Columbian-Norwalk again highlights SBC Lake

Columbian and Norwalk split the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division championship last year. Each won in five sets on its respective home floor before the Tornadoes eliminated Norwalk, also in five sets, in a Division III district title match at Willard. Both return a nice chunk of talent, but the league's Most Outstanding Performer, Norwalk's Lucy Schlotterer, graduated. Clyde was a Division IV district finalist last year, but DeLani Durst, who had over 2,000 career assists, graduated. Bellevue was ousted by Clyde in a district semifinal, but perhaps have one of the best freshmen in the Lake in Calie Cramer. Plenty of talent returns around the area as the high school volleyball season kicks off Saturday. A look at the six teams in alphabetical order: BELLEVUE The Lady Red were 12-11 overall and 6-4 in the SBC Lake last year. Bellevue graduated first-team pick Brooke Brown (team-high 186 kills) and second-team selection Lila Krall (169 kills). "I think naturally a top goal is to finish at the top of our conference," coach Liana Petitti said. "We also want to make a deeper run in the tournament this year. We really want to continue to focus on our four pillars of our culture: grit, grace, growth, and gratitude." The Lady Red won four matches in a row and five out of six late in the season before a five-set loss to Clyde in a Division IV district semifinal. Senior Kaitlyn Turinsky is the top returning hitter after 145 kills last year. Honorable mention league picks Kate Baptista (team-high 409 digs) and Finley LaPata (274 digs, 129 kills) return with a lot of experience for Bellevue. "One of our strengths this year will be our defense," Petitti said. "We have four really solid defensive players who can play any position in the back row. Their relentless pursuit and ability to read the ball will most definitely help us compete." Freshman Calie Cramer will step in immediately and make an impact for Bellevue. She'll play middle for the Lady Red and gain valuable experience with older players around her. "For our team, the keys to early success is to have confidence and to play good, clean volleyball," Petitti said. "We have a lot of new faces on the court this year so getting those players confident to play in game situations will be huge. "We really want to focus on ball control on our side of the net." COLUMBIAN The Tornadoes lost to Bloom-Carroll in a Division III regional semifinal last year, finishing 20-6 overall and 8-2 in league play. Columbian has the top returning hitter in the league back in Division I Grand Canyon recruit Kaela Jenkins. A first-team league pick and on pace to break the school record for kills in a career, Jenkins racked up 444 kills last year. She added 118 of Columbian's 185 blocks last year. The Tornadoes' second option, second-team honoree Ella Kerschner at 226 kills, graduated. The second-leading returner in kills for Columbian is Lexi Beaston, who was an honorable mention pick last year. She registered 155 kills for the Tornadoes. She also tallied a team-high 251 digs. Second-team pick Avary Brown ran the offense to the tune of 785 assists last year and is back for her junior year. Brown added 228 digs defensively. CLYDE The Fliers came up short against Lake in the Division IV Gibsonburg district final last year. Clyde was 17-8 overall and 6-4 in league play, but must replace big names like DeLani Durst, Lauren Harrah, Lillian Ball and Miley Glass. Durst racked up 829 assists last season, finishing with over 2,000 for career. She added 279 digs for Clyde. "Top goals for the season will be to contend for the SBC Lake Division title and make another run in tournament play," coach Shelley Rogers said. "In the past, we can get complacent and drop matches to teams that we know we can beat." A lot of those assists went to Harrah, who smacked a team-high 315 kills last year. Ball was second on the team with 253 kills. Glass paced the Fliers with 463 digs defensively. Clyde's leading returner in kills is senior Brooklyn Hemminger, who lined 248 kills. She also led the Fliers last year with 52 aces serving. "Our biggest key to early success this season will be maintaining momentum," Rogers said. "We have the ability to get creative with our offense this year and as long as we build and maintain momentum we should be able to have fun this season." Senior Lucy Glass racked up 237 digs for the Fliers last year. Clyde will benefit from senior Reese Daniel returning to the lineup after missing last season. "A stand out strength this year will be having six rotations of versatile hitters," Rogers said. "Each hitter we have can hit from multiple positions at the net. "A weakness that we will continue to work on would be player communication. In the past, we have a tendency to get quiet at key moments during a match." PERKINS The Pirates are the only new coach in the Lake with a new head coach. Brandon Duvall takes over a Perkins team that was just 6-18 last year including a 2-8 mark in conference play. The Pirates are the lone area team to return a first-team league pick and that's senior Ferrell Coleman. She lined a team-high 237 kills. Senior Micah Normington-Slay is back after 164 kills while Addison Mason had 110 kills. Sophomore Braelyn Davie returns to run the offense after tallying 543 assists and 239 digs last year as a freshman. The Pirates' biggest loss to graduation will be felt defensively. Olivia Hartung, who led the team with 439 digs last season, is gone. Avery Baker (185 digs) and Carly Grathwol (172 digs) also graduated. "Leadership for sure," said Duvall of the team's strengths. "Our team captains have done an excellent job leading by example and are a tremendous influence on the younger teammates. "Position-wise, we are very strong in the middle. Ferrell Coleman and Micah will lead our offense this year. We are also fortunate to have a strong setting core with sophomore Braelyn Davie." NORWALK The Truckers have to replace two all-Ohioans from last year in perhaps the best hitter in school history in Lucy Schlotterer, as well as Mac Wineman. Both were first-team league picks for Norwalk, who finished 20-4 overall and 8-2 in league play. "We want to improve everyday and be in contention for a conference championship," head coach Sarah Kipp said. "The biggest key to early season success is building and maintaining chemistry on and off the court." Schlotterer had 403 kills last year while Wineman finished with 418 digs. Schlotterer added 238 digs, defensively. Back for the Truckers offensively, though, is sophomore Maddie Gamble (152 kills last year), sophomore Ainslee King (135) and senior Sydney Moehlman (108 kills). Defensively for Norwalk, Gamble (206 digs), honorable mention pick junior Sawyer Wineman (191 digs) and junior Emily Tyler (185 digs) all return after solid seasons. "A group of girls who work really hard and are genuinely nice," said Kipp of strengths of the team. "We have teammates that are here to push each other and there is a strong focus on celebrating our teammates' successes over our own individual successes." "We are successful when we focus on fun," Kipp said. "These girls play volleyball because they love the sport and ultimately, they think it is just plain fun. We are best when we play light and focus on the enjoyment of the game and our teammates." SANDUSKY The Blue Streaks were 8-15 overall last year, but were winless in 10 league matches. Sandusky wants to improve, but its top two leading hitters from last year — Ra'Kiya Collier (132 kills) and Mae Rameau (79 kills) — have graduated. "Our top goals are to be competitive and continue to cultivate a culture that thrives on basis of hard work and determination," coach Sarita Brown said. "Keys to early success are staying positive and level-headed during games. Getting a couple good wins under our belt. Upperclassmen will need to maintain team cohesiveness." The Blue Streaks will also have to replace both of its setters after the graduation of Denasia Coy (189 assists) and Maddie Peugeot (163 assists).