PREP VOLLEYBALL Range, Columbiana advance to district behind key players

Jodi James and Carly Washinko sparked their teams to sectional titles.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SALEM -- Jodi James and Carly Washinko led their teams to sectional championships Thursday in the Division III volleyball tournament at Salem High.
After South Range and Streetsboro split a pair of 16-14 games, James began to control the net early in game three, and behind her and Kelly Skrinyer, the Raiders rushed out 7-1 and won 15-6.
South Range was the only seeded team to advance to the district semifinals, which will take place Monday.
Across the net
The Raiders' opponent will be Columbiana, which, behind Washinko, upset Tri-County League champion Lisbon, 15-2, 8-15, 16-14.
Crestview will play East Palestine in the other district semifinal.
South Range coach T.J. Irons said of James, "She's one of the few players that can completely take over a game.
"My biggest fear coming in was that we hadn't played in a week and that we would come out flat," said Irons, "and we did. But our seniors got us through it."
With South Range leading 12-6, James put the set and match away with three outstanding plays at the net.
"Early on we needed to tighten up our game and correct the small things," said James. "After losing that first one, I think we all just felt that we weren't ready to be done yet."
James finished with 20 kills, nine blocks and seven digs. Skrinyer had 10 points and 30 assists, and Jess Toth added 14 points and 12 digs.
Deciding match
Columbiana and Lisbon split their two regular season matches, but Washinko came through at the end of a tense third set.
Columbiana regained the serve trailing 14-11, but a Washinko spike cut the deficit to 14-13. A good play by Ashley Greenawalt tied the score and the Clippers went ahead 15-14 before Lisbon regained the serve.
Washinko helped the Clippers (16-8) regain control, and her spike moments later decided the match.
Lisbon, the No. 2 seed, finished the season 18-5.
"I think everybody was nervous when the score was 14-11," said Washinko, "but we stayed focused. Our team hasn't quit all year and we believed when we walked in here that we were going to win this match."
Lisbon coach Kami Sell added, "I knew when it was 14-11 we had to finish it and tonight, of all nights, we couldn't do that."