This is a special night for three area teams who are participating in district semifinal volleyball matches. It’s important for a variety reasons.

For second-seeded Geneva, which will face fifth-seeded West Geauga at 6 at Jefferson High School’s Falcon Gymnasium, it will be an opportunity to make the most of its second straight appearance in the Division II district tournament. It’s the first time in coach Annah Haeseler’s seven seasons as the head coach at her alma mater the Eagles have played in consecutive district tournaments.

The Eagles would like to at least go a step farther than they did last year and reach Thursday’s district championship match at 6:30 p.m. against the winner of today’s second match between first-seeded Lake Catholic and fourth-seeded Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.

Geneva (16-7) has not been to the district finals of tournament play since 2001, when the venerable Stan Bielech was the head coach and Haeseler was his assistant. A Geneva team has not been to the regional tournament since Bielech’s 1986 team, featuring Vicky Armstrong, made it. The 1985 Eagles advanced the farthest of any Geneva team in tournament play, losing in the regional championship match.

For second-seeded SS. John and Paul (16-8), its match in the Division IV tournament against top-seeded Newbury at 5:30 at Badger High School is an opportunity on several levels. In their first year under the direction of coach Brandy Orlando, the Heralds have returned to the district level, which they had been accustomed for so many years until the Black Knights ended that streak, knocking off SJP in five games in the sectional finals at Grand Valley High School.

Today’s match will also be the rubber match of this year’s three-game series between the two schools. Each has won once.

Until last year, SJP had been to at least the district finals every year since 2000, when Stephanie Kubec took over. Last year’s loss ended the Heralds’ seven-year streak of reaching the regional tournament.

The winner of today’s match will play the winner of the other semifinal between third-seeded Windham and fifth-seeded Kirtland in the district championship match Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

This is truly the year of opportunity for Riverside (21-3), which is the top seed in the Division I tournament at Euclid High School and set a school record for victories with its sectional championship win over Madison. The Beavers will meet fourth-seeded Mentor at 7 p.m. in today’s semifinal.

Over the years, the fourth-seeded Cardinals have inflicted plenty of pain on the Beavers, including during coach Stacy Sepelak’s nine-year tenure at Riverside. From 2001-03, the Beavers made it to the district finals, but lost each time to Mentor. Again last year, they tangled in the district championship match, and again Mentor won, which ran its string of district championships to 21 straight.

But this year could well be different. Riverside has put together perhaps its best team ever and Mentor is going through a transitional phase after the retirement of legendary coach Rich Woodman.

Sepelak wants her team to focus on Mentor. There would be one more obstacle after that, as the winner of the other semifinal match between second-seeded Mayfield and third-seeded South would loom for the district title Thursday at 6 p.m. The Beavers are quite a bit more familiar with the Rebels, who they defeated for their second straight PAC championship, while the Wildcats are a bit more of a mystery.



Division II

Haeseler believes the Eagles will be facing a team that is nearly their mirror image in the Wolverines (11-10). She feels her team will have to concentrate on doing what it does best.

“West Geauga has some pretty good attackers, particularly on the outside, and a really good setter,” she said. “They seem to be solid all around. They play good defense, too. We might have a bit more power. It should be an evenly matched match.”

Getting to the next level would be a real feather in the cap for her group of seven seniors, which includes defensive specialist Mary Ankrom, setter Stephanie Booth, outside hitter Hillary Hambleton, defensive specialist-libero Aimee Jones, outside hitter Rachel Murray, libero Kristyn Pristov and outside hitter Taylor Webb.

West Geauga also is bolstered by a strong senior class. It includes Angela Ewing, Jourdyn Heilinger, Carly Mihalic, Kristina Obelenis, Alicia Varcelli and Cassandra Vasko. Coach Tom Booth also relies heavily on the contributions of juniors Jessica Kodrich and Kelly Nero.

Geneva has also profited from its depth. It has received key contributions from junior Ashley Meaney at middle hitter and sophomore Katie Beacom at outside hitter, Veronica Clutter at middle hitter and Audra Puckrin at outside hitter.

“The girls are pretty excited,” Haeseler said. “We haven’t had a group of girls that has been so excited for tournament play.”

It is important for Geneva to remain focused on its own efforts and staying composed.

“We’ve got to play our own game,” Haeseler said. “We can’t get frazzled. They’ll be getting their hits and their blocks, too, and we have to expect some good ball. We have to focus on our own game.”

One of the things Haeseler has tried to emphasize to her team is relaxing and trusting in their teammates. Toward that end, she took her team to the circus last Thursday after its sectional championship victory over Conneaut as a kind of team-bonding effort.

“I want them to play relaxed,” she said. “I want them to remember they have teammates and friends they can depend upon. It’s all built on trusting each other.”

She doesn’t want them thinking ahead, either.

“We would like to go at least one more step this year,” Haeseler said.



Division IV

SJP has a large group of seniors that are hoping to get back to the old standards to which it is accustomed. They include middle hitter Jenna Foglio, setter Kristina Krumins, defensive specialist Jessica Laurello, outside hitter Carly Penna, defensive specialist Melanie Romano and defensive specialist Mikenzie Zullo.

The Heralds also rely heavily on juniors Sara Blank at setter, Ashley Fedler at outside hitter, Jennifer Kapalin at middle hitter and Melissa Rebera at outside hitter. Sophomores Kristina Gallo at outside hitter and Lindsay Laurello at defensive specialist have also been key contributors.

Orlando was not available for comment on the match.



Division I

Sepelak has tried to emphasize to her girls to focus on their own business as well. She knows they are aware of Mentor’s tradition, but doesn’t want them to dwell on it.

“We try to get the girls to focus on us and get past the emotional side of this match,” she said. “We’re well aware of the record Mentor holds, but we need to focus on us and play our game.

“We need to be in control of our momentum and not play (Mentor’s) game.”

Riverside also has its share of seniors that are eager to continue etching their names into the record books. They include libero Allyson Clifford and outside hitters Jayne Nagy, Teresa Noewer and Erika West.

The Beavers have also benefited greatly from the play of juniors Nicole Bayer at setter, Katie Hasebein at libero, Taylor Jaros at outside hitter, Meredith Widecan at middle and outside hitter and Alyssa Wortman at outside hitter. Sophomore Elizabeth Maczuzak has been a real asset at middle hitter for the Beavers.

Sepelak knows Mentor won’t let its tradition die easily.

“They never stop,” she said. “No lead is safe against them.

“Their libero is tough. They’re not as experienced as most Mentor teams. Their middle hitter is pretty tall. They have an outside hitter that jumps pretty well. It won’t be easy.”