Scouting Regional Volleyball

Bob Fortuna, Plain Dealer Reporter, October 29, 2008 10:36 a.m.

Today

Division II

Stow

Where: Stow High School, 3227 E. Graham Road, Stow. Call 330-689-5204.

Semifinals: Padua (22-3) vs. Walsh Jesuit (15-7), 6 p.m.; Lake Catholic (20-4) vs. Salem (24-2), afterward.

Final: Saturday, 2 p.m.

What to watch: Padua, ranked No. 4 in the final state coaches poll and tri-champion in the North Coast League Blue Division, defeated No. 19-ranked Walsh Jesuit in three games earlier this month. Each of those teams have an outstanding junior outside hitter: 6-0 Kaitlyn Leary of Padua and 6-1 Allison Foschia of Walsh Jesuit. Leary gets help from middle blocker Brittany Morris, outside hitter Jaklyn Veres, right-side hitter Christine Fritsche and setter Meghan Cugliari. Foschia’s running mates include outside hitter Kalie Marshall, middle hitter Ariel Pund and setter Annie Djukic. No. 13 Lake Catholic, another NCL Blue Division tri-champion, fared well against Salem in a preseason scrimmage and is led by outside hitter Julianne O’Donnell, libero Ashley Herzberg and middle / outside hitter Amanda Sawicki. The Cougars will be tested against the sixth-ranked Quakers and their 6-0 junior middle hitter Amy Scullion. Scullion collected a school-record 41 kills in a four-game district final win over Mogadore.

Division IV

Twinsburg

Where: Twinsburg High School, 10084 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg. Call 330-486-2480.

Semifinals: Mineral Ridge (18-8) vs. Kidron Central Christian (23-3), 6 p.m.; New Washington Buckeye Central (23-2) vs. Cornerstone Christian (23-1), afterward. Final: Saturday, 2 p.m.

What to watch: Buckeye Central, a four-game district final winner over defending state runner-up St. Paul, has a potent hitting attack led by Trenna Marcum and Jordan Kimmel. The regionals are new for No. 13 and East Suburban Conference champion Cornerstone, which is paced by 5-8 middle hitter Eryn Schmikla and 5-8 outside hitter Lindsay Minor, both senior four-year starters.