How’s this for a Senior Night: Your volleyball team upsets the No. 1-ranked team in the state.
Hamilton Southeastern did just that on Thursday, knocking off previously undefeated Zionsville in four sets, 14-25, 25-22, 25-23, 26-24. How good is Zionsville? The Eagles are not only No. 1 on MaxPreps, but also No. 8 – in the nation. Zionsville had won their first 14 matches, and in fact came into the Southeastern gym having won 29 straight sets.
Zionsville extended that set run to 30 by taking the first set, then HSE won three in a row.
“Big win for us, obviously, tonight on Senior Night,” said Royals coach Jason Young. “Big win for these seniors who have been part of this program, helped transform the program over the last four years.”
Zionsville led 5-2 in the third set, but Southeastern hung around, and eventually began a run of six straight points, going from down 10-9 to up 15-10. Meredith Phillips started the run with a kill, and Lark Jones put down a kill during the run. Carly Mills served an ace.
The Royals led 20-15 before the Eagles mounted a comeback, finally tying the set at 22-22. But Bria King gave HSE the lead back with a kill, and Olivia Phillips tipped the ball over for a winner on set point.
The fourth set followed the same pattern. Southeastern blasted out to an 11-4 lead, then Zionsville came back to within 16-13. The Royals roared out to a 21-15 advantage, thanks to kills from Zada Anderson, Lark Jones and King. Jones made a big block out of an Eagles timeout to put Southeastern ahead 20-13.
Zionsville, predictably, made one last push. The Eagles led 23-22, but Jones hit another kill to tie the score. Zionsville answered with another kill, giving them set point at 24-23. But Taylor Shelton erased that with a kill, tying the score again at 24-24. Two Eagles errors gave the Royals the match.
Shelton led the hitting with 13 kills, while Jones and Meredith Phillips both hit 10. Jones also made 1.5 blocks. Olivia Phillips handed out 40 assists. Mills and Grace Kane both scooped up 15 digs, and Kat Wagner served three aces.
Southeastern is now 16-7 for the season.
Fishers lost to Avon in straight sets 25-13, 25-19, 28-26 Thursday in a battle of Class A top 10 teams.
The Orioles are ranked No. 4 in the latest MaxPreps poll, with the Tigers No. 7. Freshman Camryn Haworth led Fishers with six kills, while Audrey Haworth and Bryn Roberts both put down five. Emma Rosenberg collected 11 digs, with Elizabeth Weeks and Rose Duffy each making two locks. Duffy handed out 24 assists and got five digs.
The Tigers will play at the Martinsville Invitational on Saturday.
Westfield won a five-setter over Brownsburg on Thursday, 16-25, 25-22, 15-25, 26-24, 15-10.
Claire Hindman made 23 digs for the Shamrocks, with Kinsey McAfee hitting 13 kills. Bailey Mendler served four aces, Hillary Muntel made two solo blocks and also had block assists. Sarah Weglarz handed out 38 assists.
Westfield will play in the Brebeuf Jesuit Tournament on Saturday.
The Hamilton Southeastern volleyball team celebrated Senior Night in the best way possible Thursday: The Royals upset No. 1 Zionsville in four sets. The HSE seniors are pictured here with their parents. (Kirk Green)
Senior Bria King made some key kills for the Royals during their four-set win over Zionsville Thursday. (Kirk Green)