Ohiohsvb.com News About Ohio High School Volleyball |
|
|
Cincinnati Ursuline dominates strong Northeast Ohio Power Volleyball Tournament field October 11, 2009 By Jim Jicha Cincinnati Ursuline continued to dominate Ohio volleyball with an impressive showing at last weeks third annual Northeast Ohio Power Volleyball Tournament. The Lions held Solon and Kenston to 36 points in four games of pool play and won a cross-pool match over Toledo Notre Dame 25-19, 25-13. They took down the Cleveland areas top team, Magnificat 25-22, 25-17, 25-17 in Sundays title match. Ursuline has won the NEO, hosted by Mentor High School, all three years, and has twice faced Magnificat in the final. Magnificat, which upended previously unbeaten third-ranked Lakota West to reach the final, found itself playing catch-up in all three games, as the Lions roared to respective leads of 5-1, 8-0 and 8-2. Despite their romp only one Lion, outside hitter Jade Henderson, was named to the all-tourney team. Henderson was their top spiker in the title match, and she also made some nifty defensive plays. But she is but one of several all-stars. Michigan State bound libero Kori Meister was stellar to say the least, somersaulting for saves and passing slams hit right at her. And University of Buffalo recruit Dani Reinert made setting look easy. Defensive specialist Anna Prickel didnt start, but served strong and frustrated Blue Streak hitters with her back row play. 60 middle blocker Christina Beer and outside hitting Winthrop University recruit Lauren Marlatt created mayhem in front row. And 61 sophomore middle hitter Noelle Langenkamp scored several blocks and quick hit kills. Magnificat got on the board first on a kill off the block by middle hitter Michelle Chakirelis. But Ursuline outside hitter Jade Henderson answered in kind, and when she then tipped an overpass of Meisters first serve, the Lions were off and running. The Blue Streaks had trouble with Meisters next serve and hit into the net. Henderson smoked a cross-court point for a 5-1 lead. The Lions upped that to 11-5 on a pop hit to right corner by 60 junior middle Christina Beer, an ace from Henderson and a double block by 61 middle Noelle Langenkamp and setter Dani Reinert. A 7-2 run by Magnificat closed the gap to 13-12. Junior outside Brittany Flynn holed a liner and served an ace, Chakirelis scored off quick set from Margaret Pier, and 63 junior opposite and 60 senior outside Danielle McQuade added three kills. Ursuline stayed in front, however, as scoring went back and forth to 16-15, and the Lions gained some breathing room when Beer hammered a kill, Henderson served an ace and a Blue Streak hit landed out. But the Blue Streaks kept within 20-18 striking distance, with 62 junior outside hitter and Duke University recruit Brittany Balser spiking two points and Chakirelis block killing. Langenkamp, however, terminated from the middle, and after Henderson dove to save a partial block, the versatile Reinert blasted a kill from back row. Chakirelis scored with a tip, but Langenkamp answered that, ending an exciting volley which was kept alive by great defensive efforts from Meister, Reinert and Henderson, along with Magnificat libero Catherine Lambert. Magnificat stayed in it when Chakirelis spiked a kill and teamed with Kearney for a block. Henderson put Ursuline on a 24-22 cusp with a cross-court cruncher, and McQuade ended the ensuing very long volley with a kill. Balser blasted a short set that would have tied it, but that was dug and Henderson ended it instead with a cross-court smash. The Lions came out roaring in game two, and Magnificat found it impossible to score with Langenkamp clogging up the middle, and Meister scooping up anything that made it through. Ursuline, meanwhile, found various ways to score. Langenkamp started things off with a soft tip, after Magnificat dug a line drive. She scored again with a block kill. Following a Blue Streak error, and after Meister defused a bomb into a nice pass, leadoff server Prickel lined a kill from backcourt. Then Henderson slammed two kill from the left, Prickel served an ace, and