By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – The Westfield volleyball team scored a comeback win over Noblesville Thursday at CSI Gymnasium.
The Shamrocks were down two sets to none before powering through the third and fourth sets. Westfield then won the winner-take-all fifth set to clinch the Hoosier Crossroads Conference victory. The set scores were 22-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-16, 15-12.
The Millers built a 17-11 lead in the first set before the Rocks came back to tie it at 20-20. But Noblesville surged ahead by winning five of the last seven points; Kennedy Lutz served an ace on set point.
In the second set, the Millers steadily gained a lead on Westfield, with Chloe Macias making two kills and a block to help get Noblesville ahead 13-8. The Shamrocks battled for the entire set, but a net tip from Lauren Flynn gave the Millers set point, and they won that point to go up 2-0 in sets.
Westfield barreled through the third set, making four- and five-point runs to take a 16-5 lead. Audrey Bassett, Carsyn Comer and Paige Rudolph all hit multiple kills, with Comer serving an ace during the set. The Shamrocks repeated themselves in the fourth set, going up 8-3 thanks to two Comer aces, and a block by Izzy Jackson.
A Comer net tip pushed Westfield ahead 14-8, then Audrey Davis smacked a kill to give the Rocks a 19-13 advantage. Comer made a successful block to get Westfield to set point, and the Shamrocks soon had the match evened up.
The fifth set was a battle, with both teams making big plays. Ashlynn Turner hit two kills to take Noblesville from being down 3-2 to up 4-3. Macias made a block to give the Millers and 8-6 lead, then Lutz powered a kill to put Noblesville ahead 9-7.
But Davis ended that with her own kill, which started another Westfield run. Ava Stewart stepped up and served consecutive aces, Comer made a block and Stewart hit another ace to put the Shamrocks up 12-9. Comer hit a kill on match point to complete the Westfield comeback.
“After starting down two sets tonight, I thought the Rocks came back and fought with grit and against some adversity,” said Westfield coach Emily Jackson. “It was a total team win where people had to play different positions. Everyone had to step up.”
Rudolph finished with 15 kills for the Rocks, followed by Comer with 10, Davis with eight and Bassett with eight. Kendyl Strack had 22 digs, with Bassett collecting 21 and Jackson making 20. Emily Blevins dished out 25 assists and Jackson handed out 24.
Macias led Noblesville with 18 kills and five blocks. Turner hit 12 kills and Flynn had 11. Maggie Hall made 20 digs and Madison Brown had 14.
Westfield is 3-0 in HCC play and 11-3 overall, and travels to the Hamilton Southeastern Showcase on Saturday. The Millers are 0-3 in the league and 6-3 overall, and host their own invitational on Saturday.
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Hamilton Heights finished up Hoosier Conference play unbeaten by sweeping Western on Thursday.
The Huskies won 25-17, 25-14, 25-15. Heights picked up its serve receive during the second set and worked through different lineups while getting the victory.
Heights is 3-0 in conference play and 14-3 overall. The Huskies play at Noblesville on Tuesday.
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University swept Shortridge Thursday for a Pioneer Conference victory.
The Trailblazers won 25-9, 25-15, 25-11 to move their PAAC record back above .500 at 3-2. University is 5-5 overall and hosts Herron Tuesday.
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Carmel was swept by Tri-West in a Thursday home match, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19.
The Greyhounds are 3-11 and play Saturday at the Brownsburg Round Robin.
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Guerin Catholic was swept by Western Boone at home Thursday, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16.
The Golden Eagles are 3-9 and host Brebeuf Jesuit tonight in a Circle City Conference match.
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Sheridan improved to 3-1 in Hoosier Heartland Conference play with a sweep of Carroll on Thursday.
The Blackhawks won 25-12, 25-20, 25-22. Kenzie Garner led the offense with eight kills, while Adria Jump put down five kills. Lainey Mendenhall and Trinity Parkin both hit four kills, while Beth Adams and Nova Cross both hit three.
Ali Pickard hit four aces and won 14 out of 17 service points. Cross also served four aces, Jump had three, and Krupp and Garner both served two. Jump dished out 19 assists while Garner added three and Cross dished out two.
Krupp led the defense with 14 digs, while Garner had 10. Jump collected seven digs, followed by Cross with six and Pickard with five. Mendenhall made two solo blocks and Garner had one.
Sheridan is 9-6 overall and has a busy week next week with four matches. The Blackhawks host Tipton Monday; the team will celebrate its youth players in between the junior varsity and varsity matches.
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