Last week, the Hamilton Southeastern volleyball team won the Sectional 8 championship at Noblesville.
This weekend, the Royals will be back in The Mill. Southeastern is playing at the Noblesville regional on Saturday; the Royals take on Homestead in the second semi-final match at noon. That will follow the first semi-final, which starts at 10 a.m., between Fort Wayne Carroll and McCutcheon. The championship match starts at 7 p.m.
The Spartans are 19-14 for the season. They won the Huntington North sectional, taking care of New Haven in four sets (21-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-18) in the semi-finals and sweeping Columbia City in the championship, 25-10, 25-21, 25-21.
Southeastern coach Jason Young noted that Homestead has two solid senior players, both of whom stand 6-foot-2. Middle hitter Emily Wilcox has hit 170 kills this season, while Lexi Durnell has put down 150 kills.
“They are both a force in the middle for them,” said Young. “It should be a great match.”
The Royals took care of business at the Noblesville sectional, winning three matches without dropping a set. Southeastern beat Westfield 25-18, 25-19, 25-17; Zionsville 25-12, 25-23, 25-15, and Fishers 25-20, 25-19, 25-19. The Royals hold a 26-4 record going into the regional, and are ranked No. 3 in Indiana by MaxPreps with the toughest schedule in the state.
“Our schedule is by design to be amongst the top five most difficult schedules in the state,” said Young. “I feel like it prepares us for big matches especially around tournament time. The strength of schedule along with the annual Mudsock match with our crosstown rival helps prepare the kids to play in front of big crowds against talented opponents.”
Junior Delaney Garner leads the Royals in hitting with 318 kills this season, while senior Abby Weber has put down 306 kills. Weber also has the most aces with 42. Junior Olivia Phillips has handed out 449 assists, with sophomore Emily Weber dishing out 427 assists. On defense, Garner has 95 blocks, and junior Carly Mills has collected 468 digs.
“It should be a great day of volleyball and we are hoping that are fans are able to come out in big numbers to support us just 15 minutes down the road at The Mill in Noblesville,” said Young.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Abby Weber (left) has hit 306 kills for the Royals volleyball team this season. Southeastern will play Homestead in the second semi-final of the Noblesville regional on Saturday. (Kirk Green/File photo)