast 2 — Orwell
Top seeds: 2 Crestview, 3 Kirtland, 4 Lakeview, 5 Mineral Ridge
Other area teams: 23 Wickliffe, 25 Beachwood
Favorites: Crestview, Kirtland, Lakeview
Up next: District champion advances to Barberton Regional
Outlook: It was another Valley Division title for Kirtland as they went 20-2. A lot of the focus went to senior outside hitter Natalie Glowe who averaged 4.2 kills per set but it's not a one player show on the front line for Kirtland. Georgia DeJohn and Nina Loncar averaged 2.8 and 2.7 kills per set respectively. They have been set up well by junior setter Katie Reynolds as she's averaged 8.2 assists per set. The Hornets' defense has been anchored by Ava Golem who averages 7.3 digs a set. The trio of Glowe, Golem and Reynolds have been strong from the service line as well with 48, 38 and 34 aces on the season. With four of the top five seeds in the bracket, Kirtland will need everyone clicking on all cylinders.
Northeast 3 — Elyria
Top seeds: 1 Loudonville, 2 Chippewa, 4 Independence, 8 Triway
Other area teams: 24 VASJ
Favorites: Loudonville, Chippewa
Up next: District Champion advances to Barberton Regional
Division IV
Northeast 3 — Brooklyn
Top seeds: 1 St. John, 2 Badger, 3 Open Door, 4 Bristol
Other area teams: 7 Cardinal, 10 Fairport, 11 Richmond Heights, 12 Cornerstone
Favorites: St. John, Badger
Up next: District Champion advances to Strongsville Regional
