Southern Local head volleyball coach Bob Shansky celebrated his 700th career victory as the Indians bested Clay Battelle on Thursday night. (Photo by J.T. Higgins)

SALINEVILLE — Southern Local head coach Bob Shansky had to work overtime for his 700th career victory Thursday.

The Indians were led by seniors Haylee Kellogg, Allyssa Shroades and Brooke Boyle in a 20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 24-26, 15-13 win over Clay-Battelle to finish third in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class 2A.

Shansky is in his 50th year as a head coach — winning 514 games in 40 years at East Liverpool and 186 in the last 10 years at Southern.

“I never thought that would happen when I started out — all because I took a volleyball class at Penn State as a sophomore,” he said. “That’s how I got hired.”

Shansky was just finishing up his first year as a teacher at East Liverpool and the Potters were looking for a volleyball coach. He didn’t apply, but school administrators saw on his transcript he passed a volleyball class.

“I just got it,” he said. “I got an A in the class, but I never played competitively. I had to go out and buy books on it. One thing led to another and I fell in love with the sport.”

Shansky kept learning as the seasons went by.

“I stole stuff from coaches like Debbie Boyd, Judi Gregory and Dan McKinstry,” he said.

Leading the Indians were Haylee Kellogg with 13 points, two aces, 24 assists and five kills, Allyssa Shroads with eight points, 15 assists and 10 kills, and Brooke Boyle with six digs.

“Our kids had peaks and valleys,” Shansky said. “It was well played on both sides. We have two freshmen starters and a couple of sophomores. I told the seniors they would have to carry us in the fifth game.”

Also for the Indians, Addy Martin had 12 points and eight dig, Natalie Lopez 10 points, three aces, eight kills and six blocks, Katie Kellogg nine points and 22 kills, and Kalayah Crute nine kills and four blocks.

“There would be 1,000 people to thank, all those who played for me,” Shansky said. “My family has been supportive all these years.”

Southern finishes the regular season and will play Lake Center Christian in the Division II sectional Thursday at Campbell Memorial.

The Cee Bees won the junior varsity match, 12-25, 25-19, 25-22.

Mary Beadnell and Aubrie Gilliam each served 11 points for Southern (12-7). Chloe Ensinger had five points and three kills, while Peyton Davison and Emma Boyle each had four kills.

East Liverpool sweeps

EAST LIVERPOOL — East Liverpool rolled through a pair of Ohio Valley Athletic Conference consolation volleyball matches Thursday at the Potter Fieldhouse.

The Potters swept United, 25-15, 25-12, and then Edison, 25-16, 25-12 to finish the regular season with a 15-7 record.

Ava Green had 13 kills and one block and Kamryn Yanni three aces and 25 assists in the Potters’ win over United. Kendall Martin had seven kills, Presley Jones four kills, Addie Jones two kills and one block, Ayla Riggle three aces and 13 assistss and Hailey Board two aces and two blocks.

United junior Baylee Smith had nine digs, including the 1,000th of her career. Maelee Smith and Chloe Angelo each had two kills.

It was just the Eagles’ second loss in September and October.

East Liverpool also beat Edison, 25-16, 25-12.

Ava Green had 11 kills and two aces and Kamryn Yanni two aces, four kills and 15 assists for the Potters. Kendall Martin had three kills and two aces, Presley Jones three kills and one block, Hailey Board two kilsl and one kill, Addie Jones two kills and Ayla Riggle an ace, two assists and 11 digs.

United posted a 25-13, 25-9 win over Edison in its second match of the evening. Rileah Phillips had eight assists and five kills and Maelee Smith seven kills and five digs for the Eagles, who wrapped up the regular season at 17-5.

The Potters host John Glenn in Division IV sectional tournament play at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The Eagles open Division VI sectional tournament play next Thursday against Newton Falls at Grand Valley.

Wheeling Central 3, Columbiana 0

COLUMBIANA — Wheeling Central Catholic stopped Columbiana 25-13, 25-14, 25-22 on Thursday in an OVAC consolation match.

Columbiana is 18-4.

For the Clippers, Evy Rapp had three kills, two blocks, four points and 10 digs. Landry Smith had eight kills. Addisyn Dangler chipped in five kills and four points. Layla McCarthy had 10 digs. Ella Eisenbraun had five assists. Eva Waller had 11 assists.

The Clipper jayvees fell 22-25, 25-11, 26-24. Ella Eisenbraun had two aces, eight assists, three points and four digs. Sylvia Rapp had 17 digs, while Mikah Montgomery had six points and nine digs. Abby Barborak had three kills and five assists.

Columbiana hosts Cardinal Moony in a Div. V sectional contest on Oct. 16.

Oak Glen 3, St. Clairsville 1

NEW MANCHESTER, Va. — Oak Glen volleyball defeated St. Clairsville 25-21, 25-15, 27-29, 25-17 on Thursday in an OVAC consolation match.

Averi Martin led the Golden Bears with 17 kills, while Brooklyn Six added 16 and Brayley Lash 12. Haylee Stewart had nine kills, and Zoey Caughey added seven. Mikalyn Balch handed out 45 assists and added three kills, and Bryson Adams had 17 assists and one ace. Keira Vick led the defense with 22 digs, Kendall Six had seven, Ellie Smith four and Katie Kliner two.

Oak Glen is 20-8-3 and is at John Marshall on Tuesday.

Oak Glen’s junior varsity topped St. Clairsville 2-1, 22-25, 25-20, 25-11. Zoey Caughey had 10 kills, Caetlyn Six six, and Naomi Ayers, Karter Turley and Audrina May five each. Kennedy Staley added three kills. Elynn Rogers recorded 15 assists, Bryson Adams 14, Katie Kliner 13 digs, and Emri Greenlief five digs.