Photo by Brian Dulik

Stow's Kelly Vitt, coach Miguel Ramirez and Lexi Stefanov (left to right) played integral roles as the Area All-Stars scored an exciting three-game victory over Portage County in the second half of the OHSVCA District 3 All-Star Matches at Ellet.

AKRON, Ohio -- Summit and Medina County volleyball players ruled the court Friday at the annual OHSVCA District 3 Senior All-Star Matches.

Athletes from those two counties claimed both halves of the entertaining doubleheader at Ellet, giving them bragging rights over their peers from Lorain and Portage County.

In the opener, Summit/Medina County defeated Lorain County 25-20, 25-22. Medina outside hitter Kaitlyn Witsaman and Bees middle hitter Ally Peters combined for six kills in an 11-2 run midway through the second game to secure the sweep.

Making the victory even more fun, Medina setter Mallory Gustincic shared the court with them, allowing the Bees a chance to take a final bow together after the most successful season in school history.

"For all three of our (team tri-)captains to be out there together in our final high school match, it was a really good feeling," Peters said, smiling. "It also was a lot of fun playing with girls from different schools after going against them all season. We had a great time."

Revere setter Olivia Moskaluk and Nordonia middle hitter Kelsey Watroba also contributed big points as the match wound down, helping Summit/Medina County dig out of a 15-11 hole in the second game.

Tallmadge setter Paige Schertzinger provided the go-ahead assist to Peters at 18-17, then rattled off four straight serves to put the triumph on ice.

"Everyone meshed really well together, even though we hadn't been on the same team before in most cases," Witsaman said. "There was no pressure on any of us tonight. We just went out and had fun."

In the nightcap, the Area All-Stars rallied for a 20-25, 25-15, 25-20 triumph over Portage County. Stow setter Kelly Vitt and Buckeye setter Alexa Weiland each had six assists and one ace in the decisive third game.

Bulldogs middle hitter Lexi Stefanov and Lorain Clearview outside hitter Shayna Hunt had four kills apiece in the finale, which was ended by a resounding kill off the right hand of Vermilion outside hitter Emily Cunningham. 

"It was very cool tonight, being a part of this great event for the first time," Stow coach Miguel Ramirez said.

"I felt so happy being able to coach Kelly and Lexi one more time because I love all of our seniors at Stow. It's been an honor to be with them for the last two years. They're all such good young ladies, I see great things for them in college and in life."

Field's Alyssa Coleman and Kayla Renicker turned in strong performances for Portage County, as did Rootstown setter McKenzie Iarussi. Also shining on the opposite side of the net was Our Lady of the Elms middle hitter Laura Scroggins, who was flocked by college scouts after the match.

"There was a lot of talent on the floor, which is why (Buckeye coach Craig Peterson) and I mixed it up and had the girls in a number of different spots," Ramirez explained. "We wanted the college coaches to see all of the things they could do, and hopefully get everyone who wants to keep playing a chance to be noticed tonight."

The All-Star Matches were hosted by Ellet coach and District president Jim Noall, and Southeast coach Mary Tarka, the longtime District secretary and treasurer.

FINAL ALL-STAR ROSTERS

SUMMIT/MEDINA COUNTY (beat Lorain County)

Micki Gallien--Copley        

Kelsey Watroba--Nordonia

Ally Peters--Medina

Mallory Gustincic--Medina

Kaitlyn Witsaman--Medina

Olivia Moskaluk--Revere

Paige Schertzinger--Tallmadge

Catherine Swain--Hoban

Erin Wilson--Cuyahoga Falls

Coaches:  Mark Uhrich—Revere / Geoff Wagner--Tallmadge

LORAIN COUNTY (lost to Summit/Medina County)

Shelby Regiec--Elyria

Arrianna Cumberledge--Grafton Midview

Maria Concheck--Amherst Steele

Heather Smith--Avon Lake

Danielle Donelan--Avon Lake

Jeanine Musall--Sheffield Brookside

Gabby Piwowar--Sheffield Brookside

Becca Conrad--LaGrange Keystone

Coaches:  Dan Berkheimer--Avon Lake / Jennifer Lee--Elyria Catholic

AREA ALL-STARS (beat Portage County)

Kelly Vitt--Stow

Lexi Stefanov--Stow

Julianne Laughlin--Brunswick

Shayna Hunt--Lorain Clearview

Emily Cunningham--Vermilion

Kate-Lynn Urgo--Vermilion

Krystin Estes--Buckeye

Alexa Weiland--Buckeye

Mara Esber--Our Lady of the Elms

Gabby Charley--Our Lady of the Elms

Laura Scroggins--Our Lady of the Elms

Coaches:  Miguel Ramirez—Stow / Craig Peterson--Buckeye

PORTAGE COUNTY (lost to Area All-Stars)

Dani Brannon--Waterloo 

Ashleigh Pickens--Rootstown

CJ Lange--Mogadore

McKenzie Iarussi-Rootstown

Kayla Renicker--Field

Alyssa Coleman--Field

Sammy Rydzinski--Streetsboro

Emily Willis--Southeast

Katlyn Walker--Norton

Coaches:  Bill Smerglia—Streetsboro / Brenda Ward—Field