Experienced Calvert cruises back to title match

FAIRBORN — Been there, done that. Despite no seniors on the floor, the Calvert volleyball team had six players step on the floor Thursday at the Nutter Center with championship experience. The Senecas looked the part of the experienced state contender in their Division VII state semifinal match against Norwalk St. Paul. Calvert (28-0) cruised in three sets — 25-9, 25-15 and 25-18 — to return to the state championship match for a second straight season. The No. 2-ranked Senecas face No. 1 Fort Loramie (27-1) at 11 a.m. Friday looking to win a third state title in program history — all since 2018. Calvert jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first set against a St. Paul team that had just one senior, but no state experience. "That is what it feels like," Calvert head coach Lori Rombach said of how comfortable her team looked. "Every team has something they hang their hat on or push towards, and we're trying to climb a mountain to get to the next step. "We're pushing for the next step, and (Friday) we're planning for the summit." The Senecas also got their usual dominant serving in the match, led by Claire Schoenberger. She had five of her team's 11 aces — compared to just one for the Flyers (20-8) to help her team go on lengthy scoring runs. "Every time I get the ball and go back to the service line, I tell myself I'm going to get this one for my team," Schoenberger said of her serve strategy. "Reach high, swing through and just get the serve in. "You never know if you will win or lose a point, but none of that happens if you don't get the serve in. From there, I can start being more aggressive." Calvert led 18-7 in the first set after a huge kill from Emily Miller. St. Paul trailed 19-9 when a mishit sent Schoenberger to the service line, where she immediately delivered an ace — then closed out three more points in the 25-9 win. In the second set, a more comfortable St. Paul was able to keep it close through the first 10 points, as it trailed 10-9 after each team traded service errors. But ahead 14-11, Bella Borgio started a big run with a huge kill, while Hope Waire did the same a few points later. Once Emily Miller had a perfectly-placed cross-court lob to make it 19-13, St. Paul was on the ropes. "They're a great team with experience here," first-year St. Paul coach Angie Kalizewski said. "They have got it here on the floor, things that we will get … we will be there. "But they did a great job of getting us out of system and moving the ball around. We struggled to get momentum and get in our mode, and a lot of that was because of how they played." Out of the timeout, Kate Coleman served one of her two aces, and Emily Miller came back with a big kill and another point on a tipped ball to make it 23-15. It was all over from there, with Karris Marinis adding a kill to make it set point, which ended on a mishit by the Flyers. In the third set, the Senecas held a slim 14-13 lead when St. Paul sophomore Ella Kalizewski attempted to lob a ball over the entire Calvert defense — but it just landed out of bounds. Calvert seized on that momentum shift, as Gracie Miller took her turn at the service line with an ace, then St. Paul hit a ball out of bounds and Kalizewski was again calling timeout with a 19-13 deficit. The Flyers got within three points (18-15), but no closer. Waire put down a kill to make it 21-15, and Bryn Dircksen tipped a ball over to make it 23-17. St. Paul hit a ball out of bounds to set up match point, which ended on a big swing and kill from Marinis. "I'm proud of this team," Rombach said. "We talked about trying to win the serve-serve receive game, and I think we executed well on that. The girls came out and served aggressively, and I think our defense was spectacular tonight. "Our back row was passing the ball really well … I just think we executed really well today." Waire had a team-high 10 kills on 19-of-19 hitting. Emily Miller and Borgio each had eight kills, while Dircksen had 34 assists. Schoenberger led the defense with 13 digs and Coleman added 10. "Last year is motivation, but it also has to be in the back of your mind," Schoenberger said of the state runners-up loss to New Bremen in 2023." It's a new team, a new year. We want to make our mark." Coach Rombach agreed with that sentiment. "It's great obviously to have teams here in back-to-back years," she said. "We've talked about how we can't rely on past year's accomplishments. These girls are hungry and ready to make their own mark, and that's what makes this team special." Rombach also appreciated having the Senecas and Flyers play in a state semifinal. The schools are just 35 miles apart and in the Northwest Ohio Catholic Schools Association together, and have met in every sport at one time or another. "Two local catholic high schools from Northwest Ohio — it's a beautiful thing," she said. "A lot of the girls know each other, so there is familiarity there as teammates and competing against each other on club teams. "It's a great representation or reflection of volleyball in our area, and it was a beautiful thing to compete against them. And St. Paul has a really good team. They have a lot to be proud of, too."