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Senior Ashley Evans holds the Southwest Ohio regional runner-up trophy after losing 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 to Ursuline at Lebanon High School Saturday. The Thunderhawks appearance in the regional final was its first in school history. Photo by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.

The Ursuline Lions continued the tradition of Girls Greater Cincinnati League volleyball teams winning local regional titles with a 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 win against Lakota East on Saturday at Lebanon High School.

The win marks the 18th straight year and the 34th time in the past 38 years that a GGCL program has won the big school (Class AAA or Division I) Southwest Ohio regional title.

“When I was the coach at Lakota East, I don’t think that I beat a GGCL team one time in nine years,” head coach Jeni Case said, who coached East until taking over at Ursuline in 2006. “Our schedule helps us. We have to play each GGCL team twice every season and I think that just prepares you more for the tournament.”

In fact, the last time a non-GGCL team won the local regional title was Lakota High School in 1994 before the district split into two high schools. Ironically, Ursuline (21-7), ranked No. 6 in the state, defeated No. 9 Lakota West in the regional semifinal before taking on No. 4 Lakota East (24-3).

Lakota East senior Anna Starr had 36 assists and 11 digs in 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 loss to Ursuline Saturday in the regional final at Lebanon High School. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com.For more photos from this game, visit http://proofs.trimphotoandvideo.com/g/110312east

“I never had a player like Ashley Evans in my life,” Case said. “She is just incredible and she is going to be awesome in college.

“We knew we had to shut her down, or at least, as much as possible.”

In addition to Evans, seniors Madeline Garda (Bowling Green commit), Anna Starr (Wright State commit), Carlie Haddad, Danielle Fleming and Ali Lake (Ohio commit, didn’t play due to injury) will leave what was possibly East’s most talented team in school history.

“This is the best senior class that has ever come out of Lakota East and one of the best in the state,” Lakota East head coach Casie Garland said. “I have never seen a group of girls so passionate about the sport of volleyball and it is disappointing to see them fall short today because they deserve it more than any other group in the state.”

But it was Ursuline who played better on Saturday.

Led by Notre Dame commit junior Sam Fry (17 kills, 9 blocks), junior Paige Kebe (10 kills), senior Rachel Garnett (10 kills), senior Abby Weisenberger (41 assists) and senior Courtney Grafton (21 digs), the Lions will be making their 11th appearance at the big school state tournament when they face Toledo’s St. Ursula Academy in a state semifinal match at Wright State’s Nutter Center at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

A win there would advance Ursuline to the state final on Saturday at Wright State, where they will try for their fifth overall state championship and fourth among the big Ohio high schools.

Ursuline celebrates its 25-18, 25-8, 14-25, 25-14 win against Lakota East in the regional final Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. The win marks the 18th straight year and the 34th time in the past 38 years that a GGCL program has won the big school (Class AAA or Division I) Southwest Ohio regional title. Photo by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.

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Tags: Tags: Anna Starr, Anna Starr Lakota East, Ashley Evans, Ashley Evans Lakota East, Ashley Evans Purdue volleyball, Casie Garland, Casie Garland Lakota East, Casie Garland volleyball coach, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lakota West High School, Madeline Garda, Madeline Garda Bowling Green volleyball, Madeline Garda Lakota East

Mark Schmetzer reports:

Almost as if they couldn’t wait, the Lakota East Thunderhawks were on the floor with a minute left before the fourth game of their Division I regional semifinal match against Mount Notre Dame.

That normally wouldn’t be unusual, except most teams aren’t that anxious to take on the undefeated defending state champions – but then, most teams weren’t Lakota East Thursday night at Lebanon High School.

“We didn’t want a delay,” senior outside hitter-setter Ashley Evans said. “We wanted to keep the momentum, because volleyball is such a game of momentum.”

The approach paid off as the Thunderhawks went on to win the fourth game and complete an historic 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20 win that sent them to the regional finals for the first time in the 16-year history of the program.

“I’m speechless,” said Evans, who led Lakota East with 26 kills. “I’m going to have to slap myself to make sure I’m awake. We’re coming together as a team. We tried to play them like they were any other team. We were the last team to beat them last year and the first team to beat them this year.”

Lakota East advanced to the regional final for the first time in school history after beating Mount Notre Dame, who was 25-0 and ranked No. 6 nationally by MaxPreps, by the score of 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20 Nov. 1, 2012. Photo by Joseph Fuqua II.

