St. Paul volleyball send-off, ticket information

NORWALK — St. Paul High School announced details on a state send-off and ticket information for Thursday's Division VII state volleyball semifinal match. The Lady Flyers (20-7) will face No. 2-ranked Tiffin Calvert (27-0) at 12 p.m. Thursday at the Nutter Center at Wright State University in Fairborn, near Dayton. On Wednesday, a send-off will begin at the conclusion of the junior high and high school weekly church service at 2:30 p.m. Principal Mike Gocsik will go over announcements and address the student body after mass, then the volleyball team will be given a blessing at the altar by one of the church priests. From there, the pep band will be gathered in front of the church, and the team and student body will process out of church and follow the band down Wooster St. to inside of Harvey Keller Gymnasium inside the convocation center. The students will circle up on the floor around the team as the band plays music, while the elementary students will also be seated in the bleachers. Gocsik will then make a few remarks to end the pep rally. Digital tickets can be purchased through the OHSAA website (ohsaa.org/tickets). Tickets can also be purchased in person at the venue. Adult tickets are $16 and student tickets cost $10. Children ages five and under are free. Additionally, a spirit bus will drive students to the match. It was capped at 48 students by midday Tuesday. All classes preschool-12 are canceled on Thursday and Friday to accommodate those wishing to attend. If the Lady Flyers were to win Thursday, the state championship match is at 11 a.m. on Friday back at the Nutter Center. Top-ranked Fort Loramie (26-1) takes on Strasburg-Franklin (20-6) in the other state semifinal match after St. Paul-Calvert finish.