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State Volleyball Tournament - Regional Picks
The teams in each regional are ranked in order from 1 to 4, without regard as to what round they meet. Records are in parentheses, if known. For comparison purposes, team rankings in the final Website Rankings, and the official Coaches Poll, are also provided.
Division I
Hudson Regional (Region 1)
Austintown-Fitch (20-4) vs. Mentor (19-7) Wooster (16-10) vs. Solon (19-6)
Regional Picks: Austintown-Fitch (1), Solon (2), Wooster (3), Mentor (4) Website Rankings: Austintown-Fitch (26), Solon (27), Wooster (N/R), Mentor (19) Coaches Poll: Austintown-Fitch (16), Solon (15), Wooster (N/R), Mentor (18)
This regional has no clear favorite. Austintown-Fitch lost some matches early but seems to have picked up the pace. They avenged two regular season losses to Boardman in the District Final.
Solon had several losses in midseason. Their first lost was to Kenston, who is a regional qualifier in Div. II. Three more came in Mother of Mercy's tournament to the likes of Vandalia-Butler and McAuley, and they lost to Elyria in three. Solon beat Wooster and Magnificat late in the season.
Five of Mentor's seven losses are to Magnificat and Elyria. They also lost to Stow and Wooster in Stow's tournament the last week of the season.
Wooster beat Massillon Jackson and Canton GlenOak to get to Hudson.
Norwalk Regional (Region 2)
Anthony Wayne (23-2) vs. Magnificat (19-6) Toledo St. Ursula (23-2) vs. Elyria (22-3)
Regional Picks: St. Ursula (1), Anthony Wayne (2), Magnificat (3), Elyria (4) Website Rankings: St. Ursula (3), Anthony Wayne (8), Magnificat (9), Elyria (13) Coaches Poll: St. Ursula (3), Anthony Wayne (8), Magnificat (7), Elyria (5)
Before the season started, Anthony Wayne looked like the team to beat from Northwest. However, Toledo St. Ursula reloaded quite fast and is favored to return to the Final Four. If St. Ursula does not win, it is a very close call between the other three.
The regional pairings are identical to last year, when the Arrows hammered Elyria in the first round, then struggled with the Generals in the final.
St. Ursula's only losses this year are to Cin. St. Ursula and Ursuline. They won Magnificat's tournament and have beaten St. Henry and Vandalia-Butler. Anthony Wayne handed Huron one of their two losses and hammered Piqua, in addition to winning their league. They have losses to Bowsher and Northview.
Elyria has lost to Rocky River twice and Big Walnut, and has beaten Mentor three times. Elyria beat undefeated Grafton Midview and Amherst Steele to win the District. Magnificat has the worst record of these teams but has played the strongest schedule. Their losses include Ursuline, Toledo St. Ursula, Lake Catholic, Solon, and Chaminade-Julienne. They have beaten Austintown-Fitch, Mentor, Rocky River, Norwalk, Amherst, Walsh Jesuit and Mansfield Madison.
Hilliard Davidson Regional (Region 3)
Bishop Watterson (22-3) vs. Dublin Coffman (22-4) Lancaster (24-2) vs. Cincinnati St. Ursula (24-1)
Regional Picks: St. Ursula (1), Lancaster (2), Watterson (3), Coffman (4) Website Rankings: St. Ursula (1), Lancaster (5), Watterson (17), Coffman (20) Coaches Poll: St. Ursula (1), Lancaster (10), Watterson (14), Coffman (N/R)
Cincinnati St. Ursula had a phenomenal year, going 21-1 while playing the toughest schedule in the state. They beat Ursuline, Seton, Mother of Mercy and Mount Notre Dame twice each, and all of those teams are in the Vandalia Regional. The Bulldogs also beat Kentucky power Louisville Assumption, and won the prestigious Mizuno Classic in Chicago, beating ranked Illinois teams. The Bulldogs have All-American setter Bryn Kehoe, and four outstanding hitters. It is hard to see anyone beating them when they are at their best.
