Lorain bows out of postseason tournament

Avon and Amherst win and advance to set up SWC rematch between the co-champions

Playing against a storied program in the first round of the postseason is intimidating for any team, but Lorain coach Lynne Rositano is proud of how her team fought in a 3-0 loss to seventhseeded Magnificat in a Grafton District sectional semifinal Oct. 18.

A slow start doomed the Titans from the beginning as Lorain immediately fell into an 0-1

hole after losing the first set, 2514. But the 11-seed Titans didn’t go away quietly, giving Magnificat some trouble in 26-24 and 2523 second- and third-set losses.

“It took us a little bit to get started today. We had to adjust to the pace of the game, but once we did in that second and third match, we hung with a program that has been amazing for decades,” Rositano said. “For us to be able to hang with them and come within match point in two sets shows that Lorain volleyball is a great program, and it makes me really proud to be a part of that with the girls.”

Lorain was filled with senior leadership this season, having six upperclassmen on the roster, and as a coach, Rositano said that made the year that much easier knowing she had leaders on and off the court.

“To have six seniors on a team makes it easy on me as a coach because I know that there’s leadership with whoever is on the court,” Rositano said. “Either on the court or off the court there’s going to be leadership surrounding the program.”

Senior Sarah Leighliter, who had 15 digs, four blocks, and five kills in the match, said she’s not only proud of how her team performed against Magnificat, but how they worked together all season to reach goals they set.

Lorain earned a share of the Lake Erie League title for the first time since the formation of Lorain High School in 2010.

“I’m very proud of our team,” Leighliter said. “We had a very good season and we beat teams that we haven’t beat in forever, so I’m so proud of them ... and I’m happy that we fought as hard as we did.”

When asked about playing with this group of seniors, some of which have been playing together since middle school, Leighliter fought back tears describing the bond she shares with her teammates — a sentiment shared by all as the team gathered for one last huddle before parting ways.

“I love them,” Leighliter said of her fellow seniors. “We’ve been playing (together) for a while and I’ve known a couple of them since seventh grade ... They’re all so nice and so sweet. We all get

along great.” Lorain finishes 14-7. Magnificat moves on to face second-seeded Elyria in a sectional final on Oct. 20.

Avon sweeps North Olmsted

No. 3 seed Avon beat North Olmsted in straight sets on Oct. 18 to advance to a sectional final.

Both Avon coach Julie Radigan and her players agreed the team got off to a slow start, but managed to settle in despite a pesky North Olmsted team that wasn’t going down without a fight.

“I think we started off slow but once we started getting into the flow and started playing as a team, we really came together and played well,” sophomore Sydney Stone said. “(North Olmsted has) a really good defense and a big block and they know how to find the open spots on our floor. But that’s something that we figured out during the game — how to just go for the ball and play as a team.”

Stone had nine kills in

the match. Hallie Schroeder added 11 kills and 14 digs, Erin Gardner 19 digs and Maddy Jerdonek 27 assists.

First-year North Olmsted coach Mary Kate Evans knew going in the matchup would be lopsided — North Olmsted was seeded 13 out of 13 teams — but expressed so much pride in her team and what they’ve overcome this season.

“It all comes down to just the matchup,” Evans said. “Avon is, just look at the offensive weapons they have, look at the defensive weapons they have. They were a team I thought would just win it all and just give, in my opinion, St. Joe’s a run for their money in this district.

“When it came down to us, my team, all we wanted to do ... was compete and I feel like we did that tonight.”

North Olmsted lost, 25-16, 25-18, 25-21, but Evans said earlier this year her team would have laid down and given up after losing the first set. But in its last match, she saw a team that got better and better with each point.

“What I’m especially happy with is how we competed

at a consistent level,” Evans said. “Typically in the past three, four weeks, our scores have gone down. If we didn’t get that first (set) we kind of stopped. I didn’t feel that way tonight. I know we got better at the end and that’s all I can ask for from this group of girls and this group of seniors who upended everything they knew. They bought in, and this is the best we’ve played all year.” North Olmsted finishes 4-19. Avon will face Amherst in a sectional final on Oct. 20.

Amherst beats Midview

The No. 4 seeded Amherst Comets beat Midview, 3-0, Oct. 18 to set up a rubber match with Avon in a sectional final.

Last season, the Comets (18-5) faced St. Joseph in a sectional semifinal and were knocked out in the first round, so Coach Laurie Cogan is pleased her team found a way to stay alive in the postseason.

“In postseason you have one goal — find a way to win and move on, and that’s really

all it’s about,” Cogan said. “Statistically speaking, all the individual stats are irrelevant. It’s all about one stat —a ‘W’ — and we came out and accomplished our only goal tonight.

“We’re very pleased to be moving forward (because) last year in our sectional match we were one-anddone.”

Cogan gave 15 players an opportunity to play in the match, something she said was well-deserved after all the hard work the team has put in at practice.

“These kids play well in practice, and I don’t always feel like I have an opportunity to play them in every match so tonight, the way it was going, I just thought it was something I could do,” Cogan said. “They all deserve to be on the court tonight with the way they’ve practiced and so I feel very happy about the fact that 15 kids got on the court tonight.”

After dropping the first two sets, 25-15 and 25-15, the Middies tried climbing their way back into the match, scoring five-straight points

to get within 23-21.

“We looked really good for a few points, then all of a sudden it would back off,” Midview coach Lindsey Groomes said. “The talent is there and they work so hard, and so tonight it was about going out there, trying to leave it all out there and give everything that they had.

“I think they were ready to play. It is intimidating to go out and play Amherst, but I think they did really well.”

Ultimately, the Comets ended up winning the final set, 25-21.

The Amherst win sets up a showdown with Southwestern Conference foe and No. 3 seed Avon in a sectional final on Oct. 20. The season series is tied 1-1 and the Comets and Eagles were named 2016 SWC co-champions.

“When you come to this sectional, you’re bound to play conference teams,” Cogan said. “I’m looking forward to Thursday, as I’m sure Avon is looking forward to Thursday. It should be another great Amherst-Avon matchup.”

Midview finishes 4-19.