By RICHIE HALL
Thursday is the day local volleyball fans have been waiting for, as sectionals begin at the three Hamilton County sites in which teams are participating.
Hamilton Southeastern will host the always competitive Class 4A Sectional 8. First-round matches take place on Thursday, with Fishers playing Noblesville at 5:30 p.m. The second match of the night follows, and it will have Westfield taking on Carmel.
FISHERS-NOBLESVILLE
As Hoosier Crossroads Conference rivals, the Tigers and the Millers have already played this season. That match was back on Sept. 30, where Fishers won in straight, but tough, sets. The final score was 25-22, 25-23, 30-28.
“It’s always wise to expect a sectional opponent to play you tougher the second time, and Noblesville is never a team one should overlook,” said Tigers coach Steven Peek. “This season, they have power, experience, and height, all of which make them a tough out. I believe we will need to be stronger in serve-receive to beat them this time around.”
“We had a lot of great takeaways from our match with Fishers,” said Millers coach Annie Phillips. She said that match was ”one of the first times our girls had shown grit throughout an entire match” and credited her team with “consistently playing at a high level. We learned that keeping up with the speed of the game the way they play is key.”
The Tigers, who come into the match at 17-7, have a senior-dominated offense. Four 12th-graders totaling at least 100 kills this season. Jada Allen leads the way with 266 kills (3.4 per set), followed by Emily Waldrop (196), Mikayla Christiansen (152) and Camryn Haworth (146). Haworth also leads in assists with 704 for the season.
Senior Grace Dunnuck leads the way in blocks with 64, while Christiansen has 60 for the season. Haworth is tops in aces with 31. Junior Samantha Perdue has collected 297 digs, giving her an average of 12.4 per match, while Haworth’s 244 puts her at 10.2 per match.
“I think we are passing and blocking better than we ever right now, and furthermore, we’re more aware of what we must do to play our best,” said Peek. “I’m pleased with our development throughout the season and the seriousness with which the players have been taking their roles. They each realize the jobs they must do for our team to succeed. The players will be ready for the postseason, and their ability to be ready when it’s ‘showtime’ has always been part of what makes Fishers such a special place to play.”
Rose Crist has been a true senior leader for Noblesville, with 337 total kills (3.8 per set) for the Millers and 37 aces, putting her on top of both categories. Bella Hines has 33 aces. Junior Riley Branch has dished out 667 assists. Meanwhile, junior Ella Peter is a force at the net with 93 season blocks, while sophomore Diana Cox leads in digs with 251, 9.0 per match.
Noblesville is 7-21 for the season, but has played a tough schedule. In fact, MaxPreps ranks the Millers’ schedule as the ninth-toughest in Indiana.
“With our schedule, we are prepared to play with the highest level of competition, and our girls understand what it takes to rise to the level of play,” said Phillips. “Our season has demanded a lot from us, physically and mentally, and the girls understand that aspect of intensity is what is required of them every time they step on the court.”
WESTFIELD-CARMEL
The Shamrocks and the Greyhounds played each other in the regular season, back on Sept. 14. It was a back and forth, five-set match with Westfield prevailing 26-24, 15-25, 25-23, 20-15, 15-8.
“In looking back at the film, we have a lot of great things that we did and we have some areas we have cleaned up and improved that will help us as we move into the post-season,” said ‘Rocks coach Sandra Burks. “Carmel is a solid squad and we look forward to an exciting post-season matchup.”
Westfield is 20-7 and finished second in the HCC with a 5-2 record. The ‘Rocks played at the Lawrence North Invitational this past Saturday, where they went 3-1. Westfield beat Delta 25-16, 25-20, Mount Vernon 25-21, 25-18 and Southwood 25-12, 25-13, and fell to Shelbyville 25-16, 25-23.
A trio of seniors have all hit over 200 kills for the season: Indiana University commit Kenzie Daffinee leads with 245 (3.2 per set) followed by Grace Stewart with 226 and Katie Sweet with 203. The Shamrocks have two key setters: Senior Sarah Weglarz has handed out 466 assists, while junior Logan Mapes has dished out 393.
Daffinee is a strong server, with 63 aces for the season. On defense, Sweet has dominated the net with 89 blocks, followed by Stewart with 60. Senior Ellary Detamore leads the defense with 375 digs, or 13.9 per set.
“As a team we like where we are at heading into the post-season,” said Burks. “We are playing well, balanced, and focused on winning as a unit. From last year to this year, each player has taken ownership of their position, making sure we are contributing our solid piece for us to work best as a complete unit. One of the things that makes us harder to defend is that we have multiple terminators this year and we are excited to tackle the post-season.
“These young ladies work hard every day, truly love playing together and enjoy taking on great competition. We are excited and looking forward to Sectional 8.”
The Greyhounds are 20-9 and placed second in the Metropolitan Conference with a 6-1 record. Center Grove won the MIC with a 6-0 mark. Carmel finished as runner-up at its own invitational on Saturday, beating Tri-West 25-23, 25-20, Brownstown Central 21-25, 25-23, 15-7 and Floyd Central 25-16, 25-22 before falling to Bloomington South 25-22, 25-18.
