The Hamilton Southeastern volleyball team is heading back to the IHSAA state finals.
The Royals punched their ticket to Ball State’s Worthen Arena by sweeping Lake Central Saturday afternoon at the Class 4A north semi-state at Frankfort’s Case Arena. Southeastern won 25-15, 25-13, 25-23.
Royals coach Jason Young said the game plan was just “try to be who we’ve been all year.” That included being “big at the net, attack and continue to attack, bring the defensive energy,” said Young.
The coach thought his team did that in the first two sets. Lake Central gave Southeastern resistance in the third set before the Royals were able to prevail by two points.
“They made us earn every single point down the stretch,” said Young. “It was a great fight. It was a great test for us. Really excited that we were able to prevail there in the third set 25-23.”
Avery Hobson led the Southeastern offense with 15 kills, while Lindsey Mangelson put down 11 kills and Lauren Harden hit 10. Macy Hinshaw and Tiffany Snook both served two aces, with Hinshaw also dishing out 21 assists. Ava Hunter handed out 16 assists.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Lauren Harden goes up to make a hit during the
Frankfort semi-state. (Kirk Green)
Sophie Ledbetter collected 13 digs. Hobson made five block assists, while Snook had four block assists.
The Royals are now 32-1 for the season and will take on Yorktown at 7 p.m. next Saturday for the Class 4A state championship. The Tigers won the 4A south semi-state at Columbus East by beating Floyd Central in four sets, 25-11, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16.
This will be Southeastern’s second appearance in the 4A state finals. The Royals also qualified for state in 2019.