VOLLEYBALL POLL: No. 4 Huron set up for top-10 showdown with Independence

Huron's home volleyball matchup with Independence this Saturday would have plenty of hype around it already, considering those two programs met in the 2020 state championship match, a five-set thriller won by the Tigers. Adding to the excitement was the latest state volleyball poll released by the coaches association Sunday night — Huron is ranked No. 4 team in the state in Division III and Independence is No. 8. The Tigers (10-1, 3-0 SBC Bay) are coming off a dominant three-win week. They swept Clyde, Margaretta and Bellevue. Huron allowed 32 points to Bellevue in three sets, 30 to Clyde and 28 to Margaretta. The Blue Devils are 7-2 on the season, including 5-0 in the Chagrin Valley-Metro Conference. Independence actually closed last week with its first two losses of the season — No. 13 Kirtland swept Independence on Thursday and Wadsworth beat the Blue Devils in five on Saturday. The Blue Devils traveled to Huron last fall and won in five sets. Huron and Independence have played every season since 2013, including twice in 2020. The Tigers hold a 6-4 series advantage. Elsewhere in the state poll, Vermilion moved up to No. 11 in Division II after being 13th in the first poll unveiled last week. The Sailors are 9-2 (5-0 SBC Lake) beat Clyde and Perkins last week before falling to North Ridgeville in four sets on Saturday. Monroeville entered the Division IV rankings after sweeping state-ranked Buckeye Central on Saturday. The Eagles are at No. 19, even with the Buckettes rising two spots to 16th. Monroeville is 8-2 on the season, including 6-0 in the Firelands Conference. SBC River Division power Tiffin Calvert is No. 3 in D-IV for the second consecutive week. The Senecas are 12-1 (9-0 SBC River) and host Danbury on Tuesday. Seneca East (10-2, 4-2 Northern 10) rose four spots to No. 5 in D-IV.