Volleyball: Blackhawks end season with best-ever school record, Blazers fall to Covenant Christian in finals

(ABOVE LEFT) Guerin Catholic libero Natalie Laughon gets control of the ball during the Golden Eagles’ sectional win over Crawfordsville last Thursday. (ABOVE RIGHT) Sheridan coach Melissa Jump talks to her team during the Blackhawks’ win over Elwood last Thursday.

The REPORTER

Sheridan made its way to the championship match of Class 2A Sectional 39 at Taylor last week.

The Blackhawks began the tournament last Thursday by beating Elwood in four sets, 25-11, 25-6, 18-25, 25-16. It was Sheridan’s first sectional victory in 12 years. Trinity Parkin led Sheridan’s offense with 15 kills, while Kenzie Garner hit nine kills. Lainey Mendenhall put down seven kills, with Nova Cross, Adria Jump and Beth Adams each hitting three. Jump dished out 27 assists.

Parkin and Garner both hit five aces for the Hawks, with Garner serving 19 points out of 23 attempts. Cross and Adams both hit two aces, with Krupp and Jump serving one each.

Cross led the defense with 13 digs, followed by Garner with 11 and Krupp with 10. Jump collected six digs, while Parkin and Ali Pickard both had five. Garner made five solo blocks and Mendenhall had one block.

In last Saturday’s semifinals, Sheridan won another four-set match over Tipton, 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20. Parkin led the offense with 16 kills, followed by Garner with 11, Mendenhall with nine and Adams with five. Jump dished out 39 assists. Parkin served six aces, followed by Cross with four, Adams with two, and Krupp and Garner with one each.

On defense, Krupp and Cross both made 20 digs. Garner collected 19 digs, Jump had 18, Parkin had 15 and Adams collected six. Mendenhall made three solo blocks and one block assist, Parkin had one solo block and one block assist, Cross had one solo and two block assists, and Jump and Garner both made one block assist each.

The Blackhawks took on Lapel in the championship match and battled to four sets before the Bulldogs won 17-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-13.

Garner put down 11 kills, with Parkin hitting eight, Mendenhall hitting six and Cross and Adams both spiking four. Jump dished out 27 assists. Garner and Jump both served three aces, Krupp had two and Cross and Parkin both served one.

Krupp and Garner both made 18 digs. Jump collected 12 digs, Parkin had nine, Cross made eight and Adams had four. Garner made one solo block and two block assists, Jump had two block assists, and Mendenhall and Parkin each had one block assist.

Sheridan finished its season 19-11, its best record in school history.

***

Guerin Catholic began play in Class 3A Sectional 27 at Brebeuf Jesuit last Thursday with a sweep of Crawfordsville.

The Golden Eagles won 25-22, 25-12, 25-17. Guerin Catholic took on the host Braves in the semifinal last Saturday and were swept 25-10, 25-23, 25-16. The Golden Eagles finished their season 14-18.

***

University played in the opening match of Class 2A Sectional 42 at Cardinal Ritter, beating Monrovia in a five-set match.

The Trailblazers won the back-and-forth contest 25-12, 19-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-6. University swept Riverside in last Saturday’s semifinal 25-5, 25-4, 25-7 before falling to Covenant Christian in the championship, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16.

University finished its season 13-12.

***

Hamilton Heights was dealt a tough loss by Class 3A Sectional 24 host New Castle in a first-round match last Thursday.

The Huskies fell to the Trojans in five sets, 25-27, 12-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-11. The Huskies finished their season 25-5.