Lancaster has had a great year in their own right. They have decisively beaten every Central District team they have played, and are clearly a level above where they were last year. They had an impressive showing in the Chicago Nike Classic, finishing 11th and giving powerhouse Sandberg a struggle. Lancaster has a very strong balanced team, and they could give St. Ursula trouble.
Watterson has beaten Central opponents decisively, but lost to McAuley and Mount Notre Dame and Centerburg. With their height, they may be too much for Coffman. Coffman had a nice win in the District Final over Westland, but has lost to Lancaster twice.
Vandalia-Butler Regional (Region 4)
Cin. Mother of Mercy (17-8) vs. Cin. Ursuline (22-3) Cin. Mt. Notre Dame (14-11) vs. Cin. Seton (18-7)
Regional Picks: Ursuline (1), Seton (2), Mother of Mercy (3), Mount Notre Dame (4) Website Rankings: Ursuline (2), Seton (6), Mother of Mercy (7), Mount Notre Dame (11) Coaches Poll: Ursuline (2), Seton (9), Mother of Mercy (6), Mount Notre Dame (N/R)
This regional features two All-American players, Stephanie Blackburn of Ursuline, and Mount Notre Dame's Danielle Meyer. Ursuline is picked to win based on record, but you can pretty much throw the records out when these teams tangle. All four teams are from the Greater Girls Cincinnati League, all have played each other twice, and several matches have been three game marathons.
Ursuline has taken St. Ursula to the wire twice before losing. They have wins over Toledo St. Ursula, Roger Bacon, Alter and Vandalia-Butler, and they were runnerup in the GGCL. Seton is on a roll, having beaten Ursuline the last week of the season, and almost beating St. Ursula a couple weeks earlier. The Saints avenged their most recent loss to Vandalia-Butler in the District Final. Mother of Mercy has given St. Ursula trouble, and has beaten Vandalia-Butler and Oak Hills. Mount Notre Dame won Stow's tournament, beating Tallmadge in the final.
Whoever wins this regional will have recent history on their side at the Nutter Center. Four of the past seven Division I state champions have been GGCL teams that did not win the league. By that reasoning, the Vandalia Winner should be the favorite to win the State. And in the GGCL, that reasoning is as close to logical as things get.
State Pairings Hudson Winner vs. Vandalia-Butler Winner Norwalk Winner vs. Hilliard Davidson Winner
Division II
Stow-Munroe Falls Regional (Region 5)
Rocky River (21-5) vs. Kenston (21-4) Lake Catholic (24-1) vs. Hubbard (26-0)
Regional Picks: Hubbard (1), Lake Catholic (2), Rocky River (3), Kenston (4) Website Rankings: Hubbard (3), Lake Catholic (5), Rocky River (15), Kenston (N/R) Coaches Poll: Hubbard (2), Lake Catholic (5), Rocky River (16), Kenston (N/R)
Hubbard is a slight favorite over Lake Catholic in what is overall a very strong regional. Both teams have improved over last year when Lake Catholic took Hubbard in the Regional final 16-14, 15-9. Hubbard has had an outstanding season, winning all matches convincingly in two games. They handed Girard two of their three losses, and beat Salem for the third time in the District Final.
Lake Catholic has had several close matches, but has played a much stronger schedule than Hubbard. Their three game wins include Magnificat, Holy Name, Padua and Walsh Jesuit. Their only loss was to Walsh early in the season.
Rocky River has a lot of seniors back from last year when they lost to Hubbard in the Regional semifinal. They have two close wins over Elyria and two close losses to Amherst, the team Elyria nipped in the District Final. Other losses are to Magnificat, Solon and Bay. The Pirates are capable of winning the regional if they play well.
Kenston is the newcomer to this regional, having upset Walsh Jesuit in the District Final. They were overlooked in the rankings. Their wins include Solon in mid-season, Hudson, and Wooster and Stow at Stow's tournament (they lost to Tallmadge).
