Hopewell-Loudon wins fourth consecutive title

11/12/2000

Winning for the 113th time in its last 116 matches over four seasons, coach Dave Reinhart's Hopewell-Loudon Chieftains cemented their reputation as Ohio's best small-school volleyball program by hammering out a quick 36-minute, 15-4, 15-7 victory over Centerburg in the Division IV state final.

It was the fourth straight state title for the 28-1 Chieftains, whose only loss this year came against Division III state power Sidney Lehman (15-12, 9-15, 16-14) in the season's fifth match. H-L, which had won 78 matches in a row over parts of four seasons before that loss, closed with 24 wins in a row.

Lauren Kelbly, a 6-2 junior middle hitter, led the Chieftains with 14 kills off 22 total attacks. Emily Clouse, a 5-9 junior setter, had 23 of H-L's 24 assists, and 5-4 senior defensive specialist Beth Cook contributed seven digs.