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Warren rolls through loaded field to win Cochranton tourney

Warren Area High School’s varsity volleyball team won the Cochranton Tournament on Saturday at Cochranton High School. Team members, from left, in front, include Hailee Mineweaser, Katie Madigan, Julia Lobdell, and Lex Nyquist and, in back, coaches Randy Gillotti and Sue Baldensperger, Grace Wortman, Celia Chase, Trinity Wennberg, Ellie Lobdell, Jordan Sitler, and Lydia Latimer and head coach Mike Dolan.

COCHRANTON, Pa. – Saturday’s Cochranton Invitational was chalk full of many of the best volleyball teams in District 10.

On this day, Warren was better than all of them.

A truly dominant season for the Lady Dragons continued with a championship performance, as they ran through the field, beating rival Corry, the top-ranked Class 2A team in Pennsylvania, in a thrilling final, 25-20, 26-28, 17-15.

Grace Wortman finished off the victory with an ace, which served as an exclamation point on another brilliant performance for Warren.

This came just nine days after Warren beat Corry 3-0 in a regular season contest at WAHS.

Warren’s Lydia Latimer lunges to save a ball during Warren’s finals match against Corry at Saturday’s Cochranton tourney.

“It was the last Saturday tournament for this group of seniors and they made sure it was a memorable one,” said Warren coach Mike Dolan. “They led the way with great mental toughness when coming from behind in set three after a tough set two loss in the final.”

Warren began pool play in Pool B, along with Maplewood, Iroquois, Lakeview, Cambridge Springs and Meadville.

They started the day splitting with Maplewood 20-25, 25-22 and then defeating Cambridge Springs 27-25, 25-19; Meadville 27-25, 25-18; Lakeview 25-14, 25-18; and Iroquois 25-10, 25-10 for a record of 9-1.

This earned the Dragons the top seed from the B Pool and a first round bye in the playoffs.

In the quarterfinals, Warren squared off against Region 3-leading Conneaut, a potential D-10 playoff opponent, which had defeated Meadville in the first round. Warren won 25-12.

Warren’s Lex Nyquist goes up for a block attempt against Corry’s Emily Sonntag on Saturday at the Cochranton tourney.

The semifinals saw Warren face off against Cambridge Springs and come out on top 25-14.

Pool A champion Corry defeated North East in other semifinal setting up the best of 3 final with Corry.

Leading Warren on the day were Julia Lobdell (4 aces, 45 digs), Lydia Latimer (4 aces, 63 kills, 42 digs, 11 blocks, 2 assists), Lex Nyquist (8 aces, 4 kills, 31 digs, 134 assists), Jordan Sitler (21 kills, 7 digs, 3 blocks), Trinity Wennberg (2 kills, 2 digs), Ellie Lobdell (7 aces, 29 kills, 39 digs, 4 blocks, 3 assists), Katie Madigan (2 digs, 9 assists), Wortman (7 aces, 20 kills, 32 digs, 1 block, 1 assist), Halee Mineweaser (1 kill, 2 digs) and Celia Chase (8 aces, 36 kills, 38 digs, 3 blocks).

“It was nice to see the entire team play at a high level against really good competition all day and even elevate their level of play when necessary in this tune-up for the last part of the season before playoffs,” added Dolan.

Warren is back in action on Tuesday when they host Villa with a chance to clinch the outright Region 6 title, before hosting McDowell in their home finale on Thursday.

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