Volleyball regional championship preview: Southeastern taking on Harrison Saturday

The REPORTER

The Hamilton Southeastern volleyball team travels to Homestead on Saturday to play for another regional championship.

The Class 4A No. 1 Royals take on Harrison in the one-game regional, which begins at 1 p.m. The winner heads to the 4A north semi-state game, scheduled for Nov. 2.

The Raiders are 20-13 coming into the regional game. Harrison began its run to the Sectional 7 title at Lafayette Jefferson with a sweep of Kokomo in the semifinal, 25-11, 25-14, 25-10. That sent the Raiders to the championship, where they came from two sets down to beat McCutcheon; the set scores were 22-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-9.

Junior Della Bossung is Harrison’s offensive leader, with a season total of 372 kills, or 3.7 per set. Junior Jillian Deno has served 50 aces this season, followed by senior Grace Klemme with 47 aces. Deno is also the main setter, with 819 assists.

Junior Kaylee Swihart is on top of the digs list with 251, or 2.5 per set, with Bossung right behind at 237 (2.3 per set). Sophomore Eva Stokes has made 68 blocks, 13 solo and 55 assists.

Southeastern has compiled a 30-2 record this season. The Royals swept Zionsville in the semifinals of Sectional 8 at Westfield, 25-10, 25-16, 25-20. In the championship, Southeastern overcame a tough test from the host Shamrocks, winning in four sets, 25-13, 20-25, 25-12, 25-19.

Senior Lindsey Mangelson has been dominant for the Royals with 500 kills, averaging 5.3 per set. Junior Madison Miles has also been powerful, with 365 kills (3.9 per set). Mangelson leads the serving with 52 aces, followed by junior Maye McConnell with 46. Senior Ava Hunter has dished out 912 assists, 9.7 per set.

McConnell is solid on defense with 272 season digs, collecting 2.9 per set, while senior Kaylyn Christy has 210 total digs (2.3 per set). Junior Bre Morgan has made 69 blocks, 14 solo and 55 assists.