The Marlington Lady Dukes are once again among Ohio’s volleyball elite, advancing to the Division IV regional semifinals where they’ll face Beaumont on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. at Alliance High School — a venue that has hosted volleyball regionals for several years.
Marlington enters the matchup with a 23-2 record, riding a dominant postseason run that includes a 3-0 sweep over West Geauga to capture their fourth straight district championship. The Lady Dukes started the season 1-0 before dropping back-to-back matches to Twinsburg and Olmsted Falls on August 21 and 23. Since then, they’ve been perfect — reeling off 22 straight wins to reach the regional round.
Their opponent, Beaumont, comes into the regional semifinal with an 8-17 record, but head coach Stephanie Tortola says her team isn’t overlooking anyone.
“We know the competition only gets tougher from here,” Tortola said. “We’re preparing with the most aggressive practices of the season and focusing on moving the ball around with different plays.”
Marlington showed its resilience in the district final after falling behind 13-4 early in the first set. Tortola said the team relied on its serving and defense to steady the match and turn momentum in their favor.
“We knew West Geauga would be aggressive hitters,” she said. “There was some miscommunication early, but the girls stayed calm, trusted each other, and bounced back strong.”
Tortola credits her team’s composure — especially among younger players — to leadership and experience within the program.
“As a veteran coach, I try to stay calm and pass that along to the players,” she said. “Getting worked up doesn’t help. The girls know what they’re capable of, and that belief helps them respond when they’re down.”
With their sights set on another deep postseason run, the Lady Dukes are embracing the challenge ahead.
“Our goal is to get back to the state tournament,” Tortola said. “It was such a great experience last year for the kids, coaches, and community. We’re excited for the opportunity to do it again.”
The winner of Wednesday night’s matchup will advance to the regional final at Alliance High School on Saturday, Nov. 1.
