CBOHIOVARSITY TOURNEY PREVIEW: Olmsted Falls on a Mission

Division One Ohio Volleyball has been dominated by the private schools, particularly the powerful GGCL. In fact, in this decade a GGCL school has won the D1 Championship every year (the exception was in 2004 when Toledo St. Ursula garnered the title over a GGCL school). This season, while Ursuline, Mother of Mercy, and Mount Notre Dame, all can claim favored status in the hunt for the Division One crown, Olmsted Falls finds itself as a legitimate contender, finishing the season at #2 in both the Captain Brinn Poll and the Coaches' Poll and undefeated. Perhaps even more notable is the national attention received from ESPN RISE FAB 50 VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS, where the team is ranked #28 in the nation (Ursuline is ranked #13). After proving their mettle this season with wins over six current ranked teams (including two top-10 D1 teams in #8 Bishop Watterson and #10 Brecksville-Broadsview Heights), Coach Dawn Moses is prepping her team for a deep tournament run and hoping to achieve some big goals, though some remain a secret within the team.
"We are focusing on eveything including conditioning. We are going to take one game at a time," offered Moses, who in her 14th season at the helm of the Olmsted Falls team. "We have set our goals and now we are working toward achieveing those goals. Our practices will be centered on giving the extra effort, or should I say extra degree, all the time!"
Those goals have included going undefeated in their conference, which they achieved, and two other team goals which Moses won't share since the team set them privately. Perhaps keeping the team focused on one game at a time is more important during tournament time, since anything can happen. Last year, the team's season was cut short by a tough Amherst Steele team in a heartbreaking district final match.
"That was last year, and we cannot relive the experience. All we can do is learn from our mistakes and strive to get better," said Moses. "Although that match has probably remained in the back of their minds, it has been the off-season commitment of our parents, athletes, coaches and senior leadership that has had the most impact on this team."
Team is something Moses stresses. And it is quite a team she has.
"Our strengths include our outside attackers who have the ability to put the ball down. They include Lauren Whyte, a senior, who is leading the team in kills and Brittany Snider, a senior who is leading the team defensively in the back row while having the ability to kill the ball at anytime. Our middle attackers are such a threat that other teams have to be concerned with them, which therefor opens up one-on-one situations. Christine Peffer, a senior, and Corinne Manley , a junior, are leading the team in blocks and kill percentage. Dayna Roberts, a sophomore setter, is one of the best in the state at such a young age. Her ability to see the court and make every ball better assist our team in getting better everyday. Dayna has already placed herself on the school record board this season with 788 assists. Brooke Purvis is as steady as they come in the libero position and leads the team in receptions and digs. Rounding out this team is a core of senior and junior players that play very large roles in our success," said Moses.
Moses herself is no stranger to success during her tenure with Olmsted Falls. Her overall record while the varsity coach is 273-85. Her teams have won their sectional title in 13 of her 14 seasons and have six regional tournament appearances, where they finished as runners-up four times. In 2000, Moses went to her first and only final four as a head coach.
"In 2000, it was a team goal to make the final four, and we did," said Moses. "This year's team is aiming a little higher, and we will do our best to reach that goal."
Olmsted's mission begins with Berea on Saturday. If victorious, Midview or Medina awaits. Perhaps the mission gets tougher in potential matchups against Amherst Steele or Elyria in district finals. In regionals, if Olmsted Falls continues on, the path gets even rockier with ranked teams abounding like TSUA, Toledo Notre Dame, Rocky River Magnificat, Sylvania Southview, Bowling Green, North Royalton, and Findlay. But Moses has her team focusing on one match at time and believes if it is meant to be it will be a validation of all of their hard work and dedication to a sport she loves and her program excels at.
"Focus is the name of the game, and these ladies have been focused since of October of 2007. It is now time to raise the bar, and work harder in pursuit of our goals. Finishing is what we will attempt to do."