Senior Madeline Garda had 40 digs and classmate Anna Starr finished with 45 assists for Lakota East (24-2), which is scheduled to face Ursuline (20-6) in the regional finals on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Lebanon.

The Lions advanced with a taut 15-25, 25-12, 21-25, 25-22, 15-11 win over Lakota West (20-6) in Thursday’s second match.

The state semifinals are scheduled to be played on Nov. 8 with the finals on Nov. 10, all at Wright State University’s Nutter Center.

Lakota East, the No. 3 team in the Enquirer’s Division I coaches poll and fourth-ranked team in the Division I state coaches association poll, had several motivational cards to play, including a season loss to Mount Notre Dame (25-1), the top-ranked team in both the Enquirer and statewide polls, late in the regular season.

“They served and passed a lot better,” Cougars coach Joe Burke said about the difference in the two matches. “We didn’t have our ‘A’ game. We worked and played hard, but when you don’t give your best effort and the other team is on, it’s hard.”

“We weren’t clicking then,” Garland said. “I’d rather lose in the regular season than in the tournament. We’re jelling and clicking at the right time.’

“It came down to who played defense – and Evans was a game-changer.”

Evans and her teammates also made sure to remember that no Lakota East team had gotten past the regional semifinals.

“We found some old jerseys and wore them around school today,” Evans said. “We called it ‘Throwback Thursday.’”

Ursuline, ranked second in the Enquirer and sixth in the state, lost to Lakota East in the third match of the regular season.

The Firebirds (20-6), ranked third third in the Enquirer and ninth in the state, fell short of their second trip in three year to the regional championship match.

“We played them twice earlier in the season and beat them both times, but I knew it’d be close,” Lions coach Jeni Case said. “It looked like they wanted it more in the beginning, but we picked it up.”

Volleyball – Regional semifinals at Lebanon High School

Lakota East (24-2) def. Mount Notre Dame (25-1) 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-20

Ursuline (20-6) def. Lakota West (20-6) 15-25, 25-12, 21-25, 25-22, 15-11.

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Tags: Tags: Anna Starr, Anna Starr Lakota East, Ashley Evans, Ashley Evans Lakota East, Ashley Evans Purdue volleyball, Casie Garland, Casie Garland Lakota East, Casie Garland volleyball coach, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Lakota West volleyball, Madeline Garda, Madeline Garda Bowling Green volleyball, Madeline Garda Lakota East, Tracey Kornau, Tracey Kornau Lakota West

Lakota sports fans have the unique opportunity tonight to watch both the Lakota East and Lakota West varsity volleyball programs play in back-to-back regional semifinal games at Lebanon High School. If both Lakota schools win then they will face off in the regional final.

Senior Ashley Evans, who is committed to Purdue, is one of the leaders at Lakota East who has helped the team advance to regional semifinal. If the Thunderhawks win on Thursday, it will be the first time in school history that it will play in the regional final. Photo taken earlier this postseason by Amanda Davidson.

Lakota East (22-2) will have the tough task of trying to defeat unbeaten Mount Notre Dame (25-0) in its regional semifinal match at 6:30 p.m.

Currently, the Cougars are ranked No. 6 nationally by MaxPreps and haven’t lost since Oct. 13, 2011. Ironically, that loss came against Lakota East.

“We know that our game on Thursday against Mount Notre Dame is going to be a battle,” Lakota East head coach Casie Garland said. “They are the strongest team in the state thus far at 25-0 and defending state champions, so it’s definitely not going to be easy.

“However, I do feel our team is fully capable of battling with the best of them.”

Both teams feature a future Big Ten volleyball player. East is led by Purdue commit Ashley Evans, who had 23 kills and 23 digs in the 30-28, 18-25, 25-22, 25-18 win against McAuley in the district final last Saturday. On the other side of the net, MND is led by senior Michelle Strizak, who is committed to Illinois. Strizak led the Girls Greater Cincinnati League with 381 kills.

In the late game Thursday, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Lakota West (20-5) will take on Ursuline (19-6). It will be the third meeting this fall between the two teams – with the Lions winning the first two: 25-20, 25-17, 25-27, 25-18 and 25-23, 25-21, 25-23.

“Ursuline is a great team,” Lakota West head coach Tracey Kornau said. “They are very well coached, always solid fundamentally and always play great defense.

“It will be a great game.”

Like in the earlier matchup, each team is led by one of the region’s best players. Junior Sam Fry, who had 362 kills this season and has already verbally committed to Notre Dame, leads Ursuline. While, Furman commit Annie Bierman, who led the Greater Miami Conference in kills this fall with 297, leads Lakota West.

