Division II
Ervin J. Nutter Center, Wright State University
Thursday and Saturday, November 10 & 12

Semifinal #1 PDF Box Score - Hartley 3, Beaumont 1

Semifinal #2 PDF Box Score - Archbishop Alter 3, Madison 1
Championship Game PDF Box Score: Hartley 3, Archbishop Alter 1

Another First-Timer

No. 6 Columbus Bishop Hartley Defeats Kettering Archbishop Alter for School�s First Volleyball Crown

DAYTON, Ohio � The volleyball match between Columbus Bishop Hartley and Kettering Archbishop Alter lived up to the hype Saturday afternoon as these two volleyball powerhouses battled it out in the 2011 OHSAA Division II volleyball state championship at Wright State University�s Ervin J. Nutter Center. After letting one slip away in game two, Hartley came back strong in sets three and four to claim its school�s first volleyball state title (25-20, 18-25, 25-18, 25-21).

In the last six years, these two schools have combined for eight state tournament appearances, three runner-up trophies and two state titles. It was Hartley�s fourth overall state appearance. Alter was making its sixth state appearance and had previously brought home the crown in 2006, 2003 and 2002.

Game one saw an aggressive Alter team jump out to an early 5-2 lead. Hartley battled to back to a 5-5 tie before winning the next point and never relinquishing the lead through the rest of the set. Alter came out on fire again in set two to take a commanding 22-11 lead before winning on a service ace by Natalie Seiler. The Knights couldn�t hold onto the momentum though as Hartley battled through 12 ties and seven leads changes in the final two sets.

After a semifinal match in which she put up 18 kills, Hartley All-Ohioan Brooke Betts repeated her impressive performance with 16 kills and three digs in the final match. She received help from junior Molly Shonk, who, after a dominating semifinal match of 17 kills and 18 digs, followed up that performance with 12 kills and 10 digs. Senior Natalie Briggs finished her career with 64 assists over the weekend (29 in the semis and 35 in the finals) and senior Lauren Hurley added 19 assists in the final match.

Alter was led by its senior All-Ohioan Megan Courtney who tallied 17 kills, 12 digs and 20 assists. Courtney, who will be continuing her volleyball career at Penn State, also had 22 kills and 19 assists in the semifinal match. Sophomore Natalie Seiler was the only other player from Alter with double digit kills (11). On the defensive end, Maddie Bazelak (16), Kelsey McGraw (10) and Kristen Kaiser (9) all contributed to Alter�s 61 digs.

Division I
Ervin J. Nutter Center, Wright State University
Friday and Saturday, November 11 & 12

Semifinal #1 PDF Box Score - Cin. Mount Notre Dame 3, Findlay 1

Semifinal #2 PDF Box Score - Toledo St. Ursula 3, Walsh Jesuit 0
Championship Game PDF Box Score - Mt. Notre Dame 3, St. Ursula 1

A New State Champion
No. 2 Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame upsets No. 1 Toledo St. Ursula Academy

DAYTON, Ohio � In its fifth trip to the OHSAA state volleyball tournament since 2005, second-ranked Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame (24-5) upset the No. 1 ranked and defending state champion Toledo St. Ursula Academy, 25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 28-8, Saturday at Wright State University�s Ervin. J. Nutter Center. The loss snapped St. Ursula�s 48-game win streak that dated back to the 2010 season.

Mount Notre Dame came out on fire in game one, taking a 10-2 lead behind three kills from All-Ohio junior Michelle Strizak, and never looked back on their way to a 25-14 victory. Prior to that loss, the Arrows had never lost a set during the 2011 tournament. The Cougars continued their dominance in set two before the Arrows settled down to win an exciting game three, 25-23. In the final set, Mt. Notre Dame wouldn�t be denied as they held St. Ursula to their lowest scoring output of the season (25-8).

The Cougars were led by All-Ohio junior Michelle Strizak, who tallied 22 kills, six service aces and seven digs. Strizak also had a stellar semifinal performance with 20 kills, six aces and 18 digs. She received help from seniors Caitlin Shipp (13 kills), Aubree Hord (43 assists) and Kelsey Wolf (26 digs) in the championship match.

Despite the strong hitting performances by senior Cassidy Croci (16 kills), junior Maddie Burnham (nine kills) and Lauran Graves (eight kills), the Arrows only dug up 64 of the Cougar attacks and finish the season 28-1.
 

Division IV
Ervin J. Nutter Center, Wright State University
Friday and Saturday, November 11 & 12

Semifinal #1 PDF Box Score - Tuscarawas Central Catholic 3, Reedsville Eastern 1

Semifinal #2 PDF Box Score - St. Henry 3, Mohawk 2
Championship Game PDF Box Score: St. Henry 3, Tuscarawas Central Catholic 1

They�re Back�
No. 1 St. Henry defeats Tuscarawas Central Catholic to win school�s seventh state title
 

DAYTON, Ohio � The 2011 OHSAA Division IV state volleyball championship between St. Henry and Tuscarawas Central Catholic saw the No. 1 ranked Redskins� stellar defense defeat the 2010 state runner-up Saints 25-14, 25-12, 22-25, 25-18 in the last match of the day Saturday at Wright State University�s Ervin J. Nutter Center. The entire state tournament had 13,644 people watch 16 matches of the state�s best volleyball.

St. Henry, whose only loss came to the Division III state champion Casstown Miami East, becomes just the third school with at least seven state volleyball titles, but hadn�t brought one home since 2004. The Redskins have made 13 total appearances in the state volleyball tournament. TCC was making its third consecutive appearance.

The Redskins (28-1), who also beat the defending Division III state champions in the regional finals, came out of the gates swinging and won the first two sets easily. TCC would not go down without a fight, however, as they rallied back to win set three 25-22. St. Henry forced TCC to call a timeout taking a 6-2 lead in set four but the Saints couldn�t respond as St. Henry went on to win the last set 25-18.
 

St. Henry was led by seniors Katie Hoyng (26 kills and 12 digs), Abby Brunswick (9 kills and 16 digs) and Ashley Heitkamp (eight kills and 10 digs). Junior libero Kylie Koesters led the Redskin defense with 28 digs.
 

TCC, which finished its season 24-5, was led by its captains Megan Lawless (nine kills and 11 digs), Samantha Beamer (19 digs) and senior Briana Neidig (14 kills and 21 digs).
 

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