MOUNT VERNON — Area soccer and volleyball teams found out their postseason fates this week at their respective draws, and based upon the results, several have a shot at postseason success.
The Mount Vernon boys soccer team was seeded sixth in the Division I Central District tournament draw. The Yellow Jackets will face Westerville North at home on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. A win would place them in the district semifinals against either Westerville Central, Watkins Memorial or Westerville South. A win there would possibly put them in line for a rematch with Olentangy Orange, the only team to beat the Jackets this year.
“We’ve never been seeded higher than 13th. Now, we have to prove that we’ve earned that seed,” said Mount Vernon coach Scott Dapprich. “If we get the opportunity, we’d like to see a rematch with Orange. That’s our one loss this year and the kids remember that. We want to get back and prove what we can do.
“I know the kids want that opportunity, but first and foremost, we’ve got Westerville North. We’ve got to get the job done against them.”
The East Knox boys, playing in Division III, don’t have such an easy path. The Bulldogs hit the road for their first game on Wednesday, Oct. 21. They travel to face Fairbanks (10-2-3) at 5 p.m. A win would advance East Knox into the second round where it would travel to Horizon Science Academy on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 5 p.m.
Mid-Buckeye Conference opponents Johnstown and Northridge will face off against each other in the opening round on Wednesday at Johnstown High School. The winner will advance to play the winner of Liberty Union and Madison Christian at home on Saturday, Oct. 24.
In girls soccer, the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets will open Division I Tournament play on the road. The Jackets travel to Marysville (7-5-3) in the first round on Tuesday. A win would advance Mount Vernon to a Thursday matchup at Thomas Worthington High School. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
“We played them last year, but I don’t think the girls will remember the team,” said Mount Vernon coach Vit Streska. “My jayvee coach is the one who made the decision. We talked and we thought it was a good draw for us, better than playing one of the Columbus schools. We matchup up better with them. It is a small school like Mount Vernon. Hopefully, we can surprise them a little and move on.
“We have a really good fan base that follows us no matter where we go, so being on the road doesn’t matter.”
In volleyball, several teams were honored by being selected for high seeds. East Knox (17-3) and Fredericktown (17-4) were seeded sixth and seventh, respectively.
East Knox will play Liberty Union in the first round on Thursday, Oct. 22, at New Albany High School at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs have already defeated the Lions (4-9) this season, 25-12, 25-21, at the Cardington Invitational. A win would advance the Bulldogs into the second round, where they would face the winner of No. 10 seed Amanda-Clearcreek (11-7) and River Valley (8-11).
Fredericktown faces Linden McKinley in the first round of the sectional tournament. The two teams will play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Licking Heights High School. With a victory, the Freddies advance to play either No. 11 seed Fairbanks (11-8) or Berne Union (10-10) on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Licking Heights. Should the Freddies make it to the district tournament, they would more than likely face No. 1 seeded Heath (20-1).
“We just hope at this point in the season have more confidence going into (the tournament),” said Fredericktown coach Marilyn Rutherford. “We should be OK in the sectionals, but knowing that we would have to play Heath ... They (Heath) put in a nice season and came into the draw with one loss, I think to Newark Catholic. The Central District has a nice volleyball tournament, and its one where you’re going to have to face somebody good. I hope it’s not until the district finals, but you never know. We just have to keep injuries from happening and go into the tournament at full power.”
Also in Division III, Centerburg (7-11) will square off with No. 9 seed Bloom-Carroll (13-6) on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Licking Heights High School. The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. MBC member Johnstown (0-16) will play No. 3 seed West Jefferson (17-1) in the preceding match, starting at 6 p.m. The winners of both matches will play on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. at Licking Heights. Another MBC member, Northridge (10-8) will take on Madison Plains () in the first round on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at New Albany High School.
In Division I, the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets (5-15) will have a tough match right from the start. Seeded 26th, the Jackets had little choice and will face No. 5 seed Hilliard Davidson (13-7) in the first round on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Big Walnut High School. A win would advance Mount Vernon into a second-round matchup with Hilliard Darby (2-14) on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Olentangy High School, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
“We really didn’t have much choice,” said Mount Vernon coach Shae Baxter. “There weren’t many open spots on the bracket. There really wasn’t any strategy at that point. There were a couple of other spots I would have liked, but those got taken before I picked and this was the next best thing.
“We haven’t played them at all this year. I know that they are really good. I know they are a strong team, and we are going to have to play our best. They’ve got some big hitters. ... Playing at Big Walnut is nice. We get to be close to home, and the girls are comfortable there.”
Division II newcomer Highland (11-10) faces Olentangy (6-12) in the first round of the sectional tournament. The Scots would move on to play No. 6 seed Hamilton Township (14-5) with a win. The game would be played on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. at Pickerington North High School.
Also in Division II, Utica (10-9) has a first-round matchup with Licking Heights (1-10). The two will square off on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at New Albany High School. With a win, Utica would advance to face No. 4 seed Hilliard Bradley (17-5) in the second round on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Westerville South High School.
“In the last few years we haven’t got out of the first game,” said Utica coach Kathy Stevens. “Our big goal is to win the sectional. That’s what we’re shooting for.”
The area’s lone Division IV team, Danville (3-17), faces a familiar for in the first round. The Blue Devils and the Delaware Christian Eagles play on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Olentangy Liberty High School.
“We played Delaware Christian on Saturday and lost in three, but all three were close games,” said Danville coach Michelle Crawford. “So I think we can take them. It’ll be the third time playing them, we played them last year and played them two times this season. I think if we play like we can, beat the early teams and stay focused, I think we can go far. I’ve thought so all season.”
A victory would advance Danville into a second-round matchup with either No. 3 seed Madison Christian (17-2) or Village Academy on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m.
