Division VII Semifinals: Calvert, Fort Loramie advance

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/15 in Mentor, OH! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: <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>   The teams that combined for just one loss on the season coming into the tournament will play for the state championship at 11 a.m. Friday back at the Nutter Center. Here's how it happened.   Tiffin Calvert 3, Norwalk St. Paul 0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-18)   The Senecas stayed undefeated at 28-0 with sound play all-around. It takes a solid game from opponents because they do not beat themselves. They make you earn every point. The big thing for head coach Lori Rombach's crew is the Senecas do not have any seniors and just three juniors.   Junior libero Claire Schoenberger led the way making a number of solid digs and throwing the Flyers off with line drive serves. Sophomore Kate Coleman also had a great game defensively with [player_tooltip player_id='790586' first='Gracie' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='503990' first='Bryn' last='Dircksen'] right there with them.   Dircksen then did a nice job spreading balls out. When St. Paul moved the block to one spot at the net, Dircksen sent hitters to another spot constantly keeping the Flyers guessing. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='790584' first='Hope' last='Waire'] led the Seneca offense with Megan Rombach, [player_tooltip player_id='480860' first='Bella' last='Borgio'], Karris Marinis and Emily Miller taking big swings.   St. Paul (20-8 overall) tried to stay with Calvert as best as possible. The Flyers just had a hard time flowing into system with the aggressive serving Senecas.   St. Paul graduates just one senior in setter [player_tooltip player_id='483807' first='Kristin' last='Matlack']. Head coach Angie Kalizewski finished her first season leading her alma mater.   Fort Loramie 3, Strasburg-Franklin 0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-12)   Fort Loramie runs a quick offense and it turned out to be too much for Strasburg-Franklin.   Things started with smooth first passes for Fort Loramie led by libero Katie Luthman with setter [player_tooltip player_id='572577' first='Jenna' last='Barhorst'] adding a nice all-around game. Barhorst then distributed the ball well to the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='718912' first='Victoria' last='Mescher'], [player_tooltip player_id='718902' first='Avery' last='Brandewie'], Julian Gaier and Deanna Rodeheffer for big kills.   Fort Loramie (27-1) doubled up Strasburg-Franklin (20-7) in many categories. That included 50-23 in kills and 45-21 in assists. Fort Loramie had eight aces to one for Strasburg-Franklin.   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='718919' first='Riley' last='Thomas'] had a nice game for Strasburg-Franklin recording a double-double. However, no one else could get in rhythm for the Tigers.   Strasburg-Franklin has three seniors. They are Thomas, Sierra Minard and Lauren Harvey.   Notable Performances    Schoenberger is a great leader for the Senecas. Schoenberger constantly calls out balls and her teammates get in position to make the plays if she can not get to the ball. Schoenberger lays out to get balls if necessary always hustling on the court. Her energy spreads to her teammates. Schoenberger made a dazzling dive to save a ball in the second game. Schoenberger makes quality hits and passes out of system for the Senecas. She added nice line drive serves. Schoenberger led Calvert with 13 digs and five aces in the win. Schoenberger said she tries to fill her teammates up with good energy so they can have a good day.     Dircksen did a wonderful job getting a number of hitters involved. She reads the court well putting her hitters in good positions to put balls down. Dirksen showed great poise and timing on the court setting her feet to make crisp sets. She can do a number of them from crease shots to the traditional go routes. Dircksen had 34 assists and seven digs in the Seneca win. Dircksen said the communication of where to put balls was great in the game.     Waire is one of the many young, but talented hitters for the Senecas. Waire is very tough in the middle of the net. She takes hard swings and mixes in tips. Waire led the Senecas with 10 kills in the win. Waire credited her teammates for helping her adjust to the varsity level.     Cuturic did what she could to keep plays alive for the Flyers. She tried to anticipate where balls were going and line up her arms to make good passes. Cuturic finished with 19 digs for St. Paul.     Barhorst turned out to be the best player on the floor in this semifinal group. She not only jump sets parallel to the net, but also toward the net on short sets. She had Fort Loramie in rhythm all game. Barhorst has a deceptive setter dump and does a great job out of system. Barhorst also won jousts at the net. Barhorst credited the defense for good first passes allowing her to set up the dynamic Fort Loramie hitters.     Mescher did most of the damage at the net for Fort Loramie. Mescher took the short sets from Barhorst and slammed balls down at tough angles. Mescher also did a good job setting up blocks making it difficult on the Tigers at the net. Mescher had 15 kills to go with one solo and one assisted block. Mescher credited Barhorst for her hard work, setting Fort Loramie up for success.     Thomas did what she could to give the Tigers a chance. When good sets came her way, Thomas took great swings landing balls to different parts of the court. Thomas finished her career with 11 kills and 10 digs.

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/15 in Mentor, OH! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: https://events.prepdig.com/e/1305/register/ohio-top-250-expo

The teams that combined for just one loss on the season coming into the tournament will play for the state championship at 11 a.m. Friday back at the Nutter Center. Here's how it happened.

Tiffin Calvert 3, Norwalk St. Paul 0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-18)

The Senecas stayed undefeated at 28-0 with sound play all-around. It takes a solid game from opponents because they do not beat themselves. They make you earn every point. The big thing for head coach Lori Rombach's crew is the Senecas do not have any seniors and just three juniors.

Junior libero Claire Schoenberger led the way making a number of solid digs and throwing the Flyers off with line drive serves. Sophomore Kate Coleman also had a great game defensively with Gracie Miller Gracie Miller 5'8" | DS/L/OH Calvert | 2028 State OH and Bryn Dircksen Bryn Dircksen 5'8" | S/DS/L Calvert | 2027 State OH right there with them.

Dircksen then did a nice job spreading balls out. When St. Paul moved the block to one spot at the net, Dircksen sent hitters to another spot constantly keeping the Flyers guessing. Freshman Hope Waire Hope Waire 5'9" | MB/OH Calvert | 2028 OH led the Seneca offense with Megan Rombach, Bella Borgio Bella Borgio 6'0" | OH Calvert | 2027 State OH , Karris Marinis and Emily Miller taking big swings.

St. Paul (20-8 overall) tried to stay with Calvert as best as possible. The Flyers just had a hard time flowing into system with the aggressive serving Senecas.

St. Paul graduates just one senior in setter Kristin Matlack Kristin Matlack 5'10" | S Saint Paul | 2025 State OH . Head coach Angie Kalizewski finished her first season leading her alma mater.

Fort Loramie 3, Strasburg-Franklin 0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-12)

Fort Loramie runs a quick offense and it turned out to be too much for Strasburg-Franklin.

Things started with smooth first passes for Fort Loramie led by libero Katie Luthman with setter Jenna Barhorst Jenna Barhorst 5'8" | S Fort Loramie | 2025 State OH adding a nice all-around game. Barhorst then distributed the ball well to the likes of Victoria Mescher Victoria Mescher 6'0" | MB Fort Loramie | 2025 State OH , Avery Brandewie Avery Brandewie 5'10" | OH Fort Loramie | 2025 State OH , Julian Gaier and Deanna Rodeheffer for big kills.

Fort Loramie (27-1) doubled up Strasburg-Franklin (20-7) in many categories. That included 50-23 in kills and 45-21 in assists. Fort Loramie had eight aces to one for Strasburg-Franklin.

Senior Riley Thomas Riley Thomas 5'11" | MB/OH Strasburg-Franklin | 2025 State OH had a nice game for Strasburg-Franklin recording a double-double. However, no one else could get in rhythm for the Tigers.