Volleyball: Royals, Huskies dominate in first matches

The REPORTER

The Hamilton Southeastern volleyball team began its 2024 season with two straight-set sweeps.

Last Saturday, the two-time defending Class 4A state champion Royals took care of McCutcheon 25-10, 25-23, 25-16 and Warsaw 25-17, 25-13, 25-16. In the Warsaw match, Madi Miles led the Southeastern hitting with 16 kills, followed by Lindsey Mangelson with 14 kills. Bre Morgan had a solid game in the middle with four kills, while Merritt Sliwa put down six kills on the pin.

Ava Hunter dished out 32 assists and also collected nine digs. Jasmine Daniels had seven assists. On defense, Kaylyn Christy and Bella Dafforn both had seven digs and Maye McConnell made six digs. Christy served four aces and McConnell had three.

The Royals beat Carmel 25-14, 25-14, 25-12 at the Greyhounds’ Eric Clark Activity Center on Monday, running their record to 3-0 for the season. It was Carmel’s first match of the season.

Southeastern plays Saturday at Benton Central. Carmel travels to Roncalli tonight for a match.

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Hamilton Heights began its season last Saturday by breezing through the Peru Invitational.

The Huskies went 4-0 at Peru, winning the tournament for the third consecutive year. Heights won all matches in straight sets, beating Huntington North 25-6, 25-12, Frankfort 25-9, 25-13, North Miami 25-11, 25-11 and Rensselaer Central 25-9, 25-13.

Macie Smith and Hailey Hall both had good swings and blocks in the front row, while the Huskies’ defenders played solid on the back row, making several digs.

Heights ran its record to 5-0 for the season with a 25-20, 26-24, 25-17 win at Guerin Catholic on Tuesday. Kennedy Cherry picked up several digs for the Huskies. It was the Golden Eagles’ first match of the season.

Heights plays at Lebanon tonight, while Guerin Catholic plays at New Palestine on Thursday.

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Westfield opened its season last Saturday with a sweep at Lawrence North. The scores were 25-12, 25-20, 25-13.

Paige Rudolph led the Shamrocks with 12 kills, while Kendyl Strack served eight aces. Carsyn Comer had an outstanding night at the net with eight blocks, while Strack and Rudolph both made nine digs. Izzy Jackson dished out 32 assists.

Westfield traveled to Yorktown on Monday, falling in straight sets 25-15, 25-11, 25-20. Rudolph put down seven kills, with Strack and Emily Blevins both getting eight digs. Jackson handed out 14 assists while Blevins dished out eight assists.

The Rocks are 1-1 and host Pendleton Heights on Thursday.

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Sheridan opened its season Monday with a tough loss, falling to Crawfordsville in five sets.

The scores were 22-25, 27-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12. Kenzie Garner hit 13 kills for the Blackhawks, while Trinity Parkin and Lainey Mendenhall both put down eight. Shelby Eaton hit five kills. Nova Cross dished out 17 assists and Adria Jump handed out 12.

Parkin served five aces, with Cross serving three aces. Meredith Krupp had 23 digs, followed by Cross with eight, Jump with seven, Ali Pickard with six and Parkin with five. Parkin and Garner both made one block, while Mendenhall and Jump both had one block assist.

Sheridan rebounded on Tuesday with a sweep of Clinton Central, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17. This was the first Hoosier Heartland Conference match of the season for the Hawks.

Parkin smacked 13 kills, followed by Garner with nine, Mendenhall with four, Jump and Cross with three each and Eaton with two. Garner served four aces and Parkin hit two aces.

Cross provided 21 assists, followed by Jump with seven. Pickard and Jump both picked up 10 digs, while Krupp had seven. Cross, Jump, Parkin and Garner all had one solo block, with Mendenhall making two block assists and Parkin and Jump both getting one block assist.

Sheridan is 1-1 and plays Thursday at Park Tudor.

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Noblesville won its opener over North Central on Monday, 25-21, 25-16, 25-13.

Chloe Macias put down 11 kills for the Millers and also served six aces and made three blocks. Kennedy Lutz made nine digs and Madison Brown dished out 27 assists.

Noblesville hosts Mount Vernon tonight in its first home match of the season.

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Fishers swept Lebanon last Saturday 25-17, 25-18, 25-21 to begin its season.

Aubree Valcourt, Ava Gutt and Ella Dragoo all hit seven kills for the Tigers. Dragoo served five aces. Jules Kellogg picked up 14 digs, while Kennedy Tinch dished out 18 assists.

Fishers played Lawrence Central on Tuesday, results will appear in a later edition. The Tigers play at McCutcheon tonight.