Even with three losses, Rya Buschur and the St. Henry Redskins are a threat to every other top five team in the Division VI state rankings. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
A writer from Shelby County wrote to challenge us on area volleyball superiority. How do we rank the best teams we’ve seen in the area, he asked. Here’s what we tell him.
Perception is not always reality, although a lot of people misuse the time-tired phrase. That being, sometimes it just seems like perception is reality.
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For instance, an area reader said this in an email last week: “It’s disappointing that you devote so much less coverage to volleyball than you do football.”
His perception, but our reality.
Since the last week in August we’ve regularly seen volleyball on Tuesday and Thursday, whereby we only see high school football one day a week…Friday. It’s true that we regularly write about more football games on a Friday night, but that’s because we have more available personnel on Fridays than we would have on a weekday.
But the question of perception and reality comes together best from a reader in Shelby County who asked us this week…who are the top area volleyball teams we’ve seen so far, approaching the two-thirds point of the regular season schedule? And while you can nit-pick it, no one’s going to be upset with our perception at this point, because true reality won’t come until the post-season tournament. But here’s our order of standing……
She can do it all…Coldwater’s Spencer Etzler impresses for her versatility on the court. And as proof, she’s going to play at Stanford next year.
Coldwater…There’s simply so much to like about Coldwater because of strength of schedule, their athleticism, and the reality of so many other dominant teams pressing them in the Midwestern Athletic Conference. You simply cannot afford a night off, and Coldwater hasn’t taken one yet. In fact, on their way to a 15-0 record as of this writing, Nikki Etzler’s Cavaliers have only lost one set (to Versailles) over those fifteen wins. And from what we’ve seen, it’s not too likely they’ll lose many more, either. Their biggest remaining challenges will be Marion Local and the annual showdown with New Bremen. And from an individual standpoint, senior Spencer Etzler is the most talented, versatile player we’ve seen – she can do everything on the court – and is going to Stanford next year as proof.
Fort Loramie…It’s razor-close, but coming in just beneath Coldwater would be 15-1 Fort Loramie, and to make this comparison, since losing to Coldwater in August in a pre-season exhibition tournament, the Redskins have lost just one set over their last 13 match wins. That set loss came in a 3-1 match win over New Bremen last week. Much like Coldwater, Loramie simply doesn’t have many weakness – size, experience, athleticism, and a boatload of senior leadership. Ranked #1 state-wide in Division VII, it’s really hard to envision even a team like #2 Leipsic threatening, come tournament time. By far, this is the best Loramie team since their state championship year in 2014.
New Bremen coach Diana Kramer calls senior Melina Schrader the best overall player she’s ever coached. Schrader will play at the University of Dayton next year.
St. Henry…Our #3 would have to be St. Henry, who with 12-3 record, has impressed many others around the state, too. The Redskins are ranked #4 in both the Max Preps and the coaches’ poll, but I’d put money on this group being that one team which on any give night could ruin someone’s season. Expertly coached, they have enough size and plenty of athleticism, and of course…the constant push within the league from Coldwater, New Bremen, and Marion Local to keep them energized. As proof, on the nights we saw them they beat New Bremen in straight sets, and lost to Loramie and Coldwater in straight sets. You don’t have to make the point that they’re battle-tested. They just are. Those three losses could yet be their advantage!
New Bremen…Ranked #3 in the coaches poll, and #2 in the Max Preps poll, this has been a different New Bremen team from their past four state title winners because they don’t have the impressive size, or maybe the experience. But, they are uber-athletic, expertly-coached, and maybe most important of all…they know how to win in close matches. At 13-2, their only losses have come to St. Henry and Fort Loramie, and New Bremen is one of those teams that lives up to the ‘coach-speak’ when they say…”We’re getting better with each passing match.” Led by UD-bound Melina Schrader, you cannot argue that they aren’t. But ironically, they’re in the same division as Coldwater, St. Henry, and Marion Local, so getting to the regional final will be tougher for New Bremen than it’s been in the past. But you can also say the same for the other three, and that’s a shame.
Marion Local has performed somewhat under the radar at 14-1, and has yet to see the bset of their schedule.
Marion Local…The Flyers are a bit under the radar because of Coldwater, St. Henry and New Bremen, but they’re 14-1 and their only loss came last week to New Bremen, so it’s a conference loss (3-1). I’m not sure anyone expected them to be 14-1 at this point, prior to the season, so the fact that they’ve done what they’ve done so far makes them look better to those who do the polls – #2 in the Division VI coaches poll, and #3 with Max Preps. But this sticks out about their record…they’ve yet to play Fort Loramie, St. Henry, New Bremen, and Coldwater. Then we’ll know for sure, I guess. But what they’ve done under first year coach Katherine Dirksen has been impressive, obviously.
Tipp City…At 14-0 you have to recognize Tipp because 14-0 is 14-0. But there is the question of strength of schedule. And to put it bluntly…who have they played, compared to the likes of Coldwater, New Bremen, Fort Loramie, St. Henry, and Marion Local? Impressively, in their 14 match wins they’ve yet to lose a set – none. However, in both the Max Prep rankings and the coaches’ poll you won’t see Tipp because a lot of those wins have come against Miami Valley League opponents – it’s not a tough league, overall, and they suffer for recognition because of it. But the Red Devils can play, despite their youth. Heralded Abby Mader is just a freshman, and has missed some time with an ankle. But let’s say it again. One, 14-0 is 14-0. And two, on any given night…..!
Covington’s Addison Ventura has helped the Buccs to a perfect conference record, and 10-2, overall.
Covington…This might come as a surprise, but Stephanie Robinson has guided the Buccaneers to a 10-2 overall record, 8-0 in the Three Rivers Conference, and they’re a big surprise for those who don’t pay attention outside the MAC and Shelby County League. Currently riding a ten-match win streak, their strength of schedule cannot compare to that of Fort Loramie in Div. VII, but they do have wins over Lehman, Miami East, and Russia, three teams with impressive volleyball legacies. They’ll also be a threat to other southwest district teams in the post-season. But just a pleasant surprise…to see Covington ranked #8 on both the Max Preps and coaches’ poll this past week.
Others? Parkway, Lehman, Miami East, Vandalia Butler, Versailles, and Butler…from the teams we’ve seen.
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