Cincinnati reporter in a Cincinnati paper so obvious bias but still interesting.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sp...rcy-mcauley-top-ohios-di-vb-polls/1279773002/
CINCINNATI - The initial Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association poll reflects the dominance of Cincinnati girls volleyball in the state of Ohio
While there's still plenty to play, defending Division I champion Ursuline leads the pack, with Mount Notre Dame second and Mercy McAuley third.
Beyond the top 10, St. Ursula is 13th, Mason 14th, Seton 18th and Loveland 20th. What this means is one league, the Girls Greater Catholic League, has five teams ranked in the state top 20.
MND tops the area with nine state titles, followed by St. Ursula with eight, Seton with six, Ursuline five and Mercy four. Mercy and McAuley merged this past season.
In the second week of September alone, Ursuline held off MND in five sets at home. The visiting Cougars stormed out in the first two games, then the Lions notched a win with a 13-1 run after being down 18-12 in game three. Momentum swayed Ursuline's way from there.
"The first two games I would have said we don't belong in the state rankings," Ursuline coach Jeni Case said. "After those (last) three, we absolutely do. It was great."
Many of the girls know each other from not just the prep rivalry, but from club volleyball. Case's husband, John Paul, runs Elevation Volleyball, which features girls on both squads plus some from other area schools.
"(We) love each other!" Jeni Case said after Ursuline's triumph over MND. "I love most of those girls on that team. I love their parents. The girls love each other. They all know each other and are very good friends."
That same night, Mercy McAuley suffered their first league loss at St. Ursula. losing the fifth and deciding match. All the Wolves did was come back and knock off top-ranked Ursuline in four sets 25-20. 25-13, 17-25, 26-24 Thursday.
Greg Samuels, who assisted Denise Harvey at Mother of Mercy, is now the head coach of Mercy McAuley after the merger of the two schools.
"We have 10 seniors who all have the ability to contribute to our positive start," Samuels said. "This is a demanding part of our schedule. We play Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday for a three-week stretch."
Samuels credits the talent level and the commitment to volleyball in this region for the local success at the state level. They have defeated St. Henry and Notre Dame Academy from the Northern Kentucky side, as well as MND, Toledo St. Ursula and now Ursuline. Many of the girls are year-round players who see personal trainers in addition to hammering balls over nets.
Mercy-McAuley outside hitter Shelby Dennis serves in the game between the Ursuline Lions and the Mercy-McAuley Wolves at Mercy-McAuley High School.Buy Photo
Chris Lovett has taken over MND from long-time coach Joe Burke, who now is an assistant. The Cougars traditionally play good teams to the north and south. They were 9-0 until losing a pair of knockdown drag-outs to Mercy McAuley and Ursuline.
"The region is good and has been for years now," Lovett said. "I think it will be for a little while."
The past 10 years demonstrates the GGCL dominance most effectively. Ursuline won the state Division I title last season as well as in 2012 and 2009. In 2008, the Lions were runners-up. MND won in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and was runner-up in 2016. In 2007, the Cougars were runners-up to champion Mercy before the tournament was rearranged to prevent such local matchups on the state level. So, not since 2010 has a GGCL team not made it to the state title game.
MND's Lovett remembers when local teams could advance to the state semifinals and play one another. However, he sees an upside in the regional approach.
"It really makes our regional finals and regional semifinals really something special to go to," Lovett said. "It's easily considered the marquees event for volleyball in the city. You have a Thursday night where the gym is packed at Lakota West and you can't even get in."
Should you enjoy intense atmospheres, a GGCL volleyball game can be a thrill a minute. Student sections are in costume with clever signage and if you're not in the bleachers by the national anthem, it may be standing room only.
Mount Notre Dame's Sam Wolf celebrates after scoring in the first set against Ursuline Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 at Ursuline Academy Buy Photo
Mount Notre Dame's Sam Wolf celebrates after scoring in the first set against Ursuline Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018 at Ursuline Academy (Photo: Alex Vehr for the Enquirer)
"It's like witnessing a college-level volleyball match," Samuels said. "If folks haven't seen high school volleyball in the GGCL, I think they'd be surprised at the level of play and talent. It would rival a Division II game or some small school Division I volleyball."
Added Lovett, "It's deafening! It's fun. The students get involved and the cheering sections battle it out. It's intense. It's why we do it and I wouldn't have it any other way."
The OHSAA state volleyball tournament is Nov. 8-10 at Wright State. The smart money says a GGCL team will be there. You'll be able to tell by the encouraging signs posted along the interstate leading to the Colonel Glenn Highway.