The Noblesville volleyball team fought off a determined young Pendleton Heights squad in four sets Tuesday at The Mill.
The Millers won 26-24, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20. After edging out the Arabians in the first set and cruising through the second, Noblesville ran into some resistance from Pendleton. The Arabians took the last three points of the third set, ending it on an ace.
In the fourth set, Pendleton jumped ahead 6-2, then led 15-10 and 17-14. After that, the Millers quickly rolled to victory, taking 11 of the next 14 points.
“I think we had a greater sense of urgency in the fourth set,” said NHS coach Steve Hawthorne. “In the third set, I think we got a little bit too relaxed. They’re a good team, so if we let up, they’re going to take it to us.”
The Millers started their run when sophomore setter Ava Nichols put the ball down for a kill, starting a run of five straight points. That included an ace from freshman Ella Peter and a couple kills from junior Lexie Almodovar.
“We definitely were connecting better with our setter today and I felt like we used all of our players really well instead of just any one person,” said Almodovar.
Noblesville led 19-17 before the Arabians ended the run with a kill. After that, the Millers went on another five-point streak, jumping ahead 23-18. Izabella Hines hit a kill, then teamed with Nichols for a block.
Pendleton served at 19-23, but Almodovar put down a kill to give Noblesville a handful of match points. The Arabians saved one, but sophomore Rose Crist ended the match with a kill.
“Rose is going to be a kid who’s going to surprise a lot of people this year,” said Hawthorne. “I think she’s going to play a big role as she gets more confident through the season. She’s going to be a force.”
Almodovar finished the game with 24 kills.
“I just felt like energy is key for everything with this team,” said the junior, who also played a fine defensive game with 17 digs.
“We’re running a little bit style of defense that should actually play into her strengths and really focus on funneling the ball to her and our libero quite a bit,” said Hawthorne. “It’s doing exactly what we need it to do.”
Crist finished with nine kills and three blocks, while Peter hit seven kills. Lexie Thompson made 13 digs and served four aces, while Nichols handed out 39 assists and made two blocks.
The Millers are 2-1, and play two huge road games this week, taking on defending Class 4A state champion Avon on Thursday for their first Hoosier Crossroads Conference match, then play defending 3A state champion New Castle on Saturday.
Hamilton Southeastern improved to 6-1 with a 25-14, 25-14, 25-18 win at Lawrence North on Tuesday.
Grace Hunter hit eight kills, while Olivia Phillips handed out 21 assists. Annaka Pyle served three aces and Carly Mills collected 11 digs.
The Royals play their first HCC match Thursday at Brownsburg.
Fishers won its home opener on Tuesday, sweeping Bishop Chatard 25-17, 25-18, 25-10.
Two sophomores led the Tigers’ attack. Jada Allen hit 11 kills and Camryn Haworth put down nine. Another sophomore, Emily Waldrop had six kills, while senior Haley Soper spiked three of five attempts.
Haworth and sophomore Mikayla Christiansen both served four aces. Fishers had 11 aces as a team.
Senior Emma Rosenberg played what Tigers coach Steven Peek called “a nearly flawless match,” as she got 15 digs out of the 16 balls hit at her. Senior Audrey Haworth collected seven digs, with junior Bryn Roberts making six.
Fishers hosts Zionsville on Thursday for its first HCC match of the season.
Sheridan dropped a three-set match to Lebanon on Tuesday, 25-19, 25-20, 25-14.
Junior Becca Merritt led the blocking with five, while classmate Cheyenne Brooks had three. Sophomore Allie Delph had four kills, 10 digs and three assists, while senior Maddie Zola had 10 digs, two assists and one ace.
The Blackhawks’ junior varsity lost 25-16, 25-17. Freshman Kaiden Wilson hit one ace and made one block, while sophomore Baylee Murray had one ace and one assist. Sophomore Lillie Dickerson and freshman Kendra Blankenship both had one block. Sophomores Abbi Clouser and Kayla Beahrs both collected five digs.
Sheridan will play at the Indiana School for the Deaf tournament on Saturday.
Hamilton Heights lost a tough five-set match to Tipton on Tuesday, 25-12, 25-18, 21-25, 11-25, 15-11.
The Huskies totaled 33 kills for the match, with Kennedy Lewis putting down 14 and Hannah Crist hitting 11. Crist also served four aces, with Kennedy McGill and Lexi Hayden both hitting three. Heights had 13 aces overall.
On defense, the Huskies made 70 digs. Kelsey Smith collected 18, Jillian Osswald had 13 and Lewis made 12. Crist had 10 block assists, with Smith getting seven and Sydney Griffey six. Heights had 32 block assists in all.
Westfield played Pendleton Heights on Monday, and swept the Arabians 25-18, 25-8, 25-22.
Kinsey McAfee and Kenzie Daffinee each hit 16 kills for the Shamrocks, with Sarah Weglarz dishing out 40 assists. Bailey Mendler made 14 digs, while Ellary Detamore collected eight. Anna Johnsey had three solo blocks, and Peighton Isley and Weglarz both served three aces.
Westfield coach Sandra Burks said the team had some extra practice the past week, concentrating on communication and sets. It paid off, as a more confident Shamrocks were never really threatened by the Arabians.
“We have been focusing on our middles and setter connection, helping establish that really helped open up our pins on the outside,” said Burks. “Our first touch, whether on defense or serve receive has been a very consistent piece for us. That continuing and our middles and setters connecting really helped open up our offense Monday night.”
University beat Central Christian Academy in three sets on Monday, 25-7, 25-12, 25-22.
The Trailblazers are now 2-1 for the season and host International on Thursday.
Carmel picked up two wins at its own Round Robin tournament on Saturday.
The Greyhounds beat Valparaiso 25-10, 25-8, 25-4. Lauren Van Remortel dished out 21 assists and served eight aces, while Sophie Oliphant collected 12 digs.
Carmel defeated Crown Point 25-17, 25-16, 25-16 in its second match. Emma Harmon hit 13 kills, while Elana Brueggemann put down 11 kills. Van Remortel handed out 20 assists, with Anne Lesure providing 17 assists.
Oliphant made 19 digs. Gabby Smith had three blocks.
Junior Bryn Roberts stretches to dig the ball out, which the Tigers converted score a point during their home opener against Bishop Chatard on Tuesday. Fishers won the match in straight sets. (Kirk Green)
Westfield sophomore Kenzie Daffinee, who has committed to Indiana University, completes the kill after the set by Sarah Weglarz during the Shamrocks’ match with Pendleton Heights on Monday.
For more images, go to https://capturephotographybydkirk.smugmug.com/Westfield-V-VB-G-vs-PH/ (Kirk Green)