By RICHIE HALL
It only took one match for the Fishers volleyball team to get something that will help it this season: An identity.
The Tigers showed their maturity and toughness by traveling to Carmel’s Eric Clark Activity Center Saturday morning in the season-opening match for both teams. Fishers battled the whole way through and came away with a 25-18, 25-22, 25-21 sweep of the Greyhounds.
“I thought we played great,” said Tigers coach Steven Peek. He noted that Carmel is a strong team, and said that getting a sweep is a sign of some of the maturity his veteran team has.
“We have a lot of returners, but they have changed and matured in some incredible ways as far as attitude, leadership and all the off-court stuff that it’s going to take for us to be able to put together a great team and be able to play other great teams,” said Peek.
The Greyhounds came out strong in the first set, taking a 6-2 lead. Macarty McQueen was a big part of that run, smacking four kills. But the Tigers eventually came back, and with the score tied at 11-11, made a run of eight straight points to get control of the set. Camryn Haworth served during that run, with Emily Waldrop hitting a pair of kills, and Carsen Plew spiking one as well. Ava Vickers hit the winning kill on set point.
The second set was close until the middle part, when the ‘Hounds jumped out to a 17-13 lead. Fishers used a run of five straight points to grab the lead, with Waldrop making two kills. JaNyah Henderson added a kill and teamed with Haworth for a block. The score was still 21-21 late in the set before Fishers won four of the next five points.
In the third set, the Tigers used a four-point run to take a 14-11 lead, and held that advantage until the match finished. Jada Allen hit two kills to keep the Tigers in front, then another kill set up match point for Fishers at 24-21. The Tigers took the next point to clinch the match.
Waldrop had 10 kills, while Allen made 14 defensive digs to go with her nine kills and two blocks. Henderson hit eight kills. Camryn Haworth dished out 28 assists, in addition to 14 digs and three blocks. Samantha Perdue made 11 digs and Vickers had three blocks.
“It is important that we shared the wealth, and important that everybody feels like, not only just feel like they contribute, that they actually are,” said Peek. “We’re going to need everybody to be great this year.”
For Carmel, Lauren Evans spiked 10 kills, with McQueen hitting seven. Ella Bostic handed out 27 assists, Alexis Brehl had 18 digs and Caroline Yuska made three blocks.
“I think we’re still figuring out a little bit,” said Greyhounds coach Kristine Deem. “They’re figuring out their mesh with each other. We got some new faces, definitely. I think that they are all willing to work super hard and wanting to compete and just fell short in each one of those sets.”
ROYALS BEAT MAVERICKS
Hamilton Southeastern, last year’s Class 4A runner-up, opened its season Saturday with a four-set win over McCutcheon, 25-17, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22.
The Royals were led by Delaney Garner and Lovie Wallace, each of who hit 12 kills in the middle. Freshman Lauren Harden added 11 kills. Olivia Phillips handed out 21 assists, while Emily Weber had 18.
Carly Mills led Southeastern on defense with 15 digs and four aces, while Taylor Lauri made 18 digs and hit a critical kill to clinch the second set.
“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to play in front of our families this afternoon,” said Royals coach Jason Young. “I am so grateful to be able to have an opportunity to compete.”
Carmel’s Emily Waddell (left) and Macarty McQueen (right) go up for a block. (Kirk Green)