Wooster Regional (Region 6)
Tallmadge (23-2) vs. West Holmes (26-0) Canal Fulton Northwest (22-3) vs. Big Walnut (19-6)
Regional Picks: West Holmes (1), Tallmadge (2), Northwest (3), Big Walnut (4) Website Rankings: West Holmes (4), Tallmadge (16), Northwest (23), Big Walnut (27) Coaches Poll: West Holmes (3), Tallmadge (9), Northwest (N/R), Big Walnut (N/R)
West Holmes has won most of their matches decisively, but had trouble with Kidron Central Christian, and went to three games twice with Orrville, a team Canal Fulton Northwest narrowly beat in the District Final. West Holmes clobbered Div. III power Tuscarawas Valley early in the year. They looked very strong in the District Final where the hammered Claymont.
Tallmadge was upset by Green, and their only other loss was 13-15, 15-13, 11-15 to Mount Notre Dame. So the Regional Semifinal could be a tough match. West Holmes' biggest problem now will be their lack of height.
Two of Canal Fulton's losses are to West Branch and Riverview. They are picked over Big Walnut based on their win over Orrville. Big Walnut has beaten Elyria. Three of their six losses are to Jonathan Alder, Centerburg and Watterson, teams who are also in regionals.
Findlay Liberty-Benton Regional (Region 7)
Eastwood (19-6) vs. Canal Winchester (25-0) Norwalk (19-6) vs. Celina (21-3)
Regional Picks: Canal Winchester (1), Norwalk (2), Celina (3), Eastwood (4) Website Rankings: Canal Winchester (8), Norwalk (24), Celina (N/R), Eastwood (N/R) Coaches Poll: Canal Winchester (8), Norwalk (N/R), Celina (N/R), Eastwood (N/R)
On paper Canal Winchester looks like a heavy favorite to win this regional. They are undefeated, and, besides Norwalk's ranking of #24 in the website's poll, are the only ranked team in the regional. Canal has not been seriously challenged this year, winning all but one or two matches in two games.
However, Norwalk has been on a tear lately, and is now 19-6 after a 7-6 start. They have beaten Mansfield Madison twice in the past two weeks, plus Fostoria and Bellevue. Their six losses were to Toledo St. Ursula, Clyde, Amherst, Magnificat, Sylvania Northview and Fostoria, and, except for St. Ursula, they were in all those matches.
So the choice between Canal Winchester and Norwalk is close, and don't be too surprised if the Truckers show up at the Nutter Center.
And Celina could provide a surprise of their own. In addition to having already beaten Eastwood in two, they have wins over Hilliard Davidson and John Glenn. Their losses include Chaminade-Julienne (9-15, 11-15), Jonathan Alder, Sidney Lehman, and Bowling Green. Celina got to the regional by beating St. Marys and Defiance.
Besides Celina, Eastwood's losses include Anthony Wayne and Genoa twice, all in two. They recently beat Gibsonburg, and they have looked impressive in the tournament so far, beating Fostoria, Clyde and Maumee.
Wilmington Regional (Region 8)
St. Bernard Roger Bacon (24-2) vs. Chaminade-Julienne (22-3) Athens (22-3) vs. Archbishop Alter (21-3)
Regional Picks: Roger Bacon (1), Alter (2), Chaminade-Julienne (3), Athens (4) Website Rankings: Roger Bacon (1), Alter (2), Chaminade-Julienne (6), Athens (N/R) Coaches Poll: Roger Bacon (1), Alter (4), Chaminade-Julienne (7), Athens (N/R)
The Wilmington Regional Final could be a barn burner if the top two picks get there, because it would be a rematch of October 10 when Alter toppled Roger Bacon 16-14, 14-16, 15-11. The Spartans are a mild favorite to avenge that loss and advance to the Nutter Center to defend their State Title.