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Tags: Tags: Annie Bierman, Annie Bierman Furman, Annie Bierman Lakota West, Ashley Evans, Ashley Evans Lakota East, Ashley Evans Purdue volleyball, Casie Garland, Casie Garland Lakota East, Casie Garland volleyball coach, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Lakota West volleyball, Tracey Kornau, Tracey Kornau Lakota West

Lakota West players celebrate after scoring the match-winning point against Lakota East Sept. 26, 2012. Both Lakota teams are considered among the best in the state and won district titles last Saturday. Photo taken by Joseph Fuqua II

Shannon Russell reports:

Lakota East and Lakota West clinched Division I district girls’ volleyball championships Saturday at Lebanon and punched their tickets to respective regional semifinals.

The Thunderhawks ended McAuley’s first winning season in five years in a 30-28, 18-25, 25-22, 25-18 thriller and clinched a place in Thursday’s 6 p.m. regional semifinal at Lebanon.

By ousting Troy 25-12, 25-14, 25-15 – and snapping the Trojans’ 11-match winning streak – Lakota West secured its place in Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. regional semifinal, also at Lebanon.

McAuley (17-8) didn’t make it easy for Lakota East (23-2) to clinch its second district title in three years, but the Thunderhawks proved resilient after dropping their first game of the postseason.

“We remember how it felt after we lost last year and we didn’t want to that to happen again, so we just pushed through,” said Lakota East senior Ashley Evans, who had 23 kills, 23 digs, two blocks and an ace.

Coach Casie Garland said Lakota East’s solid passing set the tone for a good offensive showing, and McAuley coach Gene Toms agreed.

Toms said the Mohawks had “antsy feet” and struggled to make good, aggressive moves on defense. But rather than emphasize the outcome, he praised McAuley’s nine seniors, including Taylor Bove (12 kills) and Jordyn Thiery (7 kills).

“We’re going to try to celebrate the season instead of focusing on how it ended for us,” Toms said.

Lakota East setter Anna Starr finished with 54 assists, while libero Madeline Garda had 20 digs and Spenser Parks amassed 15 kills.

Then it was Lakota West’s turn. The Firebirds (20-5) won a third straight district title by controlling the tempo and making big plays at key moments.

“We knew we had to come out strong so we just had tons of energy,” outside hitter Annie Bierman said.

Coach Tracey Kornau called the win a complete team effort.

“We spread the ball out pretty evenly,” Kornau said.

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Tags: Tags: Anna Starr, Anna Starr Lakota East, Ashley Evans, Ashley Evans Lakota East, Ashley Evans Purdue volleyball, Casie Garland, Casie Garland Lakota East, Casie Garland volleyball coach, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Lakota West volleyball, Madeline Garda, Madeline Garda Bowling Green volleyball, Madeline Garda Lakota East, Spenser Parks, Tracey Kornau, Tracey Kornau Lakota West

Kevin Goheen reports:

It was fitting that Lakota East senior Danielle Fleming ended the first game of Monday night’s Division I volleyball sectional final against St. Ursula with an ace. Fleming is one of six seniors on the roster for the fourth-seeded Thunderhawks and serving was just one of the advantages they utilized in a 25-23, 25-20, 25-17 win against the No. 6 Bulldogs that earned them a fourth straight sectional title.

Senior Ashley Evans had 14 kills, 10 digs and three of the 10 aces Lakota East had as a team as it improved to 21-2 on the season and advanced to Saturday’s district championship at Lebanon against No. 5 seed McAuley.

The Mohawks (17-7) defeated No. 12 seed Milford in three games, 26-24, 25-12, 25-10, in Monday’s second match to win their first sectional title since 2008. McAuley rallied from a 23-19 deficit in the first game before rolling to comfortable wins to close out the match.

Evans, an outside hitter, has played varsity all four seasons along with setter Anna Starr and middle hitter Ali Lake. Defensive specialist Madeline Garda, outside hitter Carlie Haddad and Fleming are in their third varsity seasons.

Lake is out for the season with a torn ACL but the Thunderhawks have talented depth. They have lost this season only to top-seeded and state No. 1-ranked Mount Notre Dame and second-seeded Lakota West.

