Text by Lisa Renwick with Eight & 322 photos from Franklin's Spiketacular tournament Saturday.
Opening night of the 2021 girls volleyball season was, well, a bit surprising and certainly did not lack excitement. Don’t expect Week 2 to be any different.
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Upset special
Remember last week I mentioned not counting out Meadville as a contender in talent-laden District 10 Class 3A. I’m just not sure I expected the Lady Bulldogs, who lost several key players to graduation and have a freshman running a relatively inexperienced offense, to be turning heads so quickly.
But Tim Schleicher had Meadville ready for its opener on Thursday (Meadville’s scheduled opener on Tuesday against Cambridge Springs was postponed) and the Bulldogs swept past Maplewood 25-18, 25-23, 25-19.
Maplewood entered the match ranked ninth in the state in Class 2A by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. Meadville, which missed the postseason a year ago, was unranked.
Ella Stewart paced Meadville with 11 kills. Freshman Emma Parks had six kills, while fellow frosh Elliot Schleicher tallied 27 assists with 10 digs.
For the Tigers, Sadie Thomas had 14 kills and 10 digs. Avery Brunot had six kills; Bailey Varndell had 21 assists and 12 digs; and McKenna Crawford tallied 16 digs.
Remember last week I mentioned not counting out Meadville as a contender in talent-laden District 10 Class 3A. I’m just not sure I expected the Lady Bulldogs, who lost several key players to graduation and have a freshman running a relatively inexperienced offense, to be turning heads so quickly.
But Tim Schleicher had Meadville ready for its opener on Thursday (Meadville’s scheduled opener on Tuesday against Cambridge Springs was postponed) and the Bulldogs swept past Maplewood 25-18, 25-23, 25-19.
Maplewood entered the match ranked ninth in the state in Class 2A by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association. Meadville, which missed the postseason a year ago, was unranked.
Ella Stewart paced Meadville with 11 kills. Freshman Emma Parks had six kills, while fellow frosh Elliot Schleicher tallied 27 assists with 10 digs.
For the Tigers, Sadie Thomas had 14 kills and 10 digs. Avery Brunot had six kills; Bailey Varndell had 21 assists and 12 digs; and McKenna Crawford tallied 16 digs.
Route 8 rivalry went the distance
In case you missed it, Franklin held off Oil City in five sets to open Region 3 play on Tuesday. The seesaw battle one would expect against backyard rivals saw the Knights pulling off a 15-12 victory in the fifth set for the win. Set scores were: 25-21, 13-25, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 15-12.
Elsewhere, Hickory survived in a close one against Lakeview, another team to keep an eye on in Class 2A. The Hornets bested Cochranton graduate Lisa (Hill) Herrick’s Sailors 17-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-19. For the Sailors, Elsa Cole paced the offense with 13 kills. Leah Hostetler had seven kills, Zoe Proper eight kills and eight digs, Priscilla Cole 10 digs, Jose Gadsby 15 digs, and Jordan Olson and Melody Shillito seven kills each.
Union City swept past Titusville 25-17, 25-12, 25-13.
In case you missed it, Franklin held off Oil City in five sets to open Region 3 play on Tuesday. The seesaw battle one would expect against backyard rivals saw the Knights pulling off a 15-12 victory in the fifth set for the win. Set scores were: 25-21, 13-25, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 15-12.
Elsewhere, Hickory survived in a close one against Lakeview, another team to keep an eye on in Class 2A. The Hornets bested Cochranton graduate Lisa (Hill) Herrick’s Sailors 17-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-19. For the Sailors, Elsa Cole paced the offense with 13 kills. Leah Hostetler had seven kills, Zoe Proper eight kills and eight digs, Priscilla Cole 10 digs, Jose Gadsby 15 digs, and Jordan Olson and Melody Shillito seven kills each.
Union City swept past Titusville 25-17, 25-12, 25-13.
Flying Orioles
Rocky Grove is off to a hot start and is tied with West Middlesex atop the Region 1 standings at 2-0.
The Orioles opened the campaign on Wednesday with a 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 24-26, 15-10 win over Jamestown and followed up with another five-set win over Kennedy Catholic (22-25, 20-25, 25-11, 25-23, 15-10) on Thursday.
Against KC, Courtney Clark had 20 assists, five aces and four kills. Devin Rhoads tallied four aces and 14 digs. Emma Trinch had three aces. Abby Williams tallied 12 kills and seven digs.
Cranberry swept past Oil City on Wednesday 25-13, 25-21, 25-13. Franklin fell to Clarion-Limestone 25-22, 25-16, 25-15.
Gabby LaJeuesee had 19 digs and Jennifer Blum three kills for the Knights (0-2).
Mercyhurst Prep got past Titusville in three sets, 25-12, 25-5, 25-20.
Rocky Grove is off to a hot start and is tied with West Middlesex atop the Region 1 standings at 2-0.
The Orioles opened the campaign on Wednesday with a 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 24-26, 15-10 win over Jamestown and followed up with another five-set win over Kennedy Catholic (22-25, 20-25, 25-11, 25-23, 15-10) on Thursday.
