Potential rematches add intrigue to postseason

As playoff competition progresses, it inherently gains magnitude as games, matches or meets become more meaningful.

Champions are crowned and seasons end.

The volleyball postseason began Oct. 16 with sectional semifinal contests. When district play begins next week and intensity heightens, the area’s playoff formula adds two potent variables: rematches and rivalries.

Based on recent history, it’s nearly an expectation for certain matches to decide district titles. Riverside and Mentor at Euclid. Lake Catholic and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin at Jefferson. Cardinal and Berkshire in Burton.

Each pits rivals on opposite sides of the net. Each offers a rematch of a previous contest earlier in the season, for a previous winner to cement its superiority or an earlier loser to exact revenge.

A third match between Lake Catholic and NDCL is an institution of October volleyball, one that annually decides the Division II Jefferson District champion.

The Cougars and Lions split the season series, sweeping one another when they visited the other’s home floor.

Lake Catholic endured a transition period that was rocky, at times, under new coach Rob Cline. The Cougars’ buy-in to their new coach’s philosophies and schemes is the catalyst to a third consecutive state run. Lake Catholic closed its season with a 3-0 win on NDCL’s home floor.

NDCL beat the Cougars in the teams’ first meeting, punctuating wins over a pair of top 10-ranked teams in a single week. Senior Alexis Zienka was injured during the Lions’ sweep in Mentor, but returned to the floor late in the season. NDCL lost its final seven matches headed into the postseason as coach Tom Ray grappled with minor injuries. With their best player back in the fold and an overall bill of good health, NDCL is dangerous.

Suffice to say, a third sweep in this series seems unlikely should the teams meet for a third time.

A Jefferson District title portends further postseason success. The past four seasons, the district champion advanced through the regional round to the state tournament.

A tertiary match may be in order between neighboring rivals Cardinal and Berkshire. The top-seeded Huskies defeated the No. 2-seed Badgers twice during the regular season en route to an undefeated record in the Chagrin Valley Conference’s Valley division.

Cardinal won its first CVC Valley title since Karisca Chambers took over as head coach four seasons ago. She’s groomed a group of freshman into an elite team that’s poised to break through in the postseason. Camille Cummins emerged as one of the area’s top offensive players alongside Kaylee Klepper, a constant for the Huskies’ varsity team the past three seasons.

Berkshire lost one of the area’s best players in McKenna Tucek, who now competes at Georgia Southern. In her stead, senior Madison Chapman’s stepped up as the team’s leader and Tucek’s younger sister, Delaney, does everything at a high level from her outside hitter position. The Badgers are dangerous when they put everything together.

The two previous matches each needed five sets to decide a victor. A potential district title match should go the distance, too.

Mentor began its season with a three-set win over Riverside. A possible rematch between the Cardinals and Beavers would end one team’s postseason.

Mentor’s volleyball team already had the talent to win another district championship. Emma Kloski is a leader at outside hitter, libero Emma Walker anchors the back row and Caitlin Churney can dominate a game from the middle. Achievement spurred by tragedy is a well-known narrative in sports. After the passing of coach Stephen Scherlacher last week, the Cardinals enter the postseason with as much inspiration as any to succeed in his memory.

Riverside is the defending Euclid District champion and the Beavers look poised to defend that title with a new cast of contributors. Sophomore middle Jen Sivak is one of the area’s most dominant players, setter Aubrey Low and libero Taylor Reigle play with consistency and coach Ali Schultz has a variety of hitting options.

If Mentor and Riverside rematch Oct. 27, the atmosphere will be among the state’s fiercest.

Reach Barnes at NBarnes@News-Herald. com. On Twitter: @natebarnes_

PAUL DICICCO — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD The Mentor Cardinals began the season facing Riverside, and the Division I teams could meet again in the Euclid District.