Five All-Conference Honorees Highlight Buckeye Volleyball Season

MEDINA, Ohio - A six-match winning streak, a tournament victory and five All-Conference honorees highlighted the varsity volleyball season for Buckeye High School Athletics. Their longest winning stretch tied a program milestone, while postseason recognition included a CWC All-Conference First Team selection for Aurora Allen.

The turnaround began with a four-set road victory over Westlake in which three sets were decided by two points. Allen totaled 38 assists, four aces and 17 digs, while Salazar added 11 kills and 20 digs. Buckeye followed with a sweep of Normandy behind eight kills from Lauren Zerr and 30 assists from Allen. On senior night Sept. 29, the Bucks swept Valley Forge again as Salazar recorded 13 kills, Blakely Herman added nine kills and three block kills, and Allen distributed 41 assists.

Straight-set wins over North Olmsted on Oct. 1 and Wellington two days later kept the streak moving. Allen had 25 assists and 13 digs against North Olmsted, with Greycee Holden and Herman each recording three block kills. Willis and Zerr combined for 13 aces against Wellington. The sixth consecutive victory came Oct. 5 against Normandy, 25-19, 25-13, 22-25 and 25-21. Salazar supplied 16 kills, 14 service points and 13 digs, Zerr added 12 kills and Allen finished with 36 assists.

That run matched the school's 10th-longest winning streak since the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) adopted rally scoring in 2004. Erica Repas, head coach, became the sixth Buckeye coach in the past 23 seasons to win six consecutive matches. The streak ended the next night against Bay, but only after Buckeye twice erased a one-set deficit before losing the fifth set 15-12. Allen recorded 46 assists and five aces, and Lewandowski finished with more than 20 digs.

Buckeye's final conference matches brought a sweep loss at Lakewood on Oct. 13 and a five-set defeat against Rocky River on Oct. 15. Against Rocky River, the Bucks recovered from an opening-set loss to take a 2-1 lead before falling 17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 16-25 and 9-15. Salazar recorded 18 kills, Allen had 47 assists and Lewandowski led the defense with 27 digs. Buckeye finished conference play at 7-7.

The Bucks advanced in tournament play Oct. 20 by defeating Streetsboro 25-15, 21-25, 25-18 and 25-15. After Streetsboro evened the match, Buckeye took the final two sets. Holden and Allen each served four aces, and Holden recorded 19 service points. Herman contributed seven kills and four block kills, while Allen added 19 assists and 14 digs.

Five Bucks earned conference recognition across three tiers. Alongside Allen's CWC All-Conference First Team honor, Katie Csach and Salazar were named CWC All-Conference Second Team. Hart and Lewandowski received CWC All-Conference Honorable Mention.