Clippers proud, not satisfied
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Columbiana’s Addisyn Dangler hits between Lakeview’s Cady Esker (4) and Anna Haynie (7) on Thursdsay. (Photo by Michael Burich)
Columbiana’s Keagan Pruitt serves as libero Lily Jackson looks on Thursdsay. (Photo by Michael Burich)
CANFIELD -- Columbiana’s volleyball team already put its stamp on the season with its fourth straight Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference title and an appearance in an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference final.
It wanted to add a first district title since 2003, but Lakeview stood in its way on Thursday.
Using its height and ability to play fast, the third-seeded Bulldogs made short work of the sixth-seeded Clippers 25-16, 25-15, 25-6 in a Div. V district final at Canfield High School.
The Clippers ended the season 21-4, the third time in three seasons the squad went over 20 wins in a season.
“(Lakeview) is a great team,” Columbiana coach Jennifer Martin said. “They have a solid six players on the floor at all times. I’m real proud of the way our girls stepped up. We were real proud to get here. We felt like this was a good year for firsts. It was our first trip to the OVAC final and it is was the first time getting to a district final since 2020.”
Lakeview (21-4) advances to meet No. 1 South Range (25-0) on Thursday at Medina High School in a regional semifinal. The Raiders beat the Bulldogs in four games in both Northeast 8 meetings between the two this season.
Lakeview boasted four players with more than 150 kills each on the season. Against Columbiana, senior outside hitter Cady Esker led the way with 12 kills and three aces. Sophomore setter Cecelia DeToro added 36 assists. Senior middle hitter Anna Haynie had nine blocks, while sophomore libero Ella Gough had 14 digs.
“We were focusing on (Columbina’s) blockers,” Lakeview coach Heather Kiser said. “Their two middles have insane verticals and had some of the fastest arm swings I have seen. We just knew we had to keep the middles out of the offense and I think we did a really good job of that.”
Columbiana got off to a great start in the first game going up 6-1 early, but large point runs by Lakeview turned the tide pretty quickly.
“Obviously everybody has nerves the first couple points of any match,” Kiser said. “I just kept telling them to relax and play our volleyball. We like to play cool, calm and collected. A volleyball match isn’t won off of two points, it’s won off of 25.”
Martin knew the Bulldogs would come on strong at some point.
“I knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Martin said. “We knew they play fast and we love to play a fast team because we pick up our pace, too. We did have a great start, but I knew they’d get it turned on.”
The Clippers also started the second set up 3-0 and were tied at 6 until Lakeview put the pedal to the metal to run away with the set. In the third, Columbiana could not get anything going at all as the 6-foot Haynie started to dominate at the net.
“I feel like we are a fast team, but they were just a little bit faster,” Columbiana senior Landry Smith said. “It’s just something that the girls can take into next year.”
Landry, who had six kills on Thursday, ended her Clipper career with more than 800 kills including more than 500 in her final two seasons. She along with other seniors Keagan Pruitt and Hailee Gomoll leave the program in good shape.
“I’m just proud of everyone and I love absolutely every single one of them,” Smith said. “They pushed every single practice and I’m proud of the outcome.”
Pruitt had five kills, five points and 12 digs. Setter Eva Waller added 17 assists and three digs. Gomol had six digs. Ava Marks had two kills and seven digs. Addison Dangler chipped in three kills.
As for Lakeview, they understand playing the Northeast 8 champion Raiders for the third time will be a challenge, but they are where they want to be.
“It’s great to have a flawless season, but they know nothing really matters until they are in this spot,” Kiser said.
SOUTH RANGE 3, COVENTRY 0
South Range, ranked fifth in the final Div. V state coaches poll, beat Akron Coventry 25-17, 25-15, 25-17 in the second district final at Canfield.
Anna Toy led the way with 14 kills, 13 digs and an ace. Lily Weaver had nine kills and three blocks. Parker Zwingler and Natalie Burnett had 16 assists each. Haylie John had 15 digs.