Girls district volleyball: Highland sweeps Chardon for district title

MEDINA — Alyssa Koehler and Abby Capper stole the show in the biggest match of their careers for the Highland volleyball team.The senior outside hitters combined for 20 kills and just three unforced errors, making clutch plays at the net in all three sets as the Hornets defeated Chardon 26-24, 25-19, 25-23 to win the Division III, Northeast 6 District championship Thursday.Kamryn Heldreth fired 16 kills and fellow senior middle hitter Lily Vojtko added seven for Highland (19-6), which became the third team in Medina County history to advance to regionals three times in a four-year span."This is insane for both of us, and it's super special as seniors," said Capper, who established career bests with seven kills and four blocks. "We knew what we had to do to win this match and were really focused on blocking. We executed our game plan really well all night."The seven-time reigning Suburban League American Conference champion Hornets also qualified for regionals in back-to-back seasons for the initial time. They have won 13-of-14 matches since Sept. 16."Early in the season, we weren't sure if we'd even win the league and certainly weren't thinking about this," said Koehler, who fired a personal postseason-high 13 kills. "But that's not how we wanted to go out. The seniors didn't want end our careers on a down note."And they didn't. Defensive specialist Ava Andrews led all players with 16 digs and libero Carley Niese had 13 digs and two assists, while Heldreth and Vojtko each made three blocks.All six 12th-graders were members of Highland's 2024 squad that reached the Mentor Regional semifinals. It will head to Norwalk this time for a tournament rematch with No. 1-ranked Archbishop Hoban."It was fun to see Alyssa and Abby play one of the best matches of their high school careers together tonight," Hornets coach Laura Merk said. "Abby blocked everything and did a nice job attacking, and Alyssa was putting balls off the block and also placing them on the line."Freshman outside hitter Samantha Ross was strong at critical times, as well, with 10 kills — highlighted by the first set winner and the match-ending spike. Sophomore Payton Hrics contributed 19 assists and three aces, and freshman Emma Tramonte had 18 helpers.Outside hitter Addison Koppelman posted 15 kills, two blocks and two aces for the Hilltoppers (11-13), who forged 23 ties and traded the lead 11 times in the 99-minute contest at Medina High. Six of her kills came in the wild third.Madison Kilpeck had 25 assists and outside hitter Kayla Leslie chipped in eight kills. Chardon upset Willoughby South on its home floor in the district semifinals.The Hilltoppers fought off two set points in the first and built a 22-18 advantage in the third on Koppelman's sixth kill of the set. Kenzie Siko made three blocks to push them to the brink.Highland bowed up and tied it at 23 on a Ross kill, then extended the next point on three straight one-handed spears by Niese, Andrews and Ross before Chardon hit the ball out of bounds."Sam played a great game, which shows what kind of a performer she is as a freshman," Merk said. "She has the ability and we have the confidence in her."Hoban ousted Warren Harding in the first half of the doubleheader at the site. All five of the Knights' losses were to state-ranked opponents, including Wadsworth on Oct. 14.The Hornets and SL National Conference kingpin Grizzlies will represent the county in the next round. Wadsworth qualified for the Streetsboro Division II Regional one night earlier by sweeping Green.Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on X.