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Elms volleyball coach Joanna Patterson addresses her team during a timeout at the Medina Division IV District tournament. Elms swept Open Door Christian in a sectional championship match on Saturday.

MEDINA, Ohio – When the Our Lady of the Elms volleyball team began its tournament run on Saturday, coach Joanna Patterson said her team wanted to make a statement.  The Panthers, ranked 18th in the state in Division IV by the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association, came in wanting to show that the Medina High School gymnasium belonged to them and they weren’t planning on losing.

Consider their 25-10, 25-12, 25-9 sweep of Open Door Christian as the statement heard loud and clear.

“The girls really came out ready to win,” Patterson said.  “They consider this the beginning of our journey and they don’t plan on losing any time soon.

“They anticipate making it to states and nothing less.”

On Saturday at Medina's Bee Hive, Elms started with a sectional championship thanks in large part to Aubrey Kozer.  The junior led the team with 10 kills, 30 service points and five aces.

Senior Mara Esber was the Panthers leading setter with 31 assists, and seniors Laura Scroggins and Gabby Charley led Elms defensively.  Scroggins had four blocks and Charley had seven digs.

The top-seeded Panthers will now face #3 Kidron Central Christian in the district semifinals next Thursday.

“(Kidron Central Christian) is very strong up the middle and we’ve been working in practice on (defending the middle),” Patterson said.  “If we can stop their middle we’ll have a good chance to win.”

In other sectional volleyball action:

ARCHBISHOP HOBAN DEF. TALLMADGE 3-2.  At Tallmadge, Catherine Swain put down 12 kills for the Knights in a Division II sectional championship match.

Hoban next plays Manchester, a 3-0 winner (25-22, 25-15, 25-22) over Coventry, on Tuesday in the district semifinal.

Sami Stewart had 19 kills and two aces for Archbishop Hoban. Caroline Brower also served a pair of aces for the Knights. Taylor Eckman blocked eight shots, while Molly Leslein had 15 digs.