By T.J. Turrisi
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.
