The Fishers volleyball team kept its undefeated start rolling on Thursday, sweeping Noblesville 25-21, 25-14, 25-20 in an all-county and Hoosier Crossroads Conference match at The Mill.
With the victory, the Tigers are now 2-0 in conference play and 6-0 overall. The Millers made comebacks in both the first and third sets, but Fishers was able to prevail in both.
“It’s a tough night, it’s a tough place to come and play,” said Tigers coach Steven Peek. “We have to learn how to play on the road better and we have to learn how to translate things from practice into matches.”
Audrey Haworth led the offense for Fishers, with nine kills and five aces. She only made two errors on the night. Jada Allen had six kills, while Haley Soper put down four. Rose Duffy dished out 22 assists, also getting five digs and four aces.
The Tigers did have a good blocking night. Allen made three blocks, with Soper and Camryn Haworth both getting 1.5 blocks each. Emma Rosenberg collected seven digs and had a good serve-receive game as well.
“It’s always nice to win,” said Peek. Fishers will play Saturday at the Our Lady of Providence Early Bird Invitational, which will feature some of the top teams in the state.
“We believe in a lot of ways that iron sharpens iron,” said Peek. “So when we get an opportunity to play the best people that we can play, we’re going to learn everything we can from it.”
As for Noblesville, Lexie Almodovar hit 15 kills. Ava Nichols handed out 20 assists and made one block. Anna Kiser also had one block.
Erika Knieper collected five digs and served four aces, she also had a 2.00 serve-receive. Bella Hine hit four aces and Rose Crist made seven digs.
Millers coach Steve Hawthorne said his team has three starters out with injuries, and thus “had some young players really step into roles and some players stepping into roles that they’re not used to,” he said. “So considering all of those things, I think we’re doing pretty well.”
Noblesville is 5-7 and will next play at McCutcheon Tuesday.
Hamilton Southeastern dropped a hard-fought match to Avon in four sets on Thursday.
The score was 29-27, 11-25, 26-24, 25-18. Grace Hunter led the Royals with 14 kills and Olivia Phillips handed out 40 assists. Defensively, Southeastern was led by Carly Mills with 17 digs on the night.
The Royals will travel to Yorktown Tuesday for a clash with the No. 1-ranked Tigers, then travel to the Fishers Tigers’ gym on Thursday for the Mudsock match.
Sheridan fell to Eastern in four sets on Thursday, 23-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-14.
Becca Merritt had an incredible game, making 11 blocks to go with two aces and two kills. Cheyenne Brooks also played strong at the net with 10 blocks. Allie Delph and Josie Dickerson both hit two kills, Olivia Raines made nine digs and Maddie Zola handed out five assists.
The Blackhawks’ junior varsity team won 18-25, 25-23, 15-13. Baylee Murphy served four aces, Kaiden Wilson put down four kills, Lillie Dickerson made three blocks, Taylor Bates dished out three assists and Abbi Clouser collected 10 digs.
Sheridan will play at the Clinton Prairie tournament on Saturday.
Carmel split a pair of Metropolitan Conference matches earlier in the week.
The Greyhounds fell to Center Grove on Tuesday in a four-set match, 25-17, 19-25, 25-10, 25-18. On Wednesday, Carmel rebounded to beat Lawrence Central 25-10, 25-11, 25-7. The ‘Hounds are 1-1 in the MIC and 8-4 overall.
Carmel will play at the Avon Invitational on Saturday.
The Fishers volleyball team reacts after winning a point in the third set of their match with Noblesville Thursday at The Mill. (Richie Hall)
Noblesville’s Erika Knieper prepares to serve. (Richie Hall)