The Lakeview High School girls volleyball team made it to tournaments with the ability to host two home playoff games. During the tournament draw the Lakeview Volleyball team were placed as the third team in District 3 of Ohio, with Mentor Lake Catholic in first place and Crestview in second place. The first home game that the bulldogs played was against Pymatuning Valley High School girl’s volleyball team. 

The Lady Bulldogs took down the Lakers in three straight sets. The first set score being 25-6, the second set being 25-6 again, and the third set being 25-10. The Lakers were ranked 24th in the tournament draw. The Bulldogs taking down the Lakers allowed them to advance to the next round to play against the Brookfield Warriors volleyball team. 

I asked Freshman Anna Haynie how she felt as a freshman to be advancing to the next round. Haynie exclaimed, “I was super excited to be advancing to the next round with my team, it really means a lot to me for how far we went in tournament play with it being my first year on the team.” Haynie seemed to be super excited to continue playing in tournaments.

The Lady Bulldogs faced the warriors at home on a Saturday night. The Brookfield Warriors were ranked 21st in the overall tournament draw. The Lady Bulldogs took down the Warriors in three straight sets. With the scores being 25-10 in the first set, 25-10 as well in the second set, and 25-15 in the third set. Winning this home playoff game allowed the Bulldogs to be placed in the distinct semi-final game at Medina High School against Kirtland. 

I asked Sophomore Ali Parise how she felt about advancing to the next round. She expressed, “I was very excited about our win against the Warriors and even more excited to be in the district semi-final game against Kirtland.” Parise was over-joyed to be given the opportunity to play in the district semi-final game with her team at Medina High School. 

On a Wednesday evening the Lady Bulldogs traveled down to Medina High School to play the Kirtland Hornets from Lake County, Ohio. Kirtland was ranked 11th in the tournament draw. Unfortunately the Bulldogs went home with a loss in a very close three set game against the hornets. The set scores were 25-21 in the first set, 25-21 in the second set, and 25-20 in the third set.

I asked Junior Captain, Mallory Mailach how she felt about the loss against the hornets. She described, “I think we had the ability to win the game against the Hornets, I think we were just not mentally there on the court for that game. It was very sad for that loss to be our last game, with the entire team knowing we did not lose with our best effort. Although we are now given the ability to learn from this loss for next year.” Mailach believes the Bulldogs can use this loss to become a better team next year. 

I then asked the Junior Captain Molly Stuart how the girls volleyball team planned to learn from this loss against the Kirtland Hornets. She exclaimed, “I believe after this loss we know that we all need to show up mentally prepared on the court if we want to win an intense game against a good team. Although I am excited for next year because we are losing no seniors, meaning we are losing no talent, unlike most teams.” Stuart expresses that the girls volleyball team only has room to grow, losing no seniors, and gaining talented freshman.

We hope the girls volleyball team has the opportunity to make it further in tournaments next year. Good luck to them!!!!