REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL Today's matches

DIVISION I
FITCH (22-4) vs. MENTOR (24-3)
Game time: 4 p.m. at Hudson High School.
Notebook: The teams have split their last two meetings. Fitch won 15-10, 15-8 in the regional semifinal in 2001 en route to a state tournament berth. Mentor won last year's meeting in the regional semifinal, 15-12, 15-9 en route to a state berth. The Falcons, who have five returning starters from last year's team, have won 20 straight matches. Fitch defeated Solon 17-15, 15-7 in the regional semifinal, while Mentor topped Massillon Perry, 15-7, 15-5. Fitch is led by district player of the year Maggie Case, who was a first-team all-Ohio selection last season. The Falcons have played in the regional tournament five straight years -- advancing to state in 1999 and 2001. Fitch has three starters from that 2001 team -- Case, Rachel Terzak and Stacie Mang. All three were first-team all-district selections. The other three starters from the 2001 team are playing collegiate volleyball -- Ashlee Lemke and Jessica DiCarlo play at Mount Union and Katie McDermott is at Westminster. Mentor is led by 6-foot-, 6-inch junior Megan Skouby, who led the Cardinals to their fourth state tournament appearance in school history last season. Mentor also made it in 1989, 90 and 98.
COLUMBIANA (19-8)vs. ORRVILLE (22-4)
Game time: 2 p.m. at Barberton High School.
Notebook: Columbiana continued its improbable run through the tournament with a 15-11, 13-15, 16-14 come-from-behind win over Girard -- the defending regional champions. Carly Washinko had 13 kills, Cara Hardenbrook had eight digs, Whitney Goist had 28 assists and Steph Barnes scored 13 points for Columbiana in the win. The Clippers have caught fire in the tournament, despite not winning the Tri-County League and not even being seeded for the sectional tournament. A win would give Columbiana its first state tournament berth in school history. Orrville, which has also never made it to the state tournament, defeated Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 15-6, 15-6 in the regional semifinal. The Red Raiders, ranked No. 2 in the state, is led by standout TaNeisha Winters.
-- Vindicator staff report