Tournament season begins for volleyball, soccer teams

Vindicator staff report

The regular season is over. It’s tournament time for area prep volleyball and soccer teams.

While there are several competitive districts in both sports, perhaps the most intriguing will be the Division II district volleyball tournament at Boardman High School.

Hubbard, which is ranked No. 3 in Ohio, and Salem (No. 5) appear headed for a rematch of their regular season showdown, which was won by the Eagles in four sets.

The Quakers, led by Ohio State basketball recruit Amy Scullion, begin play tonight against Alliance while the Eagles, led by YSU recruit Jackie Carlisle, start play Tuesday night against Liberty.

Hubbard lost to Mentor Lake Catholic in last year’s district final. The Cougars went on to beat Salem in the regional semifinals.

In Division I, top-seeded Boardman tries for its second district title in three years at Stow High School, while Howland is seeded fourth at the Solon district.

Inter Tri-County League Tier One champion Springfield begins its quest for a regional berth on Wednesday at Salem High School.

The Tigers are ranked 18th in Ohio in Division III.

In Division IV, top-seeded Mathews (ranked 16th in Ohio and Northeastern Athletic Conference champ) should see plenty of competition from the other seeds. Second-seeded Western Reserve (No. 19 in Ohio) and fourth-seeded Jackson-Milton (20) shared the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two title, while No. 3 Lordstown finished runner-up to Mathews for the NAC title.

Soccer

In boys soccer tournament action, Poland — ranked seventh in Ohio in Division II — begins sectional play on Saturday against Salem, while perennial power and defending district champion Mooney plays Hubbard that night.

In Division III, look for state-ranked Badger to be among the favorites for a district title. The Braves were regional qualifiers last year.

On the girls side, defending district champion Howland begins play on Thursday against either Fitch or Hubbard in Division I sectional competition.

Last year’s Division II champion, Cardinal Mooney, begins play on Monday against Liberty.

Tuesday

today

GIRLS SOCCER

TOURNAMENT

Division I

Hubbard at Austintown Fitch, 7 p.m.

Warren Harding at Canfield, 7 p.m.

Canton McKinley at Poland, 7 p.m.

North Canton Hoover at Boardman, 7 p.m.

Niles at Canton GlenOak, 7 p.m.

Division II

Maplewood at Warren JFK, 4 p.m.

Struthers at Springfield, 7 p.m.

Crestview at Champion, 7 p.m.

Ursuline at Badger, 4 p.m.

Columbiana at Lakeview, 7 p.m.

Bristol at Youngstown Christian, 4 p.m.

Liberty at Mooney, 7 p.m.

Girard at South Range, 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

TOURNAMENT

Division I at Stow

Stow vs. Austintown Fitch, 5:30 p.m.

Copley vs. East, 7 p.m.

Division I at Solon

Nordonia vs. Warren Harding, 7:30 p.m.

Division II at Boardman

West Branch vs. Southeast, 5 p.m.

Alliance vs. Salem, 6:30 p.m.

Division III at Salem

Newton Falls vs. South Range, 5 p.m.

Girard vs. Lisbon, 6:30 p.m.

Badger vs. Waterloo, 8 p.m.

Division IV at Lisbon

Heartland Christian vs. Leetonia, 6 p.m. (Gym A)

Wellsville vs. East Canton, 7 p.m. (Gym B)

Youngstown Christian vs. Lordstown, 7:30 p.m. (Gym A)

BOYS SOCCER

TOURNAMENT

DIVISION II

Liberty at West Branch, 7 p.m.

Newton Falls at Champion, TBA

Division III

Warren JFK at Mathews, 7 p.m.

Heartland Christian vs. Bloomfield at Grand Valley, 4 p.m.

Ursuline at Maplewood, 4 p.m.

Crestview at Columbiana, 4 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

TOURNAMENT

Division I at Stow

Canfield vs. Akr. Garfield, 7 p.m.

Division II at Boardman

Hubbard vs. Liberty, 5 p.m.

Mogadore Field vs. Struthers, 6:30 p.m.

Division II at Jefferson

Conneaut vs. Niles, 4:30 p.m.

West Geauga vs. Lakeview, 6 p.m.

Division III at Salem

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Brookfield, 6 p.m.

Campbell Memorial vs. United, 7:30 p.m.

Division III at LaBrae

Gates Mills Hawken vs. Mineral Ridge, 5 p.m.

LaBrae vs. Grand Valley, 7 p.m.

Division IV at Lisbon

Southern vs. Crestview, 6 p.m. (Gym A)

Columbiana vs. Lowellville, 7 p.m. (Gym B)

Jackson-Milton vs Sebring, 7:30 p.m. (Gym A)

Division IV at Badger

Ash. Sts. John & Paul vs. Maplewood, 4:30 p.m.

Fairport Harbor Harding vs. Warren JFK, 6 p.m.

Bristol vs. Ledgemont, 7:30 p.m.