Volleyball state semifinal preview

Shawna Kelly, OhioHSsports.com, November 05, 2008 3:01 p.m.

All 16 teams have one thing in mind and that is the state championship title. Division I and II play Thursday, November 6 and Division III and IV compete on Friday in the state semifinals at Nutter Center at Wright State University. Every team has trained hard to make it to the final four with hopes of moving on to the state finals on Saturday.

Division I

The match-up: Brecksville-Broadview Heights (21-4) vs. Olmsted Falls (27-0)

The breakdown: The Brecksville Bees head to the semifinals for the first time since 1980. And what better way to break into the final four than against Southwestern Conference foes, the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have the edge taking the Bees 3-0 in both meetings this season. No. 2 Olmsted Falls' undefeated record made it the SWC Champions. Brecksville will look to middle hitter and Kent State recruit Meredith Paskert, outside/middle hitter Lindsey Remington and outside hitter Olivia Chrzanowski to lead the way for the Bees. Olmsted Falls has strength in outside hitter, George Washington recruit and Division I first-team All-Ohioan Lauren Whyte, middle hitter Christine Peffer and Division I second-team All-Ohio setter Dayna Roberts.

The match-up: Cincinnati Ursuline Academy (27-0) vs. Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (23-4)

The breakdown: The No. 1 Ursuline Lions and the No. 3 Mount Notre Dame Cougars are competing in a 2007 regional final rematch where the Cougars won in five and went as far as the state final before being defeated by Cincinnati Mother of Mercy. Both teams are loaded with talent going into the semifinals. Ursuline, the Girls Greater Cincinnati Scarlet Champions, carries three Division I first-team All-Ohio honorees with outside hitter Jade Henderson, setter Dani Reinert and middle hitter Katie Schings leading the charge. The Lions are also managed by Division I Coach of the Year Jeni Case. The Cougars have strong talent in Division I first-team All-Ohio setter Kelly Morrissey and libero Kylee Tarantino and Division I second-team All-Ohio outside hitter Paige Roback. In their two encounters during the regular season, Ursuline walked away with both wins, 3-1, 3-2.

Dision II

The match-up: Mansfield Madison Comprehensive (26-2) vs. Parma Padua Franciscan (24-3)

The breakdown: The State Semifinal contest will be the first pairing between the Madison Rams (No. 7) and the Padua Bruins (No. 4) since they played one another in a summer tournament at Maumee Bay. Both teams walked away victorious in their conferences with The Rams taking the Ohio Cardinal Conference title and the Bruins placing first in the North Coast League Blue Division. Both teams are also looking to redeem themselves from regional final losses in 2007. The Rams are following the lead of setter Jackie Schwamberger, Division II second-team All-Ohio honoree. Padua has first-team All-Ohio outside hitter Kaitlyn Leary taking charge for the Bruins.

The match-up: Kettering Archbishop Alter (19-7) vs. Columbus Bishop Hartley (22-5)

The breakdown: The No. 8Hartley Hawks are looking to make another appearance to the state final after falling to Toledo Central Catholic in 2007. The Hawks ended their regular season as the Central District champs and have been lead by Division II second-team All-Ohio setter Lindsay Gaughan. With this being the first match-up for the teams, the Archbishop Alter Knights (No. 15) are leaning on Division II first-team All-Ohio  outside hitter/setter Annalyse Schmitt to lead them to victory. The Knights have won three state titles since 2002.

Division III

The match-up: Lima Central Catholic (25-1) vs. Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (28-1)

The breakdown: The Lima Central Catholic Thunderbirds (No. 1) are hoping to become back-to-back state champions after taking the title in 2007. They are lead by Division III Coach of the Year Dave Franklin with strong talent from Division III first-team All-Ohio middle hitter Danielle Taflinger, second-team All-Ohio outside hitter JoJo Krieg and third-team All-Ohio setter Alexis Diglio. The Gilmour Lancers (No. 3) fell to Albany Alexander in the state semifinal in 2007 and are looking to upset the Thunderbirds in the first meeting between the teams. Division III first-team All-Ohio outside hitter Raysa Sylvester will be leading the way for Gilmour.

The match-up: Versailles (21-7) vs. Albany Alexander (21-7)

The breakdown: Both teams came so close to the state title in 2007. The Versailles Tigers (No. 15) fell to Roger Bacon in the regional final last year, while the Alexander Spartans (No. 4) were state runner-ups to Lima Central Catholic. Alexander is led by Division III first-team All-Ohio outside hitter Whitney Smith and third-team All-Ohio libero Lauren Raines. The Tigers will lean on Division III second-team All-Ohio middle hitter Megan Campbell in the state semifinal. This is the first meeting between the teams.

Division IV

The match-up: Maria Stein Marion Local (24-3) vs. Newark Catholic (26-1)

The breakdown: The Newark Catholic Green Wave (No. 3) is looking to come out on top of this 2007 state semifinal rematch. In their last post season meeting, the Marion Local Flyers (No. 2) defeated Newark Catholic in four games and went on to take the state title. With this being their first meeting of the year, Marion is looking to Division IV first-team All-Ohio outside hitter Alyssa Winner and second-team All-Ohioan libero Jessica Schwieterman to lead the charge. The Green Wave will count on Division IV first-team All-Ohio setter Laney Warthen and third-team All-Ohio middle hitter Angela McNulty to help them to victory.

The match-up: NewWashington Buckeye Central (25-2) vs. Jackson Center (27-1)

The breakdown: The Buckeye Central Bucks haven't been to the state final four since 2001. The Jackson Center Tigers (No. 1) are making a repeat appearance from 2007. The Tigers fell to Norwalk St. Paul last year in the semifinals. Jackson Center has a couple All-Ohioans---first-team outside hitters Casey Gates and Alissa Ware---to help take them to the state finals. Although Buckeye Central is unranked, they beat No. 13 Whillouby Cornerstone Christian and No. 18 Kidron Central Christian in the playoffs to make it this far.