OHSAA state volleyball | Marlington High School ready for big stage at Wright State

When they step foot on the court for their state semifinal Thursday at Wright State University’s Ervin J. Nutter Center, the Marlington volleyball team will be dancing with destiny.

The Dukes hold the rare distinction of being the first Alliance-area public school volleyball team ever to qualify for the state tournament.

Alliance immediate-area public school districts include Alliance, Marlington, West Branch, Sebring, Minerva, Louisville, Southeast and Waterloo. Of those schools, Marlington will be the first area team playing in the state volleyball tourney since the OHSAA began sponsoring the sport in 1976.

“I did not know that,” commented Marlington head coach Stephanie Tortola of her talented team, which punched its ticket to state with a 3-0 regional championship win over Copley last Saturday.

The 17th-ranked Dukes (24-3) will meet No. 1-ranked Cincinnati Mercy McAuley (23-4) in a Division II state semifinal at 4 p.m. Thursday at Wright State in Dayton. The other semifinal Thursday features Columbus Bishop Hartley and Gilmour Academy at 6 p.m. Those semifinal winners will play for a state crown Saturday at 1 p.m. at Wright State.

Marlington’s talented team includes members Justine Doringo, Amiiah Sickles, Cali Young, Roslyn McCarty, Ella Wittensoldner, Katelyn Bernard, Janelle Swisher, Lanye Graffice, Chelsea Evanich, Jacsyn Hilliard, Danica Sarchione, Emily Gainer, Alex Ritchie, Giana Bogunovich and Claire Battershell. The captains on the team include senior Janelle Swisher and junior Layne Graffice.

Tortola says what makes the Dukes great is they truly have no weaknesses.

“Basically it’s just an entire package,” said the ultra-successful Marlington coach who has led the Dukes to seven straight Eastern Buckeye Conference titles, four district crowns and a regional title. “We are a very good serving team, a great offensive team and we have many contributors,” she added. “People have to concentrate on all of our hitters, and also we have an outstanding defense. I think that is what’s made us really good in that we don’t really have an area that people can pick on because we’re pretty solid in every area.”

Tortola knows Mercy McAuley will be a great challenge but the Dukes will be concentrating on their own game and what they do best on the court come Thursday.

“We just watched film on them (McAuley),” said Tortola. “We’re just preparing for what we need to do on our end to be successful and talking about the mental game, of course. We just got out of practice a little while ago and it was pretty electrifying. We’re just going to go out and give it our all. Watching film, this team is going to be very good, being a private all-girls school, but the Dukes are going to give it their all.”

In addition to their talent on the court, Tortola pointed to another strength the Dukes possess.

“My entire team is talented and they’re great competitors,” said the Marlington coach. “They’re basically selfless and they work really well together. I think what’s really fun to watch about our team is that they are always cheering for each other. They’re excited when somebody else accomplishes a great play, and I think that makes the energy in our games so electric and people see that and it makes us a fun team to follow.”

The Dukes’ win over Kenston last week in the regional semifinals was one of the best in school history and provided additional momentum for the team when it blanked Copley to punch its ticket to state.

“In 2015, 2017 and 2022 we had lost in the first round at regionals, and our biggest goal was to get over the hump this year,” said Tortola. “When we did that in that exhausting match against Kenston, we poured everything we had into that game, and then to come out with the (trip to) state on Saturday (vs. Copley), it’s just been an amazing ride over the last week.”

The Marlington coach said it’s been an especially exciting time for the Dukes and their fans.

“It’s been so nice to have the community and school support,” said Tortola of the many events planned for the team. “It’s been incredible. We had a team meal sponsored by BW-3, we’re practicing at some colleges this week, just to get used to a bigger arena, and people are providing meals every night for us. Then on Wednesday, the school is doing a sendoff for us. Then on Thursday, Marlington Local is closed and they are bringing people on spirit buses down to Dayton, so they’re encouraging staff and students and the community to come down and support us. It’s been just wonderful to have that school support.”

Tortola said that all of her previous Duke teams deserve credit for building the program to the point where it is today — an OHSAA state qualifier.

“We’ve had great success since 2015 when this program started turning around and I want to give a shout out to my former players and coaches who have helped throughout the years to get us where we are at today,” said the Marlington mentor.

“This is a work of years in the making and these girls have just shown dedication and commitment year after year and summer after summer," she added. "It’s a great story of how hard work does pay off and you can reach your dreams."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Marlington volleyball prepares for Cincinnati McAuley in state semis