L-B, Leipsic volleyball teams aim to get closer to state

A pair of area volleyball teams will be looking to get closer to a state tournament berth today. Liberty-Benton, the No. 4 ranked team in Division III and state champions two years ago, will be taking on Johnstown-Monroe in a regional semifinal at 6 p.m. at Lake High School. Meanwhile, in Elida, Leipsic will be going up against New Knoxville in a regional semi. The Eagles have been the area's best team all season, sporting a 26-0 record and beating area Division powerhouses like Leipsic and Calvert in the same week. In the district final in Kalida, the Eagles battled past Coldwater in four games, 25-22, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16. It was the first time in the postseason L-B hadn't swept an opponent. L-B, which features three all-Blanchard Valley Conference first teamers in Karis Willow (conference player of the year), Izzy Granger and Sydney Elseser is hoping to advance to Saturday's final, which will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday. Standing in the way is Johnstown-Monroe, which enters Thursday at 17-8 after knocking off Ready in the district final in four games. Should the Eagles beat the Johnnies, they will face the winner of Monroeville-Defiance Tinora in Saturday's final. In Division IV, Leipsic enters the regional after sweeping Miller City in the district final, thanks to a dominant performance by Peyton Heitmeyer, who had 16 kills, three blocks and 21 digs. The Vikings enter at 23-2, and will take on the Rangers, who surprised a number of people by eliminating championship-tested New Bremen in four games in the district final. Like Leipsic, New Knoxville enters at 23-2. The winner of Thursday's match will take on the winner of Calvert and Hilltop. The Senecas have won the Division IV state title in two of the last three years. THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE VOLLEYBALL Regional Semifinal Division III At Lake Liberty-Benton vs. Johnstown-Monroe, 6 p.m. Division IV at Elida Leipsic vs. New Knoxville, 6 p.m.