How sweet it is, once again, for the Villa Angela-St. Joseph volleyball team to be back at Solon for the regionals.
The Vikings – state runner-up in 2013 – were dominant in returning to the Division IV sweet 16 with a sweep of Kidron Central Christian in the Medina District finals on Oct. 25. VASJ rolled, 25-14, 25-13, 25-18.
“I was happy with the way we prepared and the way we played,” VASJ coach Mark Royer said. “We are playing very good volleyball right now at the right time. Our schedule, and playing very good teams in the North Coast League, helped I am sure.”
Royer credited all six starters for their performance and called the district championship a “complete team win”. VASJ (18-7) got contributions from every girl on the floor in sweeping KCC on Oct. 25.
McKenna Walker and Taylor Sawicki played well and were key in helping the Vikings repeat as district champs.
Toni Beuck had 10 kills, 12 digs, 7 blocks and was 12 of 12 in serve-receive. Emily Mastalski had 8 kills and 4 blocks. Rachel Smith had 22 assists, 3 aces and 9 digs. Nicole Cramer had 9 digs and was big on the back line with 15 of 16 serve-receives.
“Our sophomores came in and played well for us in a high-pressure situation also, which was nice to see,” Royer said. “We had a lot of girls play well. It was a team win.”
VASJ will face Windham in a regional semifinal at Solon High School on Oct. 29.
The VASJ-Windham winner will play the St. Thomas Aquinas-New Philadelphia Tuscarawas C.C. winner for a spot in the state final four on Nov. 1.
The Vikings have swept all three matches thus far in the postseason.
