The REPORTER
The Hamilton Heights volleyball team is off to a sensational start for the 2024 season.
The Huskies improved their record to 9-1 for the season Tuesday with a sweep of Hoosier Conference rival Tipton. Heights won 25-7, 25-16, 25-12.
The Huskies cruised through the first set before falling behind 6-3 in the second set. The two teams battled during the middle part of the set before the Blue Devils led 16-15.
But Heights took over after that, scoring 10 consecutive points to take the set. Macie Smith hit consecutive kills to put the Huskies up 18-16, then stepped up to hit three more kills from 22-16 to get Heights the second set victory. Addie Doak served during that run.
“We just talked about in the huddle that we needed to do ours today,” said Huskies coach Steve Ward. “We needed to take care of passing, still play defense, then they bounced right back, so that was good to see.”
The Huskies rolled through the third set. Smith served three aces during the early part of the set, then Heights scored the final six points of the match. Emma Blanton hit several kills in the third set as well.
“We’ve got five seniors, so a lot of leaders on the team,” said Ward. The Huskies also have to Division I college commits: Smith has verbally committed to West Virginia, while Kennedy Cherry is heading to Western Kentucky.
Fishers’ Jurnee Hall (11) and Milana Mays (9) go up for a block during the Tigers’ four-set win over North Central on Tuesday. (Julie Brown)
The Huskies achieved their strong early record with wins over Class 4A teams as Huntington North and Mount Vernon, one of two teams they beat at the Western Boone Invitational last Saturday. Heights also swept Heritage Christian at that invite and dropped their only match of the season to the Stars, one of the top teams in Class 2A. The set scores were close, with WeBo winning 26-24, 28-26.
Ward said the Huskies “try to keep our schedule fairly competitive” as they look to defend their sectional championship from last season.
“Our end goal is, we want to win our sectional again after winning it for the first time in 15 years last year,” said Ward. Heights plays in 3A Sectional 24 at New Castle. The sectional contains historically strong teams like the host Trojans and Delta, along with Connersville and Delta.
“We’ve got to step our game up,” said Ward. “We’ve got to see what we can do.”
The Huskies play at New Palestine tonight, then return home Thursday to take on Lawrence North.
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Westfield got a big win over Trinity Lutheran last Saturday, triumphing on the road in five sets.
The score was 25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 28-30, 15-13. Paige Rudolph blasted 25 kills, followed by Audrey Bassett with 14, Carsyn Comer with 11 and Stella Terpening with 10. Izzy Jackson dished out 46 assists, while Emily Blevins handed out 14.
Kendyl Strack led the defense with 21 digs, followed by Brooke Neale with 15, Bassett with 13 and Jackson with 12.
The Shamrocks swept Harrison Tuesday 25-8, 25-18, 25-17. Bassett put down 12 kills, while Audrey Davis hit 11. Neale served five aces with Comer hitting two. Blevins provided 21 assists and Jackson dished out 19. Strack led the defense with 23 digs.
Westfield is 4-1 and plays a Hoosier Crossroads Conference match at Franklin Central on Thursday.
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Fishers went 3-1 at the Plainfield Invitational last Saturday.
The Tigers swept Perry Meridian 25-20, 25-21 for their first victory; Ava Tester served three aces and had 12 assists. Fishers took care of Linton-Stockton 25-13, 25-17, with Aubree Valcourt making four block assists.
The Tigers beat North Central 25-19, 25-18 for their third win of the event. Ellie Schoch had 10 digs and Lana Mays made four block assists. Northview handed Fishers its only loss of the tournament 25-21, 25-16.
Fishers beat North Central again Tuesday in four sets at the Tiger Den. Scores and stats from that meet were unavailable at press time. The Tigers host Zionsville Thursday in an HCC match.