Langenkamp boomed another block. McQuade finally got a spike to stay down and she and Balser double blocked, but Ursuline kept going to 11-3. Following a net serve, the Blue Streaks rallied to 11-8 on kills by Balser and two aces from McQuade. Beer stopped the run with a kill, Marlatt found an empty spot in the back middle, and point trading advanced the score to 20-15. The Lions then ran off four points as defensive specialist Abby Engdahl served an ace, and Langenkamp and Reinert joined forces on another block. Two Blue Streak points later, Marlatt ended it with a line drive blast. Magnificat was hit with dιjΰ vu in game three, as the Lions roared out 7-1. Henderson led off with a smash down the left, Beer blocked in the middle and Meister aced. McQuade interrupted with a kill, but Beer answered with two quick hit blasts and Henderson scored two more kills. Balser helped Magnificat close to 9-6 with two kills and a block on Beer, but the Lions exploded with a 10-1 run as Reinert served two aces, and Marlatt and 60 junior outside Olivia Johnson pounded kills, and Langenkamp stuffed another block. The Blue Streaks scored four straight but could get no closer than 23-17. Langenkamp ended a long volley with a tip that was dug under the net and Marlatt alertly tipped a Blue Streak dump into a hole for match point. ********************************************************************** Lakota West captured third place with a 25-9, 25-18, 25-16 win over Toledo Notre Dame. The Firebirds gave up a hitting error to start, but then ran off eight unanswered points. Middle hitter Kristie Kaaa started the onslaught with a kill, and 66 middle Liz McMahon, outside hitter Taylor Anderson and 511 setter Lexi Dannemiller rained down more spikes. Defensive specialist Shannon Breen chipped in with two aces. The Firebirds soared to 20-5 on runs of two, four, four and two, as Notre Dame could not get untracked. Dannemiller scored the game winner with a dump. The Firebirds led all the way from 1-1 in game two which, however, was much closer. McMahon led off with a tip, and Notre Dame sophomore right side/outside Jocelyn Uchic tied with a block on the right. But McMahon hammered two more from the middle to right back, Anderson spiked a kill and Breen served up two aces as the Firebirds flew out 6-1. The Eagles came back with three, as 61 freshman middle Alyssa Beach and 511 senior outside Paige Roback double blocked, and Roback followed with a block kill on McMahon. Lakota ran off five more with McMahon serving, and led 13-6 after a kill by 60 sophomore middle Corri Muha. Notre Dame again narrowed the gap to 14-11 with kills from Beach, 511 sophomore setter/middle Shelly DeHenning, Uchic and Roback. But Lakota got rolling again and advanced to 23-15. Notre Dame outside hitter Meghan Smyth made a valiant effort with four straight kills, but Lakota eventually got to 24, and Kaaa found a hole for the game winner. The Firebirds again jumped out in game three, 4-0, on kills by McMahon and Anderson. Notre Dame fought back to knot the score at six as Roback terminated and blocked McMahon. But Lakota West took advantage of two errors and moved ahead 11-7. Notre Dame junior middle Jessica Nachtrab served an ace to make it 11-9, but a double block by Muha and Kaaa started a four-point run, and the Firebirds kept going to 19-12. With the score 21-16, Muha slammed a quick hit kill and blocked Roback on a liner from back row. Kaaa landed a kill down the right and outside hitter Michelle Fehr ended the match with a spike that skipped off the net to the left line. ********************************************************************** Kenston nipped Walsh Jesuit 31-29, 18-25, 26-24, 25-22 in a preview of what could be a great district final. The Bombers graduated most of their team last year, but have reloaded from a very athletic junior class. Walsh Jesuit led much of game one, by scores of 6-3, 9-5, 16-14, 22-18 and 23-21. The Warriors were led by two seniors, 61 Duquesne University recruit Allison Foschia, who was named tourney MVP, and 62 senior middle Katie Meyer. However, Kenston junior Molly