Tornadoes sweep New Philadelphia before topping Gahanna Lincoln and falling to state-ranked Strongsville; Dover soccer, cross country teams also tested in busy week of OCC action
Dover’s volleyball team headed to the Columbus area last weekend to tangle with some Division I programs and came back with a split. Coupled with the Tornadoes’ victory over rival New Philadelphia in an Ohio Cardinal Conference game and it was a pretty good week for the squad.
In a tri-match at Gahanna Lincoln, the Tornadoes topped the host squad in two sets before dropping a two-setter to powerful Strongsville. The week started with a 3-0 win over New Philadelphia. Altogether, the 2-1 week lifted Dover’s record to 9-2. The Tornadoes entered thisweek one game behind Wooster in the loss column in the Ohio Cardinal Conference standings.
New Philadelphia fell 25-9, 25-13, 25-16. Highlights of that match included 10 kills apiece from seniors Haley Kuecher and Caroline Hanner. Fellow seniors Quincy Werntz and Kelsey Kazelman each had three aces. Junior Ali Hupp added three blocks on the defensive side, which also included an 18-dig performance by senior Chera Schmidt. Werntz led with 29 assists.
The Tornadoes stopped Lincoln 25-12, 25-23. Hanner again led with 10 kills, one more than Kuecher. Werntz led with 11 digs and 26 assists.
Dover fell 25-19, 25-18 to Strongsville, a big-school power. Hanner had six kills. Senior Jenna Molk and Hupp each had five. Junior Megan Ravine led with five digs and Werntz had 16 assists. Strongsville, at 7-1, was ranked No. 15 in the state in Division I.
Soccer
Dover’s boys team moved to 4-5 after a 1-2 week that started with a 2-1 loss to Wooster at home, which was followed by a 2-0 win at River View and a 1-0 loss at Tri-Valley. Dover started this week still seeking its first Ohio Cardinal Conference victory. The girls squad headed into this week 4-3-1 overall, 1-2-1 in the OCC after going winless in two matches. It started with a scoreless tie at Wooster which was followed by a 2-0 loss at Louisville. Goals have been at a premium in the girls games, with the Tornadoes having shut out four opponents and been shut out for times themselves.
Boys cross country
Dover finished 19th in a 38-team Division II field last weekend at the Boardman Spartan Invitational. Ohio Cardinal Conference rival and state power Lexington won the team race. The Tornadoes got a great effort from senior Chase Daniel, who placed 11thoverall. Sophomore Hunter Anslow came in 103rd, a few spots ahead of junior Tyler Schuss (110th). Junior Tony Pastor-Calel (129th) and sophomore Elijah Perlaky (138th) also figured in the scoring for Dover. A total of 328 runners finished the D2 race.
Girls cross country
Similarly, the girls team placed 20th at Boardman, among 29 teams with enough runners to record a score. Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown won the team race easily. For the Tornadoes, Bethany Hutchison was the top finisher. She came in 79th. Senior Addie Hindman (106th) was next, two spots ahead of sophomore Cassidy McKee. Senior Lyela Miller finished 120th and junior Adlee Klaiber checked in 136th. There were 242 total runners in the field.