Roger Bacon is the only team to beat Cincinnati St. Ursula this year 15-7, 11-15, 15-5. They also blitzed Mount Notre Dame 15-4, 15-4, and have impressive two game wins over Oak Hills, Alter, Seton, Sycamore, Mason, and Centerville. Their other loss was to Ursuline.
Alter has been impressive as well, having beaten Sidney Lehman, Chaminade-Julienne and Marion Local. In the District Final they held Ben Logan to nine points. Besides splitting with Roger Bacon, they have lost to Vandalia-Butler and Ursuline.
Chaminade-Julienne has wins over Sidney-Lehman, Lakota East, St. Henry, Piqua, Celina, Magnificat and McAuley. Their only losses are to Alter, Seton and Louisville Mercy Academy.
Athens beat Washington Court House and Scioto Northwest on their way to the regional. They lost the championship match of their tournament to Frankfort Adena in three.
State Pairings Wilmington Winner vs. Findlay Liberty-Benton Winner Stow-Munroe Falls Winner vs. Wooster Winner
Division III
Barberton Regional (Region 9)
Smithville (23-2) vs. Lutheran West (23-1) Streetsboro (16-10) vs. Girard (23-3)
Regional Picks: Girard (1), Lutheran West (2), Smithville (3), Streetsboro (4) Website Rankings: Girard (15), Lutheran West (21), Smithville (30), Streetsboro (N/R) Coaches Poll: Girard (8), Lutheran West (10), Smithville (18), Streetsboro (N/R)
This is a difficult regional to pick because the teams have few common opponents, and have not played many ranked teams. None of the teams in this regional are ranked very high. However, that was also the case last year when Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph came out of this regional from nowhere and won the State.
Girard has lost twice to Hubbard, but played them closer than most other teams. Girard also split matches with Lakeview. Lutheran West has won most matches by impressive scores. Their loss was to Westlake 13-15, 13-15. They barely beat Wellington in the District Final.
Smithville beat Dalton twice and one of their losses was to Kidron Central Christian in three. They beat Akron St. Vincent St. Mary to get to the regional. Streetsboro, who was 9-6 at one point in the season, beat Columbiana Crestview in two in sectionals, but struggled with Akron Springfield in the District Final.
Ontario Regional (Region 10)
Genoa (22-3) vs. Huron (23-2) Archbold (21-5) vs. Fredericktown (20-3)
Regional Picks: Huron (1), Fredericktown (2), Archbold (3), Genoa (4) Website Rankings: Huron (1), Fredericktown (5), Archbold (14), Genoa (12) Coaches Poll: Huron (2), Fredericktown (19), Archbold (9), Genoa (N/R)
Huron has their entire starting lineup back from a team that had six match point serves in a State semifinal loss last year. They looked very impressive last week in beating Margaretta and Wynford in the the District. After a first game loss to Margaretta, the Tigers won four games in a row giving up just 16 points. They also looked quite sharp at Northwood, beating Genoa and Margaretta decisively. The Tigers have beaten Margaretta four times this year, and Genoa twice. Their losses are to Anthony Wayne and Norwalk St. Paul, and they outscored Anthony Wayne.
Genoa won their league but needs to figure out how to beat Huron. Fredericktown has only lost three times, twice to Centerburg, and to Ben Logan in a three game nailbiter. The Freddies had trouble solving Pleasant's short set offense in the District final.
Archbold could be a spoiler. They beat Kidron Central Christian, and avenged one of their regular season losses (to Evergreen) in the District. Other losses include Toledo Central, Holland Springfield and Perrysburg.
Byesville Meadowbrook Regional (Region 11)
Westfall (23-2) vs. Tuscarawas Valley (24-1) Adena (24-1) vs. Coshocton (17-6)
Regional Picks: Tusky Valley (1), Adena (2), Coshocton (3), Westfall (4) Website Rankings: Tusky Valley (3), Adena (8), Coshocton (N/R), Westfall (28) Coaches Poll: Tusky Valley (4), Adena (3), Coshocton (N/R), Westfall (N/R)
The teams in this regional have not played many ranked teams, hence it is difficult to make comparisons. Tuscarawas Valley is favored to win and return to the Nutter Center, mainly based on their having key players back from last year's team. Their only loss was early to West Holmes, and they gave Claymont its only loss of the regular season.
