Expectations carried Monroeville back to Sweet 16

MONROEVILLE — Pressure is often viewed as a privilege. Whether it was surviving close, five-set matches or simply handling the weight of expectations, the Monroeville volleyball program continues to meet the moment. The Eagles (22-2) — ranked No. 5 in the final state coaches poll in Division VII — will take on North Jackson Jackson-Milton (12-13) at 6 p.m. Thursday in a regional semifinal at Burton Berkshire High School. Monroeville advanced to the regional by way of two five-set wins over Fremont St. Joseph (20-4) and No. 8 Sycamore Mohawk (20-5) in two district matches on Oct. 20 and Oct. 22 at Clyde High School. The Eagles have played in four matches that went the distance this season and went 3-1. Three of those contests came in their last six matches against high-caliber opponents in St. Paul (19-6), the Crimson Streaks, and the Warriors. "The veteran leadership has definitely been a strong asset, but our success extends beyond just the seniors," Monroeville head coach Kendra Snook said. "We brought back the majority of our lineup, and their experience playing together has fostered remarkable chemistry, both on and off the court. "That has been a crucial factor in our performance this season," she added. "We've also dedicated significant effort to maintaining our composure in challenging moments, and that focus paid off tremendously last week." Monroeville had won 10 district titles in 13 years dating back to 2013. The Eagles have also won five regional championships and advanced to the state title match in 2022 during that stretch. Those lofty accomplishments — which also include nine Firelands Conference titles — in that span have also led to massive expectations. Given a lineup back that included four-year players Madi Reiber, Ady Adams, and Alexa Adams at the net, there wasn't concern internally when the Eagles started the season 2-2. Monroeville lost in four to Bellevue (19-5), which won the SBC Lake title, and in five to Mohawk. The Eagles haven't lost since, winning 20 consecutive games. "While we recognize the pressure from others, our primary focus remains on achieving our own goals," Snook said. "Throughout the year, I have emphasized the importance of taking each match one step at a time. Knowing we carried a target on our backs because of past successes actually strengthened us. "It meant every opponent brought their best, pushing us to compete harder and stay focused." Traveling a great distance like the Eagles and their supporters will on Thursday and potentially Saturday is also nothing out of the ordinary. Monroeville has traveled 98 miles to Elida and 84 miles to Uniontown Lake in the past. Berkshire High School is about 96 miles from Monroeville in Geauga County, east of Cleveland. In the second match Thursday, Kidron Central Christian (19-6) takes on Elyria Open Door Christian (21-4). Open Door received votes in the final state poll. The two winners will return at 2 p.m. Saturday to compete for the regional championship. "Whenever we have the chance to compete among the top 16 teams, we're ready to travel wherever necessary," Snook said. "We're fortunate to have a passionate fan base that makes the journey to support us, and we're excited to see them cheering us on in person. "We had the opportunity to observe Jackson-Milton recently. They have an excellent setter who effectively distributes their offense and a team that plays with remarkable consistency. To succeed, we'll need to shake off any travel fatigue early and come prepared to compete at our best."