In a hard-fought all-county match, Carmel beat Noblesville in four sets Wednesday evening at The Mill.
The Greyhounds won 25-20, 14-25, 25-16, 25-23. It was a game of runs to the very end, as the Millers saved five match points before Carmel’s Ella Brooks hit a kill to give the ‘Hounds the match.
Carmel coach Kristine Deem said that Noblesville has “some talented players that really bring a lot of energy and a lot of excitement.”
“It was really just some adjustments that our girls had to make on our side of the net,” said Deem. The game was played in front of a nice crowd, and it was also the Millers’ Middle School Night, so the coach knew that Noblesville was going to continue to push for the entire match.
“So it was really just us making some adjustments at the net with our blocking, being smart, minimizing our unforced errors and then playing some incredible defense. Our libero, Maria (Zweig), she normally is playing left back. We made an adjustment, threw her in middle back. She was touching stuff all over the place and it brought a lot of good energy.”
Zweig finished the game with 17 digs and also served three aces. On offense, Gabby Smith hit 12 kills, in addition to seven blocks and three aces. Macarty McQueen had 10 kills. Ella Bostic handed out 30 assists, while Anne Lesure dished out 17 assists.
Noblesville coach Jill Almodovar said that her team gave its best fight of the year tonight.
“They were more confident,” said Almodovar. “We had two really, really great days of practice and I think they took into the things that we were doing at practice and I think they really implemented them and they worked really hard tonight.”
Lexie Almodovar finished the match with 15 digs, 15 assists, 14 kills, three aces and three blocks. Ella Peter had 10 kills and three blocks, while Anna Kiser contributed four kills and two blocks.
Mandy Knieper put down nine kills. Diana Cox collected 12 digs, while Olivia Gulley had five digs. Bella Hines made three blocks, Riley Branch handed out 22 assists and Abby Johnson served one ace.
Carmel is now 18-8 for the season, while the Millers are 7-12. Noblesville is back at The Mill tonight to host Franklin Central in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference match. The Greyhounds return to action Monday for a Metropolitan Conference match at Pike.
Westfield dropped a close HCC match at Brownsburg on Wednesday.
The match went to five sets, with the Bulldogs winning 21-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-9. Four Shamrock players had over 10 kills: Kenzie Daffinee put down 17 kills, Marin McAndrews had 15, Ellary Detamore hit 13 and Anna Johnsey had 12.
Logan Mapes handed out 54 assists. Westfield totaled 101 digs; Peighton Isley led with 31 digs, followed by Detamore with 22, Daffinee with 16 and Mapes with 11. Daffinee served four aces while Johnsey made four blocks.
The Shamrocks are 1-3 in the conference and 12-7 overall. Westfield plays at the Eastern Tournament on Saturday.
Hamilton Heights dropped a four-set match at Lapel on Wednesday, 25-27, 25-29, 25-29, 25-18.
The Huskies are 7-10 and host Scecina on Monday.
University was swept by Speedway in three sets on Wednesday.
The Trailblazers are 11-5 and play at Sheridan next Wednesday.
Carmel’s Kelise Twyner (7) and Caroline Yuska (9) go up for a block during the Greyhounds’ volleyball match with Noblesville Wednesday at The Mill. Pictured for Noblesville are Mandy Knieper (10) and Abby Johnson (13). (Kirk Green)
Noblesville’s Ella Peter (left) spikes the ball as Carmel’s Anne Lesure goes up for a block. (Kent Graham)