Columbiana’s Landry Smith spikes against United’s Aurianna Cusick (24), Rileah Phillips (4) and Kendall Erb (18) on Thursday. (Morning Journal/Michael Burich)

COLUMBIANA — Columbiana’s volleyball team may have won two Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference titles in a row, but this year’s team has more a youthful flavor.

Thursday’s challengers United were in the same boat as each team had one senior each in the starting lineup.

The Clippers still showed why they are still considered favorites in the league with a 25-11, 25-, 25- win on Thursday.

Columbiana is 6-0 and 4-0 in the league, while United fell to 4-3 and 3-1.

East Palestine, which improved to 4-0 in the league as well after a sweep of Wellsville on Thursday, is tied with the Clippers for the EOAC lead. Those two teams won’t play for the first time until Sept. 15.

For the Clippers, Landry Smith sparkled at the net and in the serving game with 10 kills, eight points, two blocks, four aces and four digs. Addisyn Dangler added seven kills, three aces, two blocks and six points. Eva Waller had four kills, 25 assists, eight points and four digs. Evy Rapp had five kills, two aces, two assists, four points and eight digs. Lily Jackson had three aces, eight points and 15 digs. Hailee Gomoll had four aces and 10 points. Kayla McCarthy had 18 digs. Audrey Barborak had four kills.

United won the jayvee match, 25-15, 25-21. For the Clippers, Ava Marks had two kills, two aces, five points and eight digs. Ella Eisenbraun had six kills, two aces, five assists, six points and two digs. Riley Fisk had three kills and eight digs. Sylvia Rapp had three aces, four points and five digs.

Columbiana will be at Leetonia on Tuesday. United will host East Palestine on Tuesday.

East Palestine 3, Wellsville 0

EAST PALESTINE — It looks like East Palestine is ready to be in the fight for the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference title.

The Bulldogs completed a 25-13, 25-14, 25-17 sweep of Wellsville on Thursday to move to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the EOAC.

East Palestine shares the league lead with Columbiana.

Wellsville fell to 0-4 overall and 0-4 in the EOAC. The Tigers are currently in their worst losing skid in EOAC history at four matches.

For the Bulldogs, Destiney Burtyk had seven kills, 12 points, five aces and three blocks. Amara Wilson added eight kills, 17 digs and eight points. Kennedy Andre had 12 assists, four kills, 10 points and three aces. Cami Kridler had 14 assists, nine digs and seven points. Marley Blythe had eight kills, 10 digs, 10 points and three aces.

East Palestine will be at United on Tuesday.

Southern 3, Lisbon 2

LISBON — Southern edged Lisbon in five sets, 17-25, 25-19, 25-16, 22-25, 15-9, Thursday.

Southern is 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the EOAC.

Brooke Boyle totaled 14 points and 10 digs and Katie Kellogg 10 points and 25 kills for the Indians. Allyssa Shroades had 11 points, two aces, seven kills and 22 assists; Kiah Sloan 10 kills and four solo blocks; Addy Martin nine points and eight digs; Kalayah Crute eight kills and two solo blocks; Maddy Tsesmilles six digs; Natalia Lopez five points, five kills and two blocks; and Cheyenne Buzzard three kills.

Maddie Marshalek led the Blue Devils with 23 kills, 10 digs and two blocks. Stefanee Stacey added 34 assists, 14 digs and seven kills. Abby Ammon had 17 digs, Addison Anderson 19 digs, and Gionna Lenigar six kills and two blocks.

Lisbon’s junior varsity won 25-20, 13-25, 25-21. Brooklynn Klein, Olivia Smith, Sydney Trimble and Gracyn Owens each had five kills, while Lexi Roush had five aces and Aria Reckner 10 assists and three kills.

For the Indians, Emerson Gotschall had 13 points and eight aces, Delaney Beadnell seven points and eight assists and Mary Beadnell six points.

Lisbon will visit Heartland Christian on Saturday.

Valley 3, Leetonia 0

YOUNGSTOWN — Valley Christian’s volleyball team came away wtih a 25-23, 25-17, 25-14 win over Leetonia on Thursday.

Leetonia fell to 0-4 overall and 0-4 in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference. Valley is 1-5 and 1-3 in the conference.

