Division IV State Tournament Preview

<!-- 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>Three teams ranked in the final Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association Division IV Top 10 made it to Dayton for the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third-ranked Roger Bacon Spartans (23-4 overall) survived a region that featured top-ranked McNicholas and second-ranked Kenton Ridge to make it to the semifinals. The Spartans did it with balance against McNicholas and will need it more in the state semifinals as Roger Bacon head coach Alyssa Flading said senior University of Toledo commit [player_tooltip player_id='179022' first='Mariah' last='Gaines'] will not be playing in it. Gaines went out with an injury in the third game against McNicholas. Gaines is second in the Miami Valley Conference with 334 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roger Bacon senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='152056' first='Ally' last='Hughes'] does a great job distributing the ball. Senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='151983' first='Raegan' last='Waller'] said Flading and staff put together solid game plans using various resources and that makes the Spartans feel calm going into the game. Hughes leads the [program_tooltip program_id='431851' first='MVC' last=''] with 798 assists and Waller is fourth in kills with 207. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='772254' first='Etellina' last='Jackson'], Morgan Sunderman and even senior Marilyn Hoffmann have put down big kills and come up with solid blocks helping the Spartans control the net. Waller leads the [program_tooltip program_id='431851' first='MVC' last=''] with 49 blocks on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The blocking helped the Roger Bacon defenders pick up deflected balls and start the potent offense. Sophomore libero Elizabeth Strouble leads the [program_tooltip program_id='431851' first='MVC' last=''] with 366 digs and senior defensive specialist Ava Otto is fifth with 232. Otto said the Spartans had their best blocking game against McNicholas and the hope is to see that continue Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans are making their ninth appearance in the state tournament. They won state championships in 2005, 2004 and 2001. They are facing a Vincent Warren (23-2) team making the first state tournament appearance in school history at 5:30 p.m. at Vandalia Butler High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors have balance led by senior 6-0 Ohio University commit [player_tooltip player_id='176102' first='Madyson' last='Long'] and junior 6-0 outside hitter Syndey Starcher. Long has 404 kills on the season and Starcher has 282. Senior setter Payge Cornell has 848 assists on the season and just surpassed 2,000 for her career. Sophomore Elayna Greenwalt and Senior Sarah Pettey have 145 and 144 kills, respectively. Starcher and Greenwalt are also solid blockers. Long also leads Warren with 364 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second game features two teams that have been to state before. The Marlington Dukes (26-1) lost to Mercy McAuley in the state semifinals last year and the Shelby Whippets (24-3) are back in the state tournament for the first time since 1990.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start with senior [player_tooltip player_id='289169' first='Jacsyn' last='Hilliard'] for the Dukes who has a team-high 383 digs. Setter Cali Young then distributes the ball well with 924 assists. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='289168' first='Layne' last='Graffice'] receives the most attempts leading the Dukes with 488 kills. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484385' first='Danica' last='Sarchione'] and junior Giana Bogunovich follow with 268 and 202 kills, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelby won a share of the Mid-Ohio Athletic League with Highland at 12-2. Senior setter Baylie Hoffbauer is ranked in the top 25 in the state with 870 assists. Libero Kendra Walp leads the Whippets with 490 digs. Junior Madison Henkel leads Shelby with 315 kills and senior Lexi Mohn has 286.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["151983"],"_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":716935,"_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-672c450558673"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Waller (pictured) uses her size well in the middle for the Spartans. Her presence helps open space for teammates with one-on-one blocking opportunities. Waller is really tough on short sets in the creases and back set slides. Waller leaps up high in the air for blocking and forces opponents to go around or over her making it easier on defensive specialists. Waller leads the Miami Valley Conference with 49 blocks and is fourth with 207 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":716936,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ava Otto","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Roger Bacon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672c45055876d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Otto cleans up things well in the back for the Spartans. She communicates well with her teammates making crisp passes and does not hesitate to lay out to keep plays alive. Otto has improved her attacks this season. Otto is fifth in the [program_tooltip program_id='431851' first='MVC' last=''] with 232 digs this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["176102"],"_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-672c4505587d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Long does a wonderful job controlling the net for the Warriors. She extends her hands high forming good double blocks putting a good number down. Long is a versatile player for the Warriors. Long makes good passes then quickly sets up with short steps to the net on offense. She can pound balls to the back row and even go off blockers and out of bounds for points. Long has 364 digs and 404 kills on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cali Young","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Marlington","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672c450558887"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Young sets up her hitters well to put balls down. Defenders have to respect the other hitters so much that the middle of the floor often opens up for setter dumps for Young. Young is also a tough server and valuable defender for the Dukes. She makes good passes and leaps up high at the net to deny balls from coming to her side of the net. Young has 924 assists on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kendra Walp","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Shelby","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-672c45055893b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Walp does a great job patrolling the back line for the Whippets. She steadies her feet and makes solid passes and quickly gets her hands up on hard hit balls. Walp earns Shelby a lot of points serving with good line drives. Walp has 490 digs on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->