The Greyhounds’ offense is led by two big hitters: Junior Macarty McQueen has hit 322 kills for the season (3.9 per set) and freshman Lauren Evans has spiked 259 kills (3.6 per set). Junior Ella Bostic has dished out 916 assists.
Bostic and senior Jaci Sherb are tied atop the serving list with 38 aces each. Evans has hit 35 aces. Lexi Brehl has been a first-class defender with 447 digs, 15.4 per match. Junior Caroline Yuska has 59 blocks to lead that list.
ZIONSVILLE, HSE GET BYES
The winner of the Fishers-Noblesville match will play Zionsville Saturday morning in the first semi-final, which is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
The Eagles are 18-11 for the season and went 3-4 in Hoosier Crossroads Conference play. Senior Sydney Aguirre is Zionsville’s hitting leader with 180 kills. Sophomore Desha Van Veldhuizen has handed out 478 assists.
Aguirre also leads the serving with 35 aces, while sophomore Emily Kirkendol has hit 31 aces. Senior Morgan Pressler has 71 blocks, and Kirkendol has collected 375 digs, an average of 13.4 per match.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Southeastern awaits the winner of the Westfield-Carmel match, who the Royals will play in the second semi-final on Saturday. Southeastern beat both teams in the regular season, winning over the Greyhounds in four sets, 25-22, 29-27, 23-25, 25-17, and defeating the Shamrocks in three sets, 25-13, 25-17, 25-22.
“We have had the same approach every day, which is trying to get better each day,” said Royals coach Jason Young. We prepare for teams but really, we try and focus on what we can do. It will be a tough match. Honestly, in Sectional 8 it doesn’t matter who you draw, it is going to be a match you can lose.”
Southeastern is 22-0 for the season and finished HCC play 7-0.
“I was pleased with what we did,” said Young. “It did feel strange with a two-week break. We lost a few really great matches that could have helped us, but to make it to this point in the season we are grateful to be playing. I was happy with what some of the younger kids were able to contribute and very happy with our senior leadership.”
The Royals have a freshman as their hitting leader: Lauren Harden has hit 234 kills, or 3.6 per set. Senior Delaney Garner is next in line with 207 kills, 3.3 per set. Garner also has the most aces with 29.
Junior Emily Weber has handed out 362 assists for the season, followed by senior Olivia Phillips with 298. Indiana University-bound Carly Mills is dominant on defense, with 342 digs, or 17.1 per match. Junior Lovie Wallace has 60 blocks for the season.
HUSKIES, GOLDEN EAGLES AT CHATARD
Hamilton Heights and Guerin Catholic will compete in Class 3A Sectional 27 at Bishop Chatard.
The Huskies play the second match on Thursday, taking on Shortridge. The first match, scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., will see Brebeuf Jesuit face off against Manual.
Shortridge is 7-6 and finished Pioneer Conference play 1-3, putting it in seventh place.
“You have to prepare for every team,” said Heights coach Steve Ward. “We are not taking any team lightly.”
The Huskies are 14-6, with a Monday win over Park Tudor to complete the regular season. Junior Jenna Fryman leads the Heights hitting with over 170 kills, followed by junior Lexi Hayden with over 140 kills.
Junior Kelsey Smith has handed out over 400 assists for the Huskies, has served over 20 aces, and had 46 blocks going into Monday’s match. Senior Jillian Osswald has been solid on defense, with over 340 digs.
The Golden Eagles will play the winner of the Brebeuf-Manual match in Saturday’s first semi-final, beginning at 11 a.m. Guerin Catholic is 5-6 for the season. The Heights-Shortridge winner plays host Chatard in the second semi-final, which follows the first.
SHERIDAN AT WEBO
Sheridan will compete in Class 2A Sectional 43 at Western Boone. As a four-team sectional, action gets underway Saturday morning with the semi-finals.
Park Tudor and Heritage Christian play the first match at 10 a.m., with the Blackhawks taking on the host Stars at 1 p.m. Sheridan is 8-16 for the season, while WeBo is 19-7.
Junior Maddie Hawkins leads the Stars in hitting with 227 kills. Senior Lindsey Coffman has 453 assists for the season, with sophomore Elena Gubera serving 59 aces.
The Stars’ defense is strong, with four players making over 200 digs for the season: Junior Marli Ransom has 356, Hawkins has collected 332, sophomore Chloe Gillan has 268 and Gubera has 261. Sophomores Saige Terwiske and Kennedy Kiger both have 17 blocks.
Senior Allie Delph leads the Sheridan offense with 224 kills, while junior Taylor Bates has served 39 aces and dished out 401 assists. Senior Emma Went is tops on defense with 221 digs, while junior Kaiden Wilson has 34 blocks.
Noblesville’s Rose Crist has hit 337 kills for the season. (Kirk Green/File photo)