TOP OF THE CROP

Volleyball

1: (1) Avon 17-0 2: (2) Olmsted Falls 16-2 3: (3) Amherst 15-4 4: (6) Avon Lake 13-7 5: (5) Firelands 14-4 6: (8) Vermilion 12-7 7: (5) Brookside 12-5 8: (7) Elyria 12-7 9: (4) Keystone 13-6 10: (10) Bay 12-6

Watch List: Columbia 8-8, Westlake 8-7, Open Door 9-10, Elyria Catholic 12-13 Crop Comments: Avon continues to roll through the competition, clinching at least a share of their fifth straight Southwestern Conference in the process. With wins over Olmsted Falls and Amherst this week, the Eagles could finish unbeaten in conference for a third straight year. … Olmsted Falls is still alive in the SWC title race, needing a win over Avon and an Eagles’ loss to Amherst on Oct. 15. … Amherst fell in three sets to Avon Lake on Oct. 5, as the Shoregals are now riding a seven-game win streak. The Comets are in the driver’s seat for third place in the conference, but Avon Lake looks to be a dangerous squad playing its best at the right time. … In the Lorain County League race, things are going to come down to the wire. It’s now a two-team race as Keystone dropped a match to Black River on Oct. 6. Firelands and Brookside don’t have any head-to-head matchups left this season, so all eyes will be on the Falcons’ and Cardinals’ matches this week. … Vermilion keeps rolling, winners of nine in a row. An impressive sweep of state-ranked Sandusky Bay Conference champion Perkins showed how dangerous the Sailors are. … Elyria and Bay continue to play solid volleyball, the Rockets have won seven of their last nine, while the Pioneers have hit a rough stretch with losses to Amherst, Avon Lake and Strongsville. But Elyria has been playing shorthanded, and the Pioneers are still a dangerous team.