Against KC, Courtney Clark had 20 assists, five aces and four kills. Devin Rhoads tallied four aces and 14 digs. Emma Trinch had three aces. Abby Williams tallied 12 kills and seven digs.
Cranberry swept past Oil City on Wednesday 25-13, 25-21, 25-13. Franklin fell to Clarion-Limestone 25-22, 25-16, 25-15.
Gabby LaJeuesee had 19 digs and Jennifer Blum three kills for the Knights (0-2).
Mercyhurst Prep got past Titusville in three sets, 25-12, 25-5, 25-20.
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Moving parts
There were some changes in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association’s Top 10 rankings this week.
Clarion remains the top ranked team in Class 1A. Rounding out the top 10 are: 2. West Branch, 3. Sacred Heart Academy, 4. West Shamokin, 5. Marian Catholic, 6. Bishop Canevin, 7. Conemaugh Township, 8. Greensburg Central Catholic, 9. Nativity BVM and 10. Fort Cherry.
There was also no movement atop the Class 2A rankings with Trinity retaining the top spot. Maplewood did drop to No. 10, while Harbor Creek bumped up from No. 6 to No. 5. Philipsburg Osceola is No. 2, North Catholic No. 3, York Catholic No. 4, Bald Eagle Area No. 6, Shenango No. 7, Avonworth No. 8 and Pine Grove Area No. 9.
In Class 3A, Conneaut went 1-1 in the opening week and remains No. 9. Bethlehem Catholic sits on top followed by No. 2 Montour, No. 3 Spring Grove, No. 4 Freeport, No. 5 York Suburban, No. 6 Pope John Paul II, No. 7 Southern Lehigh, No. 8 Armstrong and No. 10 Villa Maria (District 1).
There were some changes in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association’s Top 10 rankings this week.
Clarion remains the top ranked team in Class 1A. Rounding out the top 10 are: 2. West Branch, 3. Sacred Heart Academy, 4. West Shamokin, 5. Marian Catholic, 6. Bishop Canevin, 7. Conemaugh Township, 8. Greensburg Central Catholic, 9. Nativity BVM and 10. Fort Cherry.
There was also no movement atop the Class 2A rankings with Trinity retaining the top spot. Maplewood did drop to No. 10, while Harbor Creek bumped up from No. 6 to No. 5. Philipsburg Osceola is No. 2, North Catholic No. 3, York Catholic No. 4, Bald Eagle Area No. 6, Shenango No. 7, Avonworth No. 8 and Pine Grove Area No. 9.
In Class 3A, Conneaut went 1-1 in the opening week and remains No. 9. Bethlehem Catholic sits on top followed by No. 2 Montour, No. 3 Spring Grove, No. 4 Freeport, No. 5 York Suburban, No. 6 Pope John Paul II, No. 7 Southern Lehigh, No. 8 Armstrong and No. 10 Villa Maria (District 1).
A look ahead
One of the biggest matches of the week is Cochranton’s season opener on Tuesday. The Cardinals travel to face Saegertown in a rematch of last year’s District 10 Class 1A final. If you are limited to attending just one volleyball match this week, this is your ticket.
Here’s how the rest of the week is shaping up:
One of the biggest matches of the week is Cochranton’s season opener on Tuesday. The Cardinals travel to face Saegertown in a rematch of last year’s District 10 Class 1A final. If you are limited to attending just one volleyball match this week, this is your ticket.
Here’s how the rest of the week is shaping up:
| Tuesday Commodore Perry at Rocky Grove Oil City at Sharpsville Lakeview at Titusville Cochranton at Saegertown | Thursday Rocky Grove at Farrell Tidioute Charter at Cochranton Franklin at Greenville Titusville at Maplewood Slippery Rock at Oil City |
See you next week for all the highlights.
Lisa Renwick was a long-time sports reporter and sports editor for The Meadville Tribune. She recently took another job in order to spend time with her family and especially her daughter Brynlee who is entering kindergarten.
Lisa has covered state champion volleyball programs in her tenure and is main reason girls athletics and volleyball has gotten such award winning coverage over the last 20 years. She has agreed to help us out here at Eight and 322 with this fall's volleyball season. We are thrilled to have her.
Lisa Renwick was a long-time sports reporter and sports editor for The Meadville Tribune. She recently took another job in order to spend time with her family and especially her daughter Brynlee who is entering kindergarten.
Lisa has covered state champion volleyball programs in her tenure and is main reason girls athletics and volleyball has gotten such award winning coverage over the last 20 years. She has agreed to help us out here at Eight and 322 with this fall's volleyball season. We are thrilled to have her.
Lisa has covered state champion volleyball programs in her tenure and is main reason girls athletics and volleyball has gotten such award winning coverage over the last 20 years. She has agreed to help us out here at Eight and 322 with this fall's volleyball season. We are thrilled to have her.
Lisa Renwick was a long-time sports reporter and sports editor for The Meadville Tribune. She recently took another job in order to spend time with her family and especially her daughter Brynlee who is entering kindergarten.
Lisa has covered state champion volleyball programs in her tenure and is main reason girls athletics and volleyball has gotten such award winning coverage over the last 20 years. She has agreed to help us out here at Eight and 322 with this fall's volleyball season. We are thrilled to have her.
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