Adena has also looked strong, losing only to Westland, and rolling to their league title. They beat Westfall twice although the matches could not have been more different, as the scores of 15-1, 15-2 and 15-8, 9-15, 16-14 would indicate. The Warriors also beat Athens, another regional qualifier, in three.
Westfall's wins include London, Miami Trace and Northeastern. Coshocton's only available scores are losses to Springfield Shawnee and Claymont twice.
Wilmington Regional (Region 12)
Jonathan Alder (24-0) vs. North College Hill (23-0) Versailles (22-4) vs. Sidney Lehman (20-6)
Regional Picks: Alder (1), Lehman (2), Versailles (3), North College Hill (4) Website Rankings: Alder (2), Lehman (4), Versailles (7), North College Hill (16) Coaches Poll: Alder (1), Lehman (7), Versailles (12), North College Hill (N/R)
Jonathan Alder is the favorite to win this regional, but they will have their hands full. First, they need to get past undefeated senior-laden North College Hill, who has not played any ranked teams and is hard to judge strength-wise. The Pioneers won their District matches over Fairbanks and Ridgedale in two games each, but three of the four games were decided by two points. They will need to step up the pace to win the regional. Alder has wins over Centerburg, Celina (15-10, 15-6) and Big Walnut, all of whom are also in regionals. North College Hill struggled to get past Williamsburg in the District Final.
Sidney Lehman has six losses, but those are to Vandalia-Butler, St. Henry, Chaminade-Julienne, Kettering Alter and Marion Local twice. The Cavaliers won Piqua's Invitational, beating Cin. Oak Hills in the final, and they have beaten regional qualifiers Celina (15-9, 15-10) and Jackson Center. Lehman is probably stronger than anyone North College Hill has played, and maybe Alder too for that matter.
The Cavaliers will first need to get past Versailles, who, like Lehman, has lost to St. Henry and Marion Local twice. The Tigers have wins over Fort Recovery, Coldwater and Fisher Catholic. Lehman clobbered Reading early in the season, and Reading gave Versailles a better match in the District Final.
State Pairings Ontario Winner vs. Byesville Winner Wilmington Winner vs. Barberton Winner
Division IV
Hudson Regional (Region 13)
Norwalk St. Paul (25-0) vs. Ashtabula Sts. John & Paul (22-1) Windham (21-4) vs. Kidron Central Christian (23-2)
Regional Picks: Norwalk St. Paul (1), Kidron (2), Ashtabula (3), Windham (4) Website Rankings: Norwalk St. Paul (1), Kidron (5), Ashtabula (N/R), Windham (21) Coaches Poll: Norwalk St. Paul (1), Kidron (6), Ashtabula (N/R), Windham (N/R)
Norwalk St. Paul is the "obvious" pick to win at Hudson. They are undefeated, ranked #1, and have won convincingly over teams like Amherst, Clyde, Huron, Clay, Elida, Fremont Ross and Mansfield St. Peter.
However, St. Paul could get a challenge. Ashtabula Sts. John & Paul has only one loss, to Villa Angela-St. Joseph 14-16, 8-15 on October 1. They were completely overlooked in the rankings and should be in the Top Ten.
Another challenge could come from Kidron Central Christian, who has beaten Windham 15-1, 16-14, as well as Hoban, Canton Central Catholic, Mansfield St. Peter, Dalton and Smithville. Kidron gave West Holmes a real scare in a 16-14, 13-15, 9-15 loss, and also lost to Archbold.
