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In the Suburban Lakes League, Genoa and Eastwood shared a co-championship and both reached the district final, but neither got any further.
Each team has three selections on this year’s Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press Volleyball team. The selections correspond to all-league results, with adjustments made depending on all-district voting.
Eastwood coach Jeff Beck gets All-Press Coach of the Year based on District 7 voting, which awarded him the same honor two years in a row.
“I definitely feel that's an honor, to be recognized by your colleagues,” Beck said. “Most importantly, it shows how hard my girls are working. When we go into these (district) meetings, we have the best record and ... it just makes me look good, when the girls do all the work.”
In Division II, the 21-5 Eagles were defeated by a 22-6 Celina team in a heartbreaker, 24-26, 28-26, 25-19, 22-25, 15-10, in the district final at Liberty-Benton.
Up until the Celina match, the Eagles had not lost a game in the tournament. Eastwood defeated Scott 25-3, 25-3, 25-5, Wauseon 25-14, 25-11, 25-13, and Ottawa-Glandorf 25-20, 30-28, 25-18.
Beck formerly coached at Perrysburg, where his Yellow Jackets went 79-29 in five years including a berth in the 2006 Division I state semifinals. His first Eastwood squad two years ago was ranked as high as 16th in the state coaches' poll, and this year’s team climbed into state rankings during the season.
Genoa (19-6) coach Amanda Cichocki was runner-up in voting for her Division III district voting behind Evergreen's Kelsey Hicks. Cichocki coached in the District 7 all-star match against Hicks' squad on Nov. 18 at St. Ursula Academy.
“We gave ourselves goals each week and that helped us stay focused for a successful season,” Cichocki said. “We wanted to get to regionals and it didn't happen, but we still had a great season.”
Her Comets defeated Eastwood in their first SLL meeting, but the Eagles returned the favor on the Comets’ court the second time around. Eastwood and Genoa tied for the SLL championship with 11-1 records.
“We had two barnburners both times we played each other,” Beck, whose team tied Otsego for the league crown a year ago, told The Press. “It couldn't get any more fun than that. You never knew who was going to win until that fifth game and the final whistle blew. A co-championship is still a championship to me. Genoa had their entire team back as well, and I have a lot of respect for Amanda. She's a close friend of mine and I hope to have battles with her every year.”
In the tournament, the top-seeded Comets received a bye in the first round, and then defeated Northwood 25-9, 25-10, 25-17 and Liberty-Benton 25-19, 25-20, 25-18 before losing to 24-3 Lakota 25-22, 25-22, 19-25, 25-16 in the district final at Perrysburg.
It was Clay and Cardinal Stritch who may have gone unnoticed this year — both played second fiddle to a state qualifier.
In its final year competing in the Toledo City League, Clay reached the league’s final four, but got no further than the semifinals. Meanwhile, the league champion, St. Ursula Academy, won a Division I state championship. Clay’s D-I tournament run came to a quick hand at the hands of Anthony Wayne, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 in the first round at Otsego.
Next season, the CL’s Clay, Central Catholic, Notre Dame, St. Ursula, and Whitmer will begin play in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference where they will join Findlay, Fremont Ross and Lima Senior, who are all leaving the Greater Buckeye Conference.
If Clay is to become an elite team, they must find a way to win the big games and compete with the likes of powerhouse programs Notre Dame and St. Ursula. In the final Division I State Poll, St. Ursula, who won a state title in 2004, was ranked second, and Notre Dame was 14th.
“We want to find a way to get over the hump,” Coach Alexis Donnelly told The Press. “We were competitive against some very good teams. We’re just looking for that extra oomph to get us over the top. With hard work, no excuses and support from everyone, we, too, can be a great program again.”
Cardinal Stritch, which is always a contender in the Toledo Area Athletic Conference, played second fiddle to Toledo Christian, which not only won the league title but went on to become a Division IV state semifinalist. The Cardinals have two All-Press first team selections.
On Nov. 14, the Fostoria Athletic Boosters held the 17th Annual All-Star volleyball match with 36 Northwest Ohio schools committing 61 student-athletes. Cichocki was a coach for the West/Red Team.
Competing for the West/Red Team was All-Press Player of the Year Katie Primeau from Eastwood along with Eagle teammates Christine Foster and Jordan Frobose. From Genoa were Hannah Morrison, Jessica Feller, and Kara Harmeyer.
On the East/Red Squad were Woodmore’s Carly Pendleton and Audrey Thorbahn and Oak Harbor’s Taylor Reau and Stephanie Benner.
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