Division II State Semifinals: Top two ranked teams move on

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/15 in Mentor, OH! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee!</strong> Here's the&nbsp;link to the event page:&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo">https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two teams that have been ranked in the top spot in the six Ohio Volleyball Coaches Association polls will determine the state champion on the court at the Wright State Nutter Center on Saturday at 11 a.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Anthony Wayne Generals (25-1) and St. Ursula Bulldogs (21-4) had to survive big challenges in the state semifinals to make it to that final game. Here's how it happened.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anthony Wayne 3, Avon 2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 15-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Generals went to a fifth rotation in the final game and it paid dividends in terms of matchup for them. They started with junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='227830' first='Mallory' last='Pike'] on the left front and put their tallest blocker in 6-0 sophomore Elise Johnson across the net from Avon 6-0 junior outside [player_tooltip player_id='401341' first='Londyn' last='Stone'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='227830' first='Mallory' last='Pike'] finished with an astounding 32 kills to go with 12 digs to help the Generals into the championship game in their first appearance in the state semifinals. Twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='403527' first='Leah' last='Pike'] added 18 kills with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='732846' first='Charley' last='Gardner'] tallying 13 to go with 17 digs. Senior Libero Ryan Dzierwa and [player_tooltip player_id='412607' first='Jessie' last='Kennelly'] started things with 19 and 12 digs, respectively and setter [player_tooltip player_id='476378' first='Aubrey' last='Rieger'] recorded 46 assists as Anthony Wayne recorded a .230 hitting percentage to .170 for Avon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Avon (24-3) also had a good game from libero Thea Beran with 26 digs and Addie Reinart had 14. Kaitlyn Pojman and Lily Hamilton shared the setting duties with Stone, Hamilton and [player_tooltip player_id='728725' first='Bethany' last='Sherwood'] leading the offense. Stone finished with 25 kills with Hamilton and Sherwood tallying 14 and 12, respectively. Pojman had 21 assists and Hamilton added 19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Generals scored the first four points of the final game and never looked back as [player_tooltip player_id='227830' first='Mallory' last='Pike'] landed two kills. They extended it to 12-6 before finishing the game on a 3-0 run. Gardner and [player_tooltip player_id='403527' first='Leah' last='Pike'] had kills during that final push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Avon graduates six seniors this spring. They are Beran, Ana Tomazic, Reinart, Ally Urban, [player_tooltip player_id='506162' first='Ava' last='Brediger'] and Sam Thomas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Ursula 3, Wadsworth 1 (25-19, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs withstood a huge challenge from the Grizzlies (24-3) to make it back to the state championship for the first time since winning their last of eight state championships in 2003.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='204230' first='Emma' last='Frietch'] provided her usual spark on defense diving after balls to keep plays alive for St. Ursula with 21 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='403535' first='Maddie' last='Cho'] and Penelope Bolinger also gave the Bulldogs good touches defensively along with big serves. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='152344' first='Emsley' last='Venard'] directed the offense well with 36 assists and helped with big adjustments defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That allowed St. Ursula senior [player_tooltip player_id='176096' first='Molly' last='Creech'] to do her usual damage with strong swings. Creech finished with 20 kills, three aces and 11 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones'] made two solo blocks at the net and one assisted to go with eight kills. [player_tooltip player_id='227797' first='Gabby' last='Semona'], Lauren Dorger and [player_tooltip player_id='480820' first='Lola' last='Waleskowski'] also made big plays helping the Bulldogs control the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wadsworth (24-3) came into the game without injured senior libero Maddie Blackburn, but still put up a battle as freshman Eliana Wolf stepped into Blackburn's spot and had 21 digs. Junior 6-1 setter [player_tooltip player_id='712325' first='Rowan' last='Kelly'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='735045' first='Lauren' last='Decker'] had good all-around games. Kelly had 32 assists, seven aces and 15 digs with Decker recording 24 kills and 16 digs. Others did the small things to keep the Grizzlies in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wadsworth graduates three seniors in Blackburn, [player_tooltip player_id='261351' first='Reese' last='Kelly'] and [player_tooltip player_id='521593' first='Karley' last='Allwood'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["176096"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":717915,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672de8ebea9fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Creech (pictured) took over in the third game taking hard shots from both the front and back row. She added in a powerful serve and timely digs doing whatever it took to make sure the Bulldogs advanced to the state championship game. Creech credited the school support for helping them push through the tough game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["152055"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":717916,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672de8ebeaa62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones provided a solid net presence against the determined Grizzlies. Jones uses her experience to time up opposing hitters at the net and took some strong swings in the middle. Jones forced the Wadsworth attackers to go around her, helping out the St. Ursula defensive specialists. Jones especially came up huge in that fourth game to help the Bulldogs build a nice lead. Jones said being aggressive on defense was key to adjusting to the Wadsworth hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["712325"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672deb799b537"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kelly did a great job directing the Wadsworth offense all game. Kelly saw the other side of the net and tried to direct her hitters away from the strong St. Ursula blocks with good angles. Kelly also did a good job defensively, digging up some hard shots from Creech to keep plays alive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["403527"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":717919,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672deb799b5ef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One can tell the chemistry the Pike twins have on the court with each other and it extends to their teammates. They put each other in good position to succeed and serve as good leaders on the court with great communication.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401341"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":718337,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672deb799b661"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stone takes a number of good shots from the pins and the middle. Stone can go around blockers and even off blockers for big hits. Stone also forms a nice double block at the net with her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->