Perkins hosts Vermilion with Lake on line

Vermilion's quest for its first-ever conference title in volleyball takes center stage at Perkins High School on Tuesday night as the Pirates look to insert themselves into the picture. The Sailors (20-0, 10-0 SBC Lake), ranked fourth in the state in Division II, would secure the SBC Lake Division title outright with a victory. With a loss, Vermilion would have to beat Norwalk on Thursday to share the championship with Perkins. The Pirates (16-2, 10-1), ranked 17th in Division II, would be guaranteed a share of the league crown with a win over the Sailors. It's the final game of Perkins' league schedule. The match is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first ball in the Perkins High School gymnasium. When these teams met earlier this season in Vermilion, the Sailors overpowered the Pirates in a 3-0 sweep by scores of 25-19, 25-23 and 25-12. Hallie Habermehl dished out 34 assists, and the balanced Vermilion attack was led by 13 kills from Maddie Stout and 10 from Jenna Peters. The Sailors kept both of Perkins' middle hitter senior stars, Elizabeth Ziegler and Kelley Baker, to single-digit kills. Vermilion enters Tuesday's match having won 31 consecutive regular-season matches dating back to last season. Since their first day of practice this year, the Sailors have eyed the volleyball banner on the wall of their gym. It's blank. A win Tuesday would give Vermilion its first conference championship number on the banner. The Sailors have a four-headed attack led by Peters (231 kills), who's also the program's all-time blocks leader. Gracie Starcovic (197 kills), Maddie Stout (163 kills) and Kaitlin Colahan (145 kills) will all swing big for Vermilion. Perkins hasn't lost since consecutive defeats to Vermilion and Margaretta on Sept. 16 and 18. It's 10 wins in a row for the Pirates after sweeping Huron on Saturday and St. Mary Central Catholic on Monday. "(Head coach Heath Hamilton) really wanted us to use (the Huron) game as preparation for Vermilion because they're about the same speed as them," Perkins junior Emma Manley said on Saturday. "It felt really good to get that momentum back after a bit of a midseason slump and all that." Senior middles Ziegler (231 kills) and Baker (210 kills) are the focal point of Perkins' attack. The left-handed left-side hitter Manley (104) is their third-best hitter, with senior Madison Satterfield (370 assists) having stepped in well at setter following Mollie McVeigh's graduation. Regardless of what happens Tuesday night, these teams could still meet for a third time this season in the district tournament, which begins next week. Vermilion is the top seed in the Division II Northwest District's Seneca East bracket, and Perkins is seeded No. 2 on the opposite side of the bracket. If they win out in the earlier rounds, they'd meet again in the district championship game. First, though, they'll battle for the SBC Lake title, which Perkins won in 2020. --- Statistical leaders (through Oct. 10) Kills Perkins: Elizabeth Ziegler 231, Kelley Baker 210, Emma Manley 104, Mia Downing 79 Vermilion: Jenna Peters 231, Gracie Starcovic 197, Maddie Stout 163, Kaitlin Colahan 145 Assists Perkins: Madison Satterfield 370, Sophia Matthews 124 Vermilion: Hallie Habermehl 535, Angelique Garcia 133 Digs Perkins: Cameron Kaufman 299, Kelley Baker 200, Alyssa Wentworth 182, Emma Manley 132, Madison Satterfield 105 Vermilion: Gracie Starcovic 277, Maddie Stout 212, Jenna Peters 195, Audrey Peterson 142, Kayla Kearns 140 Total blocks Perkins: Elizabeth Ziegler 66, Kelley Baker 54 Vermilion: Jenna Peters 75, Kaitlin Colahan 47 Service aces Perkins: Madison Satterfield 25, Alyssa Wentworth 23, Kelley Baker 22, Cameron Kaufman 20, Emma Manley 20 Vermilion: Gracie Starcovic 61, Kayla Kearns 29, Jenna Peters 29, Maddie Stout 28, Rachel Lapka 20