Fairbanks’ Jenay Kocsis, right, sets the ball during Monday’s scrimmage against Jonathan Alder. JA’s Kortney Reynolds is pictured to the left. Both teams will play in district semifinal matches this week and used the scrimmage as a warm-up for those next matches.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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The high school volleyball season for the Union County area has come down to a couple of teams.
The squads from Fairbanks and Jonathan Alder are the only ones left standing in the post-season after the first full week of tournament play.
Both teams will play in district semifinal contests this week.
The Lady Pioneers (18-4) will take their No. 5 seed into Wednesday’s Division II contest at Licking Heights High School against No. 3 Granville. The match will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Lady Panthers are undefeated in 24 matches and are the No. 2 seed in the D-III tournament.
They will make the short trip to Buckeye Valley to face No. 6 Johnson-Monroe on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Victories by both teams would put them into their respective district championship matches on Saturday.
In order to prepare for their district semifinals, the two teams got together at Jonathan Alder Monday afternoon for a scrimmage.
The idea for the joint practice session was between Panther head coach Ed Marsman and JA boss Kim Hayes.
“By this time of year, it’s hard to be innovative in practice,” said Marsman. “They’re tired of beating up on each other in practice, so this is like a competitive workout.
“We need to play against taller people and Jonathan Alder gives us an opportunity to do that.”
Alder’s front line features Kortney Reynolds, Corinne Parker and Ava Francis, who are taller than the Lady Panthers.
“We’re using this scrimmage to get ready for Wednesday and the district semifinals,” said Hayes. “The girls are just ready to go play tournament games.