Lakewood volleyball defeats Twinsburg 17-15 in final set to win district title
Kara Laidley’s serving run and Ari Hueter’s final kill secured the championship for the Rangers after they fell behind in the middle sets.
By Luka Evans ·
The Lakewood High School volleyball team won its district championship on Wednesday night by defeating the Twinsburg Tigers in five sets.
The match ended with a final score of 25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, and 17-15. Lakewood took control of the deciding set when Kara Laidley served five consecutive points to build a 14-11 lead. Twinsburg tied the score at 14 and 15, but Lakewood closed out the game when Ari Hueter spiked a set from Mia Dugan over the net. The final point came when a Tigers hitter sent the ball long.
Ari Hueter, Laine Sheehan, and Alyssa Volcansek provided consistent offensive pressure throughout the match. Clio Burgoyne recorded strong blocks, while Mia and Aliyah Plicka handled the majority of the setting duties. Addi Hoy contributed defensively from the back row.
Indigo Moncrief and Tess Thrasher delivered their strongest performances of the season. Moncrief blocked and hit effectively while adding back-row plays. Thrasher, a top libero in the conference, made multiple saves with quick reflexes and speed, digging hard-hit balls to keep rallies alive.
Reserves played key roles in the later stages of the match. Laidley’s serves and back-row play, combined with strong hits from Gabi Alstadt, helped the Rangers regain momentum in the fourth and fifth sets. Head Coach Terry Spilker’s team secured the trophy after winning the first two sets and dropping the next two.
The victory marks a district title for the Lakewood Rangers, who advanced to the Sweet 16 bracket. The team’s performance highlighted their ability to recover from deficits against a determined opponent.