“They came in their freshman year and you knew they were a real strong class,” said Lakota East coach Casie Garland, a 2001 graduate of Lakota East. “These seniors have redefined the program. I seen it throughout the years and this is probably the top it’s been. I think we’re up there with the elite and we have a shot to go as far as we want.” (more…)

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Tags: Tags: Ashley Evans, Ashley Evans Lakota East, Ashley Evans Purdue volleyball, Carlie Haddad, Casie Garland, danielle fleming, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lakota East volleyball photos, Madeline Garda

Lakota West players celebrate after scoring the match-winning point Wednesday. Enquirer/joseph fuqua II / The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kevin Goheen reports:

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Tags: Tags: Anna Starr, Annie Bierman, Ashley Evans, Carlie Haddad, Casie Garland, danielle fleming, Donna Street, Firebirds, Gabby Blados, GMC, Lakota East, Lakota West, madline garda, Mandy Stanislovaitis, Rachel Cogan, sports, Thunderhawks, Tracey Kornau, volleyball

Lakota East volleyball preview

An earlier than expected loss last postseason has given the Thunderhawks something to prove in 2012.

Lakota East, which was ranked No. 4 in the state in the final coaches’ poll of 2011, saw its 20-game winning streak end in the district final in a 25-23, 25-23, 26-24 loss against school district rival Lakota West, a team the Thunderhawks defeated in straight sets just a month before.

Lakota East head coach Casie Garland cheers on her team during a win against Lakota West last fall. Photo taken by Tony Tribble.

After the match, Lakota West head coach Tracey Kornau said of the upset, “if we play (Lakota East) ten times, we win once. Today, was that once.”

The Firebirds would lose their next match to Mount Notre Dame, a team that went on to win the Division I state championship in 2011 after also losing to Lakota East in the regular season.

“We went through the regular season and we were 20-1, so to end the season 22-2 against a team we beat pretty well during the regular season was disappointing,” Lakota East head coach Casie Garland said.

“But, that is the way it happens sometimes. They came out to play and we didn’t. I think we definitely learned from that match because I think we kind of overlooked them and now we realize that we can’t overlook anybody.”

Garland admitted the team will use the loss to Lakota West as motivation for this season and hopes East can advance further in the postseason in 2012 despite losing six seniors to graduation.

Among that group of seniors, five are now playing in college including Morgan Weinheimer (University of Mississippi), Hannah Berling (Tusculum College), Hannah Sigala (Morehead State University), Lauren Beitel (Otterbein University) and Emily Bostian (Otterbein).

“The luxury we had last year is that we had six juniors as well,” Garland said. “So, we have a good core coming back, but we will definitely miss the ones from last year.”

Leading the core of returning seniors will be Greater Miami Conference Player of the Year Ashley Evans (committed to Purdue University) and GMC first teamer Ali Lake (committed to Ohio University), who was among the conference leaders in kills and assists last season.

Ohio University commit Ali Lake celebrates during a 25-20, 25-19, 25-16 win against Lakota West last fall. Photo taken by Tony Tribble.

Senior Madeline Garda (committed to Bowling Green), who is competing for the libero role, also returns.

“They (Evans and Lake) have really taken on a leadership role, on and off the court,” Garland said.

“They are definitely our biggest offensive threats, but I think people underestimate our defensive ability. With Garda and (junior) Cailyn Wachtel back as our primary passers and defenders, overall defense is one our strengths.”

Another one of the Thunderhawks’ strengths is their depth, as there are multiple starting spots that have yet to be decided as the team gears up for its opener against Turpin and Wyoming next Saturday Aug. 25.

Senior setter Anna Starr is currently a starter, while her freshman sister Le Ann Starr is competing for a starting spot at outside hitter. Another competition, for a starting middle hitter role, is between freshman Spenser Parks and sophomore NaDiah Fry.

Another player who is competing for a starting spot is senior Danielle Fleming, who Garland said has improved tremendously from past seasons.

“This is my third year with these girls and it is exciting to see their growth for the past few years,” Garland said. “Their excitement, their dedication, they really deserve something special to end with. I think everyone’s goal to make this season the best for the seniors and go out with a bang.”

WestChesterBuzz.com will preview the 2012 Lakota West volleyball season on Monday

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Tags: Tags: Ali Lake, Ali Lake Lakota East, Ali Lake Ohio University volleyball, Anna Starr, Ashley Evans, Ashley Evans Lakota East, Ashley Evans Purdue volleyball, Casie Garland, Casie Garland Lakota East, Casie Garland volleyball coach, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Le Ann Starr, Madeline Garda, Madeline Garda Bowling Green volleyball, Madeline Garda Lakota East, NaDiah Fry, Spenser Parks

Since winning its last Greater Miami Conference title in 2008 and graduating seven seniors, members of the Lakota East varsity girls’ volleyball squad and others in the conference have considered the Thunderhawks to be underdogs because of their youth.

