Volleyball: Royals entering semi-state after near-perfect season

The REPORTER

The Hamilton Southeastern girls volleyball team travels to Huntington North on Saturday with a ticket to the state finals on the line.

The Royals will play in the Class 4A north semi-state, which begins with the first semifinal between Crown Point and Fort Wayne Carroll at 10:30 a.m. Southeastern will play afterwards, taking on Penn in the second semifinal. The championship match is set for 7 p.m.

The Kingsmen come into the match with a 25-5 record. Penn won its own sectional, starting with a four-set victory over Mishawaka, 19-25, 25-11, 25-10, 25-22 in the first round. The Kingsmen swept Michigan City 25-7, 25-10, 25-14 in the semifinals before cruising past South Bend Adams 25-16, 25-18, 25-17 in the championship.

Penn traveled to La Porte for the regional championship and came back from two sets down to beat Chesterton. The set scores were 15-25, 12-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-11. The Kingsmen thus won their 11^th regional championship.

Senior Shannon Rudge is Penn’s offensive leader with 292 kills, putting down 3.4 per set. Another senior, Sarah Noto, has 211 kills to her credit, or 2.5 per set. Rudge also leads the serving with 29 aces. Senior Abbi Gingerich and junior Montana Swartz have distributed the ball equally, with 344 assists each.

Junior Abby Lane is on top of the digs list with 370 for the season, or 4.3 per set (12.8 per match). Freshman Addison Hummel has 81 blocks, making 2.8 per match.

Hamilton Southeastern the two-time defending 4A state champion, is 31-2 entering the semi-state. The Royals triumphed at the Westfield sectional, sweeping Zionsville 25-10, 25-16, 25-20 in the semifinals, then winning a tough match over the host Shamrocks in four sets, 25-13, 20-25, 25-12, 25-19. Southeastern then swept Harrison to win the regional, 25-11, 25-11, 25-16.

Three big hitters lead the HSE offense. Senior Lindsey Mangelson has smacked 514 kills this season, averaging 5.3 per set. Junior Madi Miles has hit 379 kills (3.9 per set) and classmate Merritt Sliwa has 200 kills (2.1 per set) to her credit.

Mangelson leads the aces with 52, followed by junior Maye McConnell with 47. Senior Ava Hunter has dished out 944 assists this season. On defense, McConnell is in front with 285 season digs, averaging 2.9 per set (8.6 per match). Junior Bre Morgan leads the blocks with 74 total, or 2.2 per match.