Jessica DiCarlo, Ashlee Lemke, Megan Casey and Sarai Miller have led the Falcons into the regional.

Jessica DiCarlo, Ashlee Lemke, Megan Casey and Sarai Miller have led the Falcons into the regional.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Meeting the four seniors on the Austintown Fitch High volleyball team is sort of like walking into the middle of a tornado for the first time. It's confusing, hard to describe and you have no control over what's happening.
"We're best friends," said Jessica DiCarlo.
All of you?
"Pretty much," said Ashlee Lemke.
The four -- DiCarlo, Lemke, Megan Casey and Sarai Miller -- interrupt one another, finish each other's sentences, drop inside jokes and generally create havoc for a reporter trying to take notes.
They're also good.
Have talent: Good enough to lead Fitch to its third straight district championship. Good enough to hand Boardman its only four losses this season. Good enough to make bold statements about what's to come.
"We want to win state," said Casey.
When asked if winning state is possible, DiCarlo gives you a look like you've just insulted her dog.
"Yes," she said. "We have the ability. If we play well as a team, we could win state."
The Falcons had their best chance two years ago, losing in the state semifinal to Rocky River Magnificat, 15-1, 15-13.
In regional: Fitch (22-3) plays Mentor (19-7) in the regional semifinal at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hudson High School. If the Falcons win, they'll face the winner of the North Canton Hoover/Solon match. Solon beat Fitch in last year's regional semifinal, 12-15, 15-9, 15-12.
All four seniors played in last season's tournament.
"Those four really lead this team collectively," said Fitch coach Tom Case. "That's probably the strength of our team. I'm sure they'll be some anxiety [against Mentor], but they've been there before. It should be a little bit easier."
Lemke is the only three-year starter, although Casey and DiCarlo both started last season. Lemke is serving at a 96 percent efficiency through 25 matches, has 109 kills and a kill efficiency of .256.
"Anything over .300 is very good," said Case.
Serving: DiCarlo is serving at 91 percent with 116 kills and a .362 efficiency. Casey is serving at 99 percent, has missed just two serves all year and digs the ball at 93 percent.
"We have a lot of consistency with our serving," Case said. "If we can serve to certain areas of the court it makes it very difficult to pass the ball. It makes [teams] have to serve the ball to where they don't always want to."
Miller adds depth off the bench for the Falcons, who have battled nagging injuries all season, Case said. On Monday, Fitch practiced for the first time since beating Boardman last Wednesday.
"Hopefully we'll be fresh and eager to get going," said Case. "At this point of the season, we just need to stay sharp."
Wiffle ball: All four said going to state in 1999 was a career highlight. The seniors go to team camps together and battle the junior varsity team in wiffle ball.
"We always win," said Miller. "It's the funnest game."
They throw around inside jokes, like calling Casey, one of the shortest members of the team, "stand-up." Lemke said the team motto is "He doesn't know who he's messing with," but refused to explain the motto's meaning on the record.
And since losing three games at a Hubbard tournament earlier this season, the team has been on a roll.
Much of the credit goes to the seniors.
"They're a steadying influence," said Case of the seniors. "We put a lot of faith in them to lead us."
scalzo@vindy.com