Zeigler spiked a kill and the Bombers tied on a long Warrior blast. Walsh Jesuit stayed a step ahead to 25-24 on kills from 61 junior middle Janean Kazimir and senior outside Bridget Gilligan. Landsman put the Bombers in front at long last with two kills, one off a nice shoot from setter Megan Wendel. Meyer and Landsman traded kills. Foschia streaked a termination down the left and she a Kazimir doubled blocked as Walsh Jesuit retook a 28-27 lead. Then the Warriors obliged with an error, and Kenston edged back in front on a dump by Wendel. The Bombers returned the favor with a long serve, but Zeigler sent Kenston back to the fore with a spike that was dug into the wall. A long Walsh Jesuit hit ended the game. Leading 11-9 and 16-13 in game two, Walsh Jesuit pulled away on kills by Gilligan, who also served an ace that made the score 24-18. Foschia iced the game with a second-attempt hit off the block, after Kenston defender Taylor Lincoln dug what looked like a termination. The Bombers controlled the first half of game three, and built up a 15-10 advantage behind hitting of juniors Molly Zeigler and Wendel. But Foschia terminated three of the next four volleys, and the Warriors edged in front 20-19 after a block by Meyer. Kenston tied at 21 and went up 23-22 on three kills by Landsman. An untimely net serve followed and Foschia slammed the Warriors to game point with another kill. Bates, however, retied with a quick set kill, and the Warriors were caught in the net. Landsman ended the game with an ace. Trailing 6-5 in a back-and-forth game four, Kenston took advantage of six hitting errors and ran off seven straight as junior Allyson Bates contributed an ace. The teams traded points from there with neither team able to score more than two straight, until Kenston libero dug a partial block and Bates tipped into a hole to put the Bombers on the verge at 24-19. Walsh Jesuit middle/outside Mary Grace Kelly blocked Landsman and Foschia made things interesting with two more kills. But Landsman quashed hopes of a comeback, ending the match as well as an entertaining volley with a spike into a hole. ********************************************************************** In the match for seventh, Northern Lakes League power Bowling Green took a tough straight set contest from Northeast Ohio Conference co-leader Elyria 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. After Elyria tied game one at 4-4 on kills from 510 senior middle Brigette Jones, Bee Gee broke ahead 8-4 on serving by senior outside Ashley Dunn. The Bobcats continued that margin to 22-17 as 510 outside Kelsey Lahey and 511 senior middle Paige DeVriendt chipped in with kills. But three Bobcat errors, along with sophomore outside Shelby Obitts serving an ace and junior outside Kristen Boros spiking a kill, left things tied at 22. But the Pioneers gave back on point, and then hit long after a block by Bobcat setter Jordan Dunn. That was followed by a long volley with notable digs by Jones and Bee Gee defender Kara Maxey. Ashley Dunn finally ended the game with a cross-court shot from the left. Bee Gee jumped to a 7-1 advantage in game two and held the lead to 20-15, helped by more blocks from Ashley Dunn. Elyria scored two on a well placed hit by setter Shelby Regiec and an ace from Jones that was dug over but out. Then the teams started making errors. Elyria served long, but the Bobcats more than compensated with four miscues and the Pioneers rallied to tie at 22 as Boros contributed a kill. Bee Gee regained the lead on an Elyria favor and went up 24-22 on a double block from 510 freshman outside Sarah Sikula and 62 sophomore middle Chelsey Watson. When the Pioneers failed to return setter Jordan Dunns serve, the game was over. Game three saw Bee Gee take a 13-7 lead, and Elyria then circle its wagons and roar back on three kills by Jones. A kill by Boros put the Pioneers on top 19-18. Bee Gee scored the next two and Obitts retied with a blast to back middle. Then the roof fell in for Elyria. Bowling Greens wall was still standing, however, in the form of Watson who boomed a block kill in the middle, and