Lakeview sweeps Clippers to capture district title
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CANFIELD -- Three years ago, Lakeview's four seniors were part of the Bulldogs' 2024 district championship team.
Tasting success at that time planted the seed for what followed, as the third-seeded Bulldogs captured their third straight district title by sweeping No. 6 seed Columbiana 3-0 in the Division V, Northeast 1, district final on Thursday at Canfield.
"They understand what that feeling feels like," Lakeview head coach Heather Kiser said of her seniors. "They know that our out-of-conference schedule, our Northeast 8 schedule, will lead us and get us ready for this moment. They take it very seriously. They definitely have worked very hard these last couple years to keep these girls playing aggressive and keep that Lakeview legacy up."
Despite ending their season, Columbiana has a lot to be proud of this fall. The Clippers won 21 matches, reached the district final for the first time since 2020 and participated in the OVAC tournament for the first time, reaching the final.
Columbiana also graduates only three seniors, so the Clippers can look forward to most of their team returning next year.
"We were proud to get here. I wish we could have played a little bit better, but I thought our girls played really well," Columbiana head coach Jennifer Martin said. "I know the score didn't show it, but I do feel like it was probably one of the best matches we played, especially on service receive. ... We felt like this season we've had a lot of firsts. We had a lot of accomplishments this season that we're proud of."
Early on, it looked as though the Clippers might get the best of the Bulldogs, as Columbiana jumped out to an early 6-1 advantage in the opening set.
But Lakeview quickly battled back, tying the set at 8. From there, the Bulldogs went on a tear, closing out the first set 25-16 on a 20-8 run.
"We knew it wouldn't be easy," Martin said. "We knew that they play fast, and we love to play a fast team because I think we pick our pace up too. We did have a great start, but I knew that they'd get it turned on."
While the second set again started in favor of the Clippers, it didn't take long for Lakeview to reassert itself once again, as it took a 2-0 lead by clinching the second set 25-15.
"Obviously everybody has nerves the first couple points of any match," Kiser said. "I just kept telling them, relax and play our volleyball. We say we like to play cool, calm and collected and just focus on that. They know that a volleyball match isn't one or two points, it's one of 25. So even though someone gets a head start on us, we still have 25 more points to play."
There was little doubt in the final set as the Bulldogs finished off Columbiana in dominant fashion, sealing their victory 25-6.
"That last set just got away from us. They had those big blocks in the front row, and we just couldn't put it together," Martin said. "
Cady Esker led Lakeview with 12 kills and three aces, while Ceceila DeToro finished with 36 assists. Anna Haynie had nine blocks and Ella Gough put up 14 digs.
Landry Smith and Keagan Pruitt combined for 11 kills for the Clippers. Pruitt also had 12 digs, while Eva Waller finished with 17 assists.
The Bulldogs (20-5) now advance to next week's regional semifinal to face a very familiar foe in top-seeded and unbeaten South Range. The Raiders won their district by beating Akron Coventry 3-0 in the second match of Thursday's doubleheader.
Lakeview dropped both meetings against the Raiders this season, falling 3-1 in both matches, but Kiser said the Bulldogs are looking forward to getting another shot at South Range.
"I just think it's great that two Northeast 8 [teams] are going to be in that position. It's a blessing just to be able to play in a regional semi," Kiser said. "It's a great match for us. But you never know. When everyone's here, your records are 0-0, so it doesn't really matter how many times we played them or how many times they beat us. It's 0-0 at that point."