November 5, 2009 — Wilmington and McLane, Meadville and Wilmington, Meadville and McLane. There are plenty of scores to be settled in volleyball and it all begins today at the House of Thrills.
The District 10 Class AA tournament opens with pool play at Meadville Area Senior High at 4 p.m.
The defending champion Lancers (16-0) are in Pool B with the Bulldogs (12-2), North East and Harbor Creek. The 2008 runner-up Greyhounds will open in Pool A with Warren, Fort LeBoeuf and Titusville.
The top two teams from each will move on to Saturday’s semifinals.
GM handed Wilmington its first loss of the ’08 season at the right time: in the championship.
The Lancers defeated the Hounds, 20-25, 26-28, 25-22, 25-15, 16-14, embracing the underdog role in taking the D-10 crown. Now the target is on their backs.
“We are looking forward to seeing the same teams we saw last year,” McLane coach Mike Merriam said. “We are looking forward to the challenge of trying to defend the title. Last year we came in not really expected to win. This year it’s like, ‘OK, let’s just not mess up.’
“Just like last year we have yet to see Wilmington at any tournament or any game or anything.”
The Lancers have already won the Grove City, Cochranton and Maplewood Tournaments and have defeated Harbor Creek, North East and Meadville.
They will, however, have a bit of a handicap in missing 2008 first-team all-district senior Becca Moore.
McLane does have the services of middle hitter Courtney Lydick, who was first-team all-state last year.
“Obviously we are hoping for a big game from her (today),” Merriam said. “But we are certainly not limited to one person.”
Meadville has also defeated the Pickers and Huskies, and the ’Dogs dropped a 35-33 final to the Lancers in a heated battle at the Maplewood Tournament in pool play.
The Bulldogs are plus-one in the player column since then, having received middle hitter Monica Jackson back from injury. Jackson missed half the season with a broken hand.
“We’re expecting to make it to the second day,” Webber said. “That’s always been a goal from the beginning of the season. If we play like we should, then the girls know they should come out first or second.
“Playing McLane, I know we were one of the teams that gave them one of their toughest challenges this year. Especially with our starting lineup back together, it will be a little bit different.”
Leading hitter Victoria Severo has right around 170 kills and will be a key to the ’Dogs offensive output. According to Webber, all of Meadville’s opponents will have to contend with Severo in order to stay in the game.
“I think the key for teams to beat us will be to stop,” said Webber of Severo.
“We’re expecting a lot out of Victoria and Nikki Newman. (Nikki’s) a senior, and she’s been playing for a long time. I think Julie (Powell) would like to have a little bit of revenge as well.”
Meadville has two losses to Wilmington already this season, but Webber hopes things will go differently should they meet again in the D-10 tourney.
“We’ve switched our offense up a little, and we are hoping to match up better.”
Meadville faces North East at 5 p.m., then Harbor Creek at 6 p.m., and McLane at 8 p.m.
McLane takes on Harbor Creek at 4 p.m. and North East at 7 p.m.
Local Sports
’Dogs, Lancers begin quest for title
- Local Sports
-
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Indians notch win despite shooting, rebounding woes
CONNEAUTVILLE — Many believe strange things happen when there’s a full moon in the sky. Perhaps they happen even a few days later.
Conneaut Valley shot under 24 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 32-20 on Thursday night. But the Indians found a way as they wrapped up at least a share of the Region 3 girls basketball title with a 36-23 win over Cochranton. -
WRESTLING: Close decisions push Bears past Blue Devils
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Non-region wrestling foes Union City and Cambridge Springs seemed to want to savor nearly every second of their respective regular season finales.
Going head-to-head Thursday night, eight of the 12 contested bouts went the distance; seven of them were won by decision; and five of those seven were decided by two points or less. -
Maplewood could be getting a Little Gridders program
It’s still in the early stages, but Maplewood football could be welcoming a new team into its community come August.
-
Lady Scots roar back vs. Knights
Edinboro had trailed just once at halftime heading into Wednesday night’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women’s basketball showdown with Gannon.
-
Lancers roll through MASH wrestlers
It was the Meadville seniors’ party, but they were the only ones that really got to enjoy it, as the Bulldogs’ two 12th-graders were MASH’s only winners on the mat during a 56-15 loss to a talented General McLane squad on Wednesday at the House of Thrills.
-
Farell beats Meadville
The Meadville boys basketball team hits the road on Friday, traveling to Grove City.
-
Panthers earn huge win
ne of the perks of playing boys basketball in Region 4 is that what you do during the first month and a half of the season can, if you’re lucky, be forgotten. It’s those games within the region that matter the most.
-
MASH swimming falls to Lakers
The Meadville swim team faced one of its last big challenges of the season against Mercyhurst Prep at the Meadville Recreation Complex on Monday and, early on, both the boys and the girls were up to the challenge. After the diving break, however, the Lakers put the meet away.
-
Meadville downs rival Prep
Facing its private-school rival from up north, the Meadville Bulldogs hockey team put together one of its best performances of the season, sending Cathedral Prep back to Erie with a 4-1 defeat on Monday at the DeArment Ice Arena.
-
D-10 CLASS AA DUALS: Bison win title, snap Reynolds’ streak of seven straight
EDINBORO — As if it was destiny, wrestling powerhouses Fort LeBoeuf and Reynolds met in the District 10 Class AA Team Dual final on Saturday at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse.
After Fort LeBoeuf earned a paper-thin 28-27 win over Reynolds on Jan. 21 that came down to the tiebreaker, the Bison once again came out on top. The Bison made up for last year’s loss to the Raiders in the final by earning a 31-28 victory on Saturday. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Indians notch win despite shooting, rebounding woes
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