joined forces with Sikula for a double block. A long volley ended when a Pioneer went too far, and Watson block killed again. Elyria senior outside Jazmyn Corlew stopped the run with a shot to an empty corner, but Ashley Dunn slammed a set from Jordan Dunn to the corner and the match was over. ********************************************************************** Mentor Lake Catholic topped host Mentor for ninth place 25-14, 25-13, 23-25, 25-17. The Cougars balooned a 12-10 game one lead to 20-10 behind serving from junior libero Kelly Stenger, and kills by outside hitting star Bridget Grdina. The game winner came on a block from senior middle Chelsey Regovich. Lake Catholic again rolled to a 20-10 lead in game two. Junior right side Nicole Snyder blocked and senior outside Gina Catania spiked the Cougars home from there. The teams traded leads in game three, before Lake Catholic seemingly pulled away at the end only to have Mentor pull the rug from under them. Mentor went up 15-13 on a four-point run in which middle hitter Katie Sullivan pounded a Samantha Muzic backset, libero Tia Corder aced, sophomore middle Kara Berger spiked a kill and outside Katie Dreger block killed. The Cougars responded with four points on kills from Regovich and junior outside Beth Switzler. Mentor retied at 17 as Berger blocked Regovich and Dreger tipped into back left. But the Cougars were the beneficiaries of three Cardinal miscues, and after another kill by Switzler and a double block from Snyder and junior middle Kristin Primozic they seemed on their way to a three-game sweep. Mentor had other ideas. Senior outside McKenna Maurer broke the run with a kill. Snyder clobbered a backset from junior Audry Lucha to make it 23-18, but senior outside Kristy Murphy answered with three kills for the Cardinals. Then she helped Sullivan on a double block. And when two errors by the Cougars gave Mentor a 24-23 lead, Murphy pounded a game winner into back middle. The Cardinals flew out 3-0 in game four and still led 8-6 after a kill by Sullivan. Lake Catholic scored four, led by Regovich, and went further ahead 13-9 on kills by Snyder and Catania. Mentor rallied to 15-13 and tied at 16 behind kills by Murphy and Dreger. But a comeback was not in the Cards, as after a timeout, Lake Catholic erupted for seven straight with Stenger serving and Grdina spiking and blocking for four points. Shortly after, Grdina hammered a shot fro Lucha down the left for match point. ********************************************************************** Wooster defeated Solon for eleventh place 25-22, 14-25, 25-17, 25-23. The winning Generals took a 14-9 game one lead. Solon rallied to tie behind serving of senior libero Shannen Johnson, but Wooster moved back in front 19-14, led by Liberty University recruit middle hitter/setter Jade Craycraft and junior middle Cameron DalPra. With the Generals up 24-17, Solon made things tense as junior outside Lindsey Joseph spiked three kills, before Craycraft put the game away with a shot from the left. Freshman defensive specialist Kaylee Kruse served Solon to a 9-1 game two lead and the Comets, paced by hitting and blocking from senior outside Mea Anton, 510 middle Bethany Lobaza and Joseph, never looked back. A spike by Lobaza that was blocked over but out ended the game. Wooster jumped out 4-0 in the third set, Solon tied at four on serving by setter Elizabeth George. Scoring went back and forth to 11-all, at which point the Generals pulled away. Sophomore outside Lauren Walker holed the game-winner. The Comets held small leads through several ties in game four up to 13-12. Wooster tied on a diving dig kill by sophomore defender Aimee Burgess, charged ahead 19-14 and kept pace to 24-19. But Solon rallied on kills from Anton and Lobaza. Their lead reduced to 24-22, the Generals called a timeout. Things really got tense when freshman Kristi Tekavec made a great save and Lobaza scored on a play at the net. But DalPra quashed hopes of a great comeback with a quick hit to her left that was dug out of bounds.
|
|
Copyright © 2002-2010 [ohiohsvb.com]. All rights reserved. |