Elida Regional (Region 14)
Pettisville (23-2) vs. Riverdale (18-7) Kalida (21-3) vs. Old Fort (22-3)
Regional Picks: Old Fort (1), Kalida (2), Pettisville (3), Riverdale (4) Website Rankings: Old Fort (6), Kalida (12), Pettisville (15), Riverdale (N/R) Coaches Poll: Old Fort (5), Kalida (9), Pettisville (N/R), Riverdale (N/R)
Old Fort has waited a long time for this. Playing in Hopewell Loudon's shadow they have been unable to win league titles or the region. With their recent 7-15, 15-5, 15-9 win over Seneca East they won the league. Now their goal of getting to State is within their grasp. The Stockaders are favored to win this regional, but it is a close call, and this is really anybody's regional to win.
Old Fort has beaten teams like Northwood (twice), Coldwater and Mohawk. Their losses are to St. Henry, Margaretta and Genoa, the latter two in the last two matches of the regular season in Northwood's tournament.
Kalida, with wins over Archbold and Elida, could put a damper on the Stockaders' dreams. Kalida's losses are to Columbus Grove, Minster and Convoy Crestview.
Pettisville split matches with Evergreen, who finished 22-3 and split with Archbold. So Pettisville should be in the thick of things. And Riverdale is on an eight match winning streak. Losses include Bucyrus and Lucas in marathon matches, and Bucyrus Wynford.
Lancaster Regional (Region 15)
Eastern Meigs (19-3) vs. Wellsville (24-2) South Webster (16-7) vs. Centerburg (25-1)
Regional Picks: Centerburg (1), Wellsville (2), Eastern Meigs (3), South Webster (4) Website Rankings: Centerburg (4), Wellsville (18), Eastern Meigs (20), South Webster (N/R) Coaches Poll: Centerburg (3), Wellsville (11), Eastern Meigs (14), South Webster (N/R)
Centerburg is a heavy favorite to win this regional. The last day of the regular season they beat Watterson and Big Walnut, both of whom are in regionals. They handed league rival Fredericktown two of their three losses (the Freddie's other loss was a three game cliff-hanger to Ben Logan). Their only loss is to undefeated Div. III power Jonathan Alder (12-15, 12-15).
Wellsville split with Beaver Local and was handily beaten by Columbiana Crestview. Eastern Meigs has losses to Vincent Warren, Pomeroy Meigs and Parkersburg South. The only information available on South Webster is that they were 8-5 after a 15-12, 15-12 loss to Wheelersburg on September 19.
Vandalia-Butler Regional (Region 16)
Marion Local (23-2) vs. Botkins (10-14) Jackson Center (22-3) vs. Fort Loramie (21-5)
Regional Picks: Marion Local (1), Jackson Center (2), Fort Loramie (3), Botkins (4) Website Rankings: Marion Local (3), Jackson Center (8), Fort Loramie (9), Botkins (N/R) Coaches Poll: Marion Local (2), Jackson Center (N/R), Fort Loramie (10), Botkins (N/R)
Marion Local is a solid favorite to advance to State. With a balanced lineup that includes two big middle hitters, it will be hard for any Div. IV team to stop the Flyers. Marion has split with St. Henry, losing the battle (league), but winning the war (staying in the State Tournament). They have beaten Sidney Lehman and Minster twice, and their other loss is to Kettering Alter.
Marion needs to take care of the first order of business and get past Botkins, who got to Vandalia by knocking off South Charleston Southeastern. Botkins has losses to teams like Jackson Center, Anna and Covington, and they were in those matches. Another loss was to Ben Logan.
Jackson Center and Fort Loramie will play each other for the third time, and this time it will be for the chance to play for the Regional Title. It is a virtual tossup who will win because they split their other matches enroute to a tie for the league title. Jackson Center's results include wins over Indian Lake and Lima Central, and a loss to Sidney Lehman. Fort Loramie has beaten Anna, Fairlawn and New Bremen (twice), and has losses to St. Henry and Minster.
State Pairings Lancaster Winner vs. Vandalia-Butler Winner Hudson Winner vs. Elida Winner
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