By Lisa Byers
May 19, 2008 11:56 pm
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#1 Maplewood
Coach: Sheila Bancroft
Record: 12-2
PVCA state ranking: Fourth
2007 District 10 finish: Second
District 10 titles: Maplewood — 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1991, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1980, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972; Townville — 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966.
Players to watch: #9 Robert Cierniakoski — 6-foot-3, Sr., MH; 2007 All-District 10 First Team, Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Finest 40, Meadville Tribune co-player of the year, Mercyhurst College recruit; #8 Aaron Bryant — 6-foot-4, Sr., MH; #4 Nick Bancroft — 5-foot-11, Jr., S; 2007 All-District 10 Second Team.
What you should know: Tournaments have not been Maplewood’s strength this season. A best-of-three format, however, should help the Tigers. After all, had the dual match season been a best-of-three format rather than best-of-five, Maplewood would have finished the Region 1 season with just one loss — that coming against co-Region 1 champ Saegertown … Since 2000, Maplewood has won a District 10 title at least once every two years. The Tigers’ last crown was in 2006 … Maplewood is looking for its 20th District 10 title since Townville’s merger in 1972.
#2 Saegertown
Coach: Justin Johnson
Record: 12-2
PVCA state ranking: Fifth
2007 District 10 finish: First
District 10 titles: 2007.
Players to watch: #3 Ben Wetsell — 6-foot-2, Sr., OH; 2007 All-District 10 First Team, PVCA Finest 40, Meadville Tribune co-player of the year, plans to walk on at St. Francis University; #22 Kyle Beatty — 6-foot-4, Jr., MH; #2 Kevin Schmalzried — 6-foot-0, Sr., S — 2007 All-District 10 Second Team.
What you should know: Justin Johnson’s celebration of Saegertown winning its first ever District 10 championship is considered by many as one of the most memorable D-10 Tournament moments of all times. Now the Panthers are looking to make it two-in-a-row … Only one team has been successful in beating the Panthers in dual match play this season and that’s Maplewood — twice. Saegertown has shown some vulnerability, though, with five-game wins over Conneaut Valley and Cochranton over the last three weeks … As far a tournament play, no team in District 10 has been hotter than the Panthers, who won the Cambridge Springs Classic, Fox Chapel Classic, Maplewood Tournament and Montour Tournament.
#3 Meadville
Coach: Doug Nelson
Record: 11-3
PVCA state ranking: First
2007 District 10 finish: Fourth
District 10 titles: 1996, 1981, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1959, 1958, 1957.
Players to watch: #13 Ben Wolff — 6-foot-7, Sr., MH; 2007 All-District 10 Second Team, Meadville Tribune Dream Team selection, Juniata College recruit; #9 Brian Zurney — 6-foot-3, Sr., OH; #8 Adam Zurney — 6-foot-3, Sr., OH/S; 2007 All-District 10 First Team; Meadville Tribune Dream Team selection; #2 Aaron Nye — 5-foot-8, Sr., L; 2007 All-District 10 Second Team.
What you should know: Of the four District 10 teams ranked in the top five in the PVCA state rankings, Meadville has been the most successful as of late with three straight wins entering the postseason not to mention a tournament title at the Mt. Lebanon Tournament back on May 10. The last team to beat the Bulldogs in a dual match was Maplewood on May 6 … Meadville is looking for its first District 10 title since 1996. That is the longest drought in District 10, excluding Farrell, who formerly played in District 7 and District 9 Rocky Grove. Conneaut Valley hasn’t won a title since 1982.
#4 Cambridge Springs
Coach: Rick Welker
Record: 9-5
PVCA state ranking: Second
2007 District 10 finish: Third
District 10 titles: 1997, 1990, 1987, 1986.
Players to watch: #1 Chris Young — 5-foot-8, Sr., L; 2007 All-District 10 First Team; Meadville Tribune Dream Team selection, plans to walk on at Mercyhurst College; #4 Matt McMunigle — 5-foot-9, Jr., OH; #14 Corey Hobson — 6-foot-0, So., S.
What you should know: Whether its the top seed, the fourth seed or the last seed, Cambridge Springs seems to always be in contention at the District 10 Tournament. Last season, the Blue Devils barely survived their opening round game with Cochranton (25-20, 21-25, 31-29), but came back to upset Meadville, 28-26, 25-23, in the loser’s bracket semifinals. In 2006, the Spa entered as the fifth seed, fell to Conneaut Valley in the opening round, but battled its way to the championship match where it fell to Maplewood, 24-26, 26-24, 26-24 … The Spa has had a pretty favorable tournament season this year with second place finishes at the prestigious Koller Classic, the State College Tournament and Mt. Lebanon Tournament.
#5 Conneaut Valley
Coach: John Chapman
Record: 5-9
PVCA state ranking: Not ranked
2007 District 10 finish: Tied for fifth
District 10 titles: 1982, 1961, 1960, 1956, 1955, 1954, 1953, 1952.
Players to watch: #12 Ben Varee — 6-foot-4, Sr., OH; #8 Tyler Jones — 5-foot-10, Sr., OH.
What you should know: Conneaut Valley has proven time and time again this season that it has the capabilities of being not only a spoiler but a contender at the District 10 Tournament, particulalry with a healthy Eric Smith running the offense. Smith missed several matches at the end of the regular season with a knee injury, but is expected to be back on the court for the D-10 Tournament. The Indians already upset Maplewood once this season, eliminating the Tigers at the 44th annual Meadville Boys Volleyball Tournament with a 25-20 win in the quarterfinals. They also took Saegertown to five games during the Region 1 dual match season.
#6 Cochranton
Coach: Chad DuPont
Record: 3-11
PVCA state ranking: Not ranked
2007 District 10 finish: Tied for fifth
District 10 titles: 2003, 1995, 1994, 1993.
Players to watch: #16 Adam Roche — 6-foot-7, Jr., MH; #10 Ethan Oertly — 5-foot-6, So., S.
What you should know: Cochranton is another team that could prove to be a spoiler. The Cards proved that in their Region 1 finale Thursday by taking Saegertown to five games. The Cards have also had strong showings in tournament play as of late. They finished fifth at Mt. Lebanon and were ninth at a talent-packed Dallastown Tournament, falling to Lancaster Mennonite in the play-in round.
#7 Farrell
Coach: Maurice Campbell
Record: 1-15
PVCA state ranking: Not ranked
2007 District 10 finish: Tied for seventh
District 10 titles: None.
What you should know: This is Farrell’s second year at the District 10 Tournament. Last season, the Steelers fell to Saegertown, 25-14, 25-8, in the first round and then fell to Conneaut Valley, 25-22, 25-17, in the first round of the loser’s bracket. The Steelers have not won a single game against District 10 foes this season. Their lone dual match win came against Rocky Grove in a 25-19, 25-19, 25-14 sweep on April 9. The Orioles avenged that loss with a three-game sweep of their own on April 23.
#8 Rocky Grove
Coach: Matt LaVerde
Record: 4-3
PVCA state ranking: Not ranked
2007 District 10 finish: Tied for seventh
District 10 titles: None.
What you should know: Rocky Grove has had some success this season. Among its accomplishments is a second place finish at the Farrell Tournament. The Orioles also captured the Silver Division title at the Seneca Valley Tournament. This is Rocky Grove’s last season representing District 9 at the tournament. Next year, the Orioles will compete as a District 10 team.
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