TOP OF THE CROP

Volleyball

1: (1) Gilmour (2-0) 2: (4) Lake Catholic (2-1) 3: (2) NDCL (1-2) 4: (3) Riverside (0-1) 5: (5) Cardinal (6-0) 6: (6) Kirtland (2-1) 7: (8) Chardon (5-0) 8: (NR) Kenston (5-0) 9: (7) Berkshire (3-1) 10: (10) South (2-1)

Dropped out: West Geauga

Watch list: Beaumont, Mayfield, Perry, North, VASJ

Crop comments: Gilmour got its season off to a hot start after defeating NDCL in a state finals rematch and Lake Catholic. The Lancers now have back-to-back matches against St. Joseph Academy and Padua, two of the best teams in Ohio… Lake Catholic defeated Riverside in straight sets. The Cougars also jumped NDCL because they took a set against Gilmour, where NDCL was swept… Speaking of the Lions, they recorded their first win against Hathaway Brown in straight sets… Riverside has only had one match this season, the loss to Lake Catholic, and the Beavers schedule doesn’t get any easier. The next four matches for them are against teams in the Top of the Crop or on the watch list… Cardinal continued its hot start. It has only dropped one set this season… After an opening season loss to Independence, Kirtland won its next two games in straight sets, and has back-to-back big road matches against Berkshire and Cardinal. Those will be big games in the CVC Valley division standings… The WRC is also well-represented outside of Riverside with the undefeated duo of Chardon and Kenston, as well as South… The Bombers have had a flair for the dramatic early in the season with two matches going to five sets, and a fourth set against South that went to 31-29. Another big test for the Bombers will be on Sept. 2, as Riverside comes to town.