It took a while for them to get their game face on…but Russia advanced to next week’s regional round in straight sets over New Miami…25-9, 25-13, and 25-11. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
It wasn’t Russia’s best district final performance, but enough to get by. And Fort Loramie took longer to get up to speed than average, or is recommendable. But both advanced to another OHSAA regional volleyball appearance with Saturday wins in Fairborn.
Fairborn, OH – Russia volleyball coach Aaron Watkins was visibly frustrated by his team’s lack of precision and energy during Saturday’s Division VII district final appearance against New Miami at Fairborn Arena.
And they won!
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But it was the way they won that concerned Watkins, whose high energy, risk and reward style of volleyball was anything but authentic in an unchallenged three-set sweep over New Miami…a 25-9, 25-13, and 25-11 whitewashing of the Vikings out of Hamilton and the Miami Valley Conference.
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Unchallengend? To say the least. Of New Miami’s 33 total points over three games 20 came on unforced errors by Russia – missed serves, hitting into the net, and hitting the ball out of bounds. As ugly as it was, it could have been uglier.
And what concerned Watkins was his team’s appearing to have played down to the level of an opponent far beneath the competitive schedule the Raiders had played during the regular season – challenging competition from Shelby County League Schools like Fort Loramie and Anna, and out-of-conference opponents like Marion Local, New Bremen, Coldwater and Versailles.
The Russia girls (19-6) seemed to sense their advantage over New Miami, whose seasonal record is listed at 5-6 (Max Preps), and most of their previous matches have no score listed, at all. Russia played without the sense of urgency one would expect in a district final match.
Russia’s Kourtney Phlipot lets this serve receive get a little deep during Saturday’s district match with New Miami.
“We prepare hard in practice for the discipline and energy necessary to be successful in the tournament,” said Watkins, who owns nine consecutive district titles during his time at Russia. “And it’s just hard to maintain that kind of level and get excited when you know your opponent plays at a lower level. But you hope the way you practice translates into the games, even when human nature tends to take the easier side and play down a little bit.”
And as a coach, it’s hard to be caught in the middle.
“Yeah, you encourage the girls to play at a higher level, and show that kind of discipline. And overall, I thought we did a pretty good job of that.
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“But we did play down a bit, it’s easy for teams to do, and that’s the blessing, and the curse, of being a #1 seed in the tournament. You have to get the most out of your practice time because you know you might not get it from your tournament games. We’re going to have to have a great week in practice – go back and work on every part of our game – to get ready for Leipsic next week in the regional round.”
Leipsic is ranked #2 in the state, Division VII, in the latest OHSAA coaches’ poll.
Fort Loramie’s Jenna Hoying scrambles to save a point during Saturday’s four-set win over Troy Christian in the Div. VII district final at Fairborn.
Watkins is one of four coaches we’ve spoken with recently, frustrated by the competitive challenge of the tournament prior to the regional round. Nearly all of them lament…how do you stay competitive when the only competition you see is in your own practice?
“Our practices are much tougher than the teams we play in our league,” says Tipp’s Howard Garcia, who Red Devils won its district final Saturday in straight sets over Oxford Talawanda. “And then you see many of the same teams in the sectional and district round. Trust me, there’s a big difference when you get to the regional round and play a team like Ursuline Academy.”
And many point to the expansion of seven divisions of volleyball as further watering down the competitive experience necessary to be at your best for a successful state tournament showing. And to illustrate, in one district semi-final this week, 14 of the 18 matches were straight-set wins…three and you’re done…77%.
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In last year’s OHSAA finals at the Nutter Center, four of the seven division champions won in straight sets, including the Division I Final.
In Saturday’s second district final at Fairborn between Mississinawa Valley and Middletown Christian, Mississinawa won that in, you guessed it…straight sets.
Loramie’s Corynn Hoelscher tees up a kill during action with Troy Christian in Saturday’s district final.
And in the final match of the day, Fort Loramie beat Troy Christian in four sets in what was the only competitive match of the day…25-19, 23-25, 25-20, and 25-18. Troy Christian, playing out of the Three Rivers Conference, finished its season 14-11 and had advanced to Saturday’s final with wins over Cedarville and Botkins.
But Loramie, like Russia and Tipp City, had some trouble getting its footing early on against the determined, and taller Troy Christian.
“We wanted to come out and play strong,” said senior leader Jenna Hoying. “It was a little iffy at first. We started out slow because we needed to build our energy up. But by the third set I think Meg Kemper really helped to bring our energy around with a couple of big kills, then everyone just seem to start playing well.”
Loramie coach Kelly Hoying is in her first year as head coach, and like Aaron Watkins, admits that keeping her team’s competitive edge has been difficult since they were last tested against…Russia!
The Redskins’ Charleigh Albers is all focus during the final set in Saturday’s district win.
“We’ve just had a little lull with having played just two games previous to today,” she added. “And seven days apart, so it’s hard to maintain focus. And the last match that we had that was intensely competitive was our season finale with Russia. That’s been three weeks, and it’s hard maintain a level of intensity when you’re not playing as often, and you’re not playing the kind of competition that we see in our regular season. We’re accustomed to playing tough games three times a week, and right now we’re not, and I think it showed a little bit today.”
Jenna Hoying, by the way, had a tremendous match, along with Kemper, and gave creds to junior Charleigh Albers (pronounced Charlie) for her contribution, as well.
“Charleigh played really well, today. Really well. Some really big kills!”
Saturday’s win marks the 18th consecutive district titles won by Fort Loramie…most of them during the John Rodgers tenure as coach…and 19 out of the last 20. So the Redskins know something about the competitive edge necessary to be successful come tournament time.
And, they’re also the reigning state champions in Division VI volleyball, and one of the four teams to win last year’s title in straight sets (over Tiffin Calvert).
And yes…it hurts to lose! Troy Christian’s Taylor Bechtol agonizes over match point.
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