However, that youthful group, which finished with a combined 36-14 record the past two seasons, is all grown up.

This year’s squad returns 11 student athletes, who were on the 2010 team, which advanced all the way to the final 16 in the state tournament last November.

“We have always been the underdog because we have always been told that we are too young,” senior setter Hannah Berling said. “We have a huge junior and senior class, but when we were freshmen and sophomores we were the babies, but now we won’t have that excuse anymore.”

>>>PHOTOS OF LAKOTA EAST’S FIRST SUMMER PRACTICE<<<

Berling, who led the Thunderhawks and was sixth in the GMC in assists in 2010 with 519, is among six seniors who will be featured on the 2011 varsity roster, according to second-year head coach Casie Garland. Other seniors, who were also on last year’s roster include Hannah Sigala, who is committed to play at Morehead State University, Lauren Beitel, Morgan Weinheimer and Emily Bostian.

Meanwhile, the junior class is led by Ali Lake (photo – click to enlarge), who is committed to Ohio University, and Ashley Evans, who is committed to Purdue University. (more…)

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Tags: Tags: Ali Lake, Ashley Evans, Casie Garland, Emily Bostian, Hannah Berling, Hannah Sigala, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East volleyball, Lauren Beitel, Morehead State, Morehead State University, Morehead State volleyball, Morgan Weinheimer, Ohio, Ohio University, Ohio University volleyball, Ohio volleyball, photo gallery, photos, Purdue, Purdue University, Purdue volleyball, volleyball, West Chester photos

Lakota East sophomore Ali Lake has announced that she has made a verbal commitment to play volleyball at Ohio University. She is the third volleyball player from Lakota East to make a commitment to a Division I program in April. Earlier this month, junior Hannah Sigala committed to Morehead State University and sophomore Ashley Evans committed to Purdue University.

This past fall, Lakota East finished in a two-way tie with Sycamore for second place in the Greater Miami Conference standings. The Thunderhawks finished the year with an 18-7 overall record and a 7-2 mark within the GMC.

Lake (photo), who is a 6-foot-1 middle hitter for the Thunderhawks, had 123 kills last season, according to the GMC website.

Sigala was named to the All-GMC Second Team after registering 97 kills in the fall.

Evans, who is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter at Lakota East, will be used as a setter at Purdue. This past fall, Evans was named to the All-GMC First Team and led her team with 228 kills.

“She is one of the most athletic and versatile player that we have on our team or even in the city,” Lakota East head coach Cassie Garland said of Evans. “She could probably play anywhere on the court.”

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Tags: Tags: Ali Lake, Ashley Evans, Casie Garland, Hannah Sigala, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Morehead State, Morehead State University, Ohio, Ohio University, Purdue, Purdue University, volleyball

Junior Hannah Sigala and sophomore Ashley Evans have recently committed to Division I volleyball programs, according to Lakota East head coach Casie Garland.

Sigala has committed to Morehead State University after seriously considering the University of Dayton.

“The second she went down to Morehead State, she just fell in love with it,” said Garland, who played her college ball at Morehead State. “I am just excited for her. I think it is a great fit.”

Sigala (photo – No. 5) was named to the All-GMC Second Team after registering 97 kills in the fall. Next season, the six-foot Sigala will be a senior for Lakota East, which will try to better its 18-7 overall and 7-2 Greater Miami Conference record in the fall of 2010.

“We are going to rely on her a lot,” Garland said. “She has so much potential and definitely belongs at the Division I level.”

Meanwhile, sophomore Ashley Evans (photo – No. 13) has already decided that she would like to attend Purdue University.

“I was a little surprised about her early commitment,” Garland said. “She had about every school looking at her – I have had contacts from Ohio State, Arkansas, LSU, Ohio University. She only went on two visits, to Purdue and Ohio State, and when she told me she had committed, I was shocked because she is so young, but when you know, you know.”

Evans, who is a 6-foot-1 outside hitter at Lakota East, will be used as a setter at Purdue. This past fall, Evans was named to the All-GMC First Team and led her team with 228 kills.

“She is one of the most athletic and versatile player that we have on our team or even in the city,” Garland said. “She could probably play anywhere on the court.”

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Tags: Tags: Ashley Evans, Casie Garland, Hannah Sigala, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Morehead State, Morehead State University, Purdue, Purdue University, volleyball