The REPORTER
The Mudsock volleyball trophy stayed firmly in the hands of the Royals on Thursday.
Hamilton Southeastern swept Fishers to win the Mudsock match in front of a spirited crowd at the Royals’ gymnasium. Southeastern won 25-8, 25-20, 25-17, keeping its record perfect for the season at 13-0.
Southeastern had a balanced offense against the Tigers. Lauren Harden led the way with eight kills, followed by seven from Tiffany Snook. Lindsey Mangelson and Breonna Goss both put down six kills.
Breonna Goss hit six kills for the Royals and was part of a balanced hitting attack. (Kent Graham)
Maye McConnell served three aces. Sophie Ledbetter collected 14 digs, with Kaylyn Christy getting 11 digs and Harden making nine.
“We started really, really fast,” said HSE coach Jason Young. I thought the team was really dialed in and focused. Obviously with the great rivalry that we have with the Mudsock, it’s always a wonderful atmosphere and these kids are playing against their friends, which is really a neat aspect of this.”
The Royals were coming off a tough test from Yorktown on Tuesday in a rematch of last year’s Class 4A state championship game. The Tigers became the first team this season to take a set from HSE, when they swiped the second set 25-20 after the Royals ran through the first set 25-8. But Southeastern won the next two, 25-18, 25-20, to keep its unbeaten streak going. The Royals have won 47 straight matches dating back to last season.
“Dropping a set, I found that to be a valuable situation for us to have to deal with,” said Young. The coach pointed out that it would be “not an ideal time” to have that happen during the post-season.
“I’d rather learn how to deal with that process during the season and how we need to respond” said Young. “And I thought the girls did an unbelievable job on Tuesday night responding. Coming back and winning 25-18, 25-20 against an outstanding program like that is really great. And coming back today and starting out that first set 25-8 against another outstanding program in Fishers. It was a good response from our kids.”
Lucy Kay hit eight kills for Fishers, with Ellen Roberts putting down six and Aubree Valcourt three. Valcourt also made two blocks, with Jurnee Hall and Kennedy Tinch both making two blocks as well.
Ellen Roberts (4) hit six kills for the Tigers. (Kent Graham)
Tinch handed out 19 assists. Natalie Lux served six aces, with Julia Kellogg hitting two aces. Lux had six digs, Ellie Schoch collected four and Kellogg had three.
“Our goal tonight was to make sure we were fighting all the way,” said Fishers coach Steven Peek. “We don’t think that we did that right away, but we came into our own and I’m really proud of the fight that we have.”
The match was also a Hoosier Crossroads Conference contest, and the Royals are 3-0 in the league. Southeastern hosts its own Invitational on Saturday, where the Royals will play Cathedral and Lake Central.
Fishers is 1-2 in HCC play and 9-9 overall, and plays Monday at Center Grove.
***
Another all-county rivalry game took place at The Mill in Noblesville on Thursday.
The host Millers beat Westfield in four sets, 25-20, 26-28, 25-12, 25-15. With the victory, Noblesville improved to 7-2 overall and is 1-1 in the conference.
Aubrey Stitcher hit 18 kills for the Millers, while Maddie Coates had 23 digs. Riley Resmer made five blocks.
Noblesville coach Annie Poulson was especially pleased with the third and fourth sets.
“They really just executed everything we asked them to do,” said Poulson. “We stayed aggressive the entire time.”
The Millers finished the match by winning several points in a row, including a couple points that were rescued by the Noblesville defense and turned into winning points.
“Anna Elkin is a big part of our defense, and she brings that heart and that hustle,” said Poulson. “She’s back on the court with us. She has the ability to lift everyone up and bring everyone with her, and when she hustles and she makes plays, then everyone else hustles and everyone else makes plays.”
Georgia Bresnahan led Westfield’s offense with nine kills, with Lilly Tucker making 16 digs. Chloe Sutake added six kills and two blocks, Izzy Jackson served six aces, Lilly Stanton dished out 18 assists, and Carsyn Comer made two blocks.
“I thought we battled much harder than we have in the past,” said Shamrocks coach Emily Jackson. “I saw more fight out of our girls.” Jackson said the second set was “very solid” for the team.
“I liked how my girls battled and played together tonight,” said Jackson.
The Millers are 1-1 in conference play and 7-2 overall and hosts its own Invitational on Saturday. Westfield is 1-2 in the HCC and 7-7 overall and plays at the Hamilton Southeastern Invitational on Saturday.
***
Hamilton Heights took care of Western in a Hoosier Conference East Division sweep on Thursday.
The Huskies won 25-9, 25-15, 25-11. Macie Smith played well at the net for Heights, which is 12-4 overall and 2-0 in division play.
***
Sheridan joined the conference win club on Thursday, sweeping Carroll 25-18, 25-12, 25-8.
The Blackhawks continued to serve well. Trinity Parkin hit six aces and won 13 of 15 service points. Kenzie Garner collected 10 service points, including a pair of aces. Ali Pickard and Meredith Krupp both served two aces.
The Sheridan volleyball team hosted Teacher Appreciation night before its match with Carroll on Thursday. Players and managers
picked a teacher that made an impact on them. (Dwight Casler)
Parkin smacked 12 kills, with Garner and Shelby Eaton both hitting five. Beth Adams had four kills and Nova Cross added three. Cross dished out 24 assists.
Garner made six defensive digs and one block, with Krupp and Cross both making four digs.
Sheridan is 3-1 in the conference and 9-5 overall, and plays at the Indiana School for the Deaf tournament on Saturday.