By RICHIE HALL
FISHERS – Fishers has made a name for itself in boys volleyball over the past several years, so it was only fitting that the Tigers make history Saturday.
In the first-ever IHSAA-sanctioned tournament, Fishers won the Sectional 8 championship, sweeping Guerin Catholic 25-19, 25-14, 25-14 on its home floor at the Tiger Den. The Tigers were among 16 first-ever sectional champions, although they had won numerous post-season trophies for the past several years in the Indiana Boys Volleyball Coaches Association tournament, including state titles in 2019 and 2021.
“It’s awesome,” said Fishers junior Ethan Leunemann. “Last year, we got a little plaque and this year we get an actual trophy. It means a lot more and we got more people at the games now. It’s a growing community.”
The No. 2-ranked Tigers had to navigate several tough teams during the tournament, sweeping Hamilton Southeastern in the first round last Wednesday. Fishers needed four sets to beat No. 4 Westfield in the first semifinal last Saturday morning. The score of that match was 25-18, 19-25, 25-11, 25-18.
The first set of the championship match was close until the Tigers broke away with a four-point run to lead 21-14. Luenemann put down two kills during that run. Nate Fitzwater hit a kill on set point and Fishers had a 1-0 lead.
“We’ve been preaching a lot of serve receive and defense,” said Capó. “Our offense has been really good all year long. We have big hitters, we have a great setter in JT Guler, so we’ve been preaching, ‘Guys, if we can pass the ball, if we can defend, we’re going to be fine.’ If we get the ball to the setter, we’re going to get a kill most times.”
In the second set, the Tigers went on another run, scoring seven straight points to lead 16-5. Nick Tomlinson started the spurt with three straight kills. Guerin Catholic’s Adam Jurewicz hit a kill that started a late run of three consecutive points and A.J. Bauer saved a set point with a kill before Fishers won the second set.
The Golden Eagles led 5-3 early in the third set. Noah Gaines hit a kill, then served an ace and Bauer followed that with a successful block.
Drew Fisher stopped that run with a kill and the Tigers scored four straight points to lead 7-5. The Tigers began to take control from there, using a 6-0 run to lead 16-7. Brennan Denning gave Fishers a championship point with a net tip, but Bauer hit a kill to save it. Fishers’ Cale Seymour put down a kill on the second championship point.
“They are a good team that gets the ball over and they’re really scrappy,” said Luenemann. He said the Tigers had to be ready for the Golden Eagles’ unexpected hits, “and we had to be ready for their unexpected tips as well.”
Fitzwater hit nine kill, while Tomlinson put down eight and Luenemann hit seven. Fisher had five kills.
Guerin Catholic finished its season 9-20. The Golden Eagles swept Peru 25-10, 25-5, 25-7 in the other semifinal.
“That is one of the best teams in the state,” Guerin Catholic coach Ryan Kelley said of Fishers. He said the Tigers have one of the best players in the state in Fitzwater, and “one of the best liberos in Ian (Pifer.)”
“We did our best to go up and match with their size and athleticism, and ultimately, they just wore us down a little bit,” said Kelley.
The Tigers are 29-4 and will play this Saturday at the Peru regional. Fishers takes on Zionsville in the first semifinal at 10 a.m., followed by the second semifinal between Fort Wayne Carroll and Homestead at noon.
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