Crestview 3, Brookfield 0

COLUMBIANA — Crestview won its 65th straight home match by downing Brookfield 25-12, 25-15, 25-17 on Thursday.

Crestview is 6-0 and 4-0 in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Division.

For the Rebels, Lainy Auer had 29 kills, two blocks and eight digs. Sophia Stewart had 28 assists, five aces and five digs. Kerrigan Miller had four aces and 16 digs. Addison Wendell had 14 digs.

Crestview won the jayvee match, 25-10, 25-12. Lainey Milhoan had five kills. Bella Ciapala had five aces. Addison Finch added four acees and 13 assists.

Crestview is at Newton Falls on Tuesday.

Beaver 3, Harrison 0

CALCUTTA — Beaver Local’s volleyball team swept Harrison Central 25-11, 25-12, 25-8 on Thursday night.

Lily Schrieber led the Beavers with six kills, 10 aces and nine digs. Eva McKnight added 11 kills, while Sydney McNear had five kills and Giada Williams four kills and four digs. Bria Boyd totaled 24 assists, three kills and five digs, and Addie Thurik and Bailee Baker each had three kills. Perri Gilson chipped in three aces, Karsyn Bowyer had five assists and two digs, and Taylor Pease had two digs.

Beaver Local is 4-0.

The Beaver junior varsity also won, 25-5, 25-12. Macie Bourne finished with seven kills, two aces and three digs, Leah Schrieber had 11 assists and five aces, and Madi Gaydos added seven digs.

Beaver Local will visit East Liverpool on Tuesday with the freshman match starting at 5 p.m.

East Liverpool 3,

Buckeye Local 0

EAST LIVERPOOL — East Liverpool rolled over Buckeye Local, 25-14, 25-18, 25-14, Thursday.

The Potters improve to 3-1.

They were led by Kamryn Yanni with three aces, four kills and 27 assists; Presley Jones one ace and five kills; Addie Jones three kills and two blocks; Kendall Marin two aces, six kills and two blocks; Ava Green two aces and 15 kills; Hailey Board two kills and one block; and Ayla Riggle had 15 digs.

The East Liverpool junior varsity team moved to 4-0 with a 25-10, 25-15 win.

For the Potters, Ella Gunning had 11 assits, Koli Spencer four aces and two kills, Addie Smith five kills, Taylor Loedding four aces and Lillie White three kills.

East Liverpool travels to Carrollton at 10 a.m. Saturday for a freshman-junior varsity-varsity tripleheader.

Heartland 3, Toronto 2

COLUMBIANA — Heartland Christian outlasted Toronto 25-18, 18-25, 25-12, 24-26, 15-10 on Thursday.

Claire Liposky led the Lions with 20 kills and five blocks, while Keagan Pruitt added 13 kills and four aces. Maddie Neville had nine kills, 12 digs and three blocks. Makenna Wilson totaled 26 assists and four aces, Emily McDowell 17 assists and seven digs, and Addie Barrett six aces and seven digs.

Heartland Christian improved to 5-3 and hosts Lisbon on Saturday.

Minerva 3, Salem 0

MINERVA — Minerva swept Salem 25-21, 25-17, 25-22 on Thursday in Eastern Buckeye Conference play.

The Lions rallied from a 20-14 deficit in the third set to complete the sweep. Becca Jackson led with 14 kills, 20 digs, 10 service points, five aces and a block for the winners. Ayla Shellenbarger added 13 kills, 12 digs, nine points and three aces, while Jenna Dowell had 21 digs.

Salem was led by Abby Knickerbocker’s 13 kills and two aces. Macey Troy added three aces, four kills and 16 assists. Kenna Mayhew and Aniya Jones both added 4 kills. Macy Pieniazek made her varsity debut and added two aces and three kills.

Minerva improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the league. The Lions will visit Garaway on Saturday before hosting Marlington on Tuesday.

Salem is 2-4 and 1-1 in the EBC. Salem hosts Southeast on Saturday.

Marlington 3, West Branch 1

BELOIT — Marlington carved out a 26-24, 21-25, 30-28, 25-12 win over West Branch on Thursday in Eastern Buckeye Conference play.

West Branch fell to 4-4 and 1-1 in the EBC. Marlington is 3-2 and 2-0 in the league.

West Branch hosts Alliance on Tuesday.