The REPORTER
The Hamilton Southeastern volleyball team is one match away from another trip to the state finals.
The Royals will play La Porte for the Class 4A north semi-state on Saturday, taking on the Slicers at the famed Case Arena in Frankfort. Southeastern’s match is scheduled to begin after the 2A north semi-state between Pioneer and Muncie Burris; that contest starts at 4 p.m.
La Porte is 32-4 for the season. The Slicers won the Michigan City sectional without dropping a set, defeating South Bend Riley 25-6, 25-8, 25-7 in the first round, South Bend Adams 25-20, 25-10, 25-14 in the semifinals, and Mishawaka 25-19, 25-19, 25-19 in the championship.
That gave La Porte a chance to play at its own regional. The Slicers took care of business there as well, coming back to beat Warsaw in four sets, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22, in the semifinals. La Porte then swept Crown Point 25-23, 25-10, 25-21 in the championship.
Two seniors lead the Slicers offense. Emalee Maesch has hit 347 kills this season, a 3.5 per set average, followed by Ava Holtz with 328 kills, 3.3 per set. Senior Bella Meier is the leader in assists with 1,031. Holtz has served 106 aces, averaging 1.1 per set.
La Porte has a capable defense, with senior Isabel Freese making 533 digs (5.3 per set) and Maesch collecting 308 for the season (3.1 per set). Three more players are over the 200-dig mark: Meier (276, 2.8 per set), Holtz (219, 2.2 per set) and junior Elizabeth Anglin (201, 2.0 per set). Senior Kate Buckley is the top blocker with 112, or 1.1 per set.
Southeastern enters the semi-state at 31-0 for the season. The Royals cruised through the Zionsville sectional, beating the host Eagles 25-17, 25-16, 27-25 in the semifinals and beating Noblesville 25-7, 25-9, 25-12 in the championship. Southeastern played at the Homestead regional, where it swept Fort Wayne Carroll in the semifinal 25-19, 27-25, 25-10 before getting a very tough test from the host Spartans in the championship. The Royals prevailed in five sets, 23-25, 25-9, 25-15, 22-25, 15-7.
Southeastern has six players with at least 100 kills for the season. Senior Florida recruit Lauren Harden leads with 348 kills, 3.7 per set, followed by junior Lindsey Mangelson with 332 kills (3.6 per set). Also on that list are senior Tiffany Snook (192, 2.1 per set), sophomore Madison Miles (163. 1.8 per set), senior Breonna Goss (144, 1.7 per set) and senior Madison Evett (108, 1.4 per set).
Senior Macy Hinshaw has 579 assists for the season, with junior Ava Hunter handing out 478. Hunter also leads the aces with 52 this year. On defense, senior Sophie Ledbetter has made 395 digs, averaging 4.2 per set. Goss is the top blocker, with 80, followed by Snook with 61.
The winner of Saturday’s match at Frankfort advances to the IHSAA state finals, which take place next Saturday, Nov. 4 at Ball State University’s Worthen Arena. In Saturday’s 4A south semi-state, Roncalli plays Castle, with that match to set to begin around 5:30 p.m. at Jasper.