The REPORTER
The Hamilton Heights volleyball team has had a sensational start to the 2024 season.
The Huskies improved their season record to 9-1 with a win over Hoosier Conference rival Tipton on Tuesday. Heights won by scores of 25-7, 25-16 and 25-12.
The Huskies won the first set comfortably, but fell behind 3-6 in the second set. In the middle of the set, the two teams were neck and neck before the Blue Devils took the lead 16-15.
But after that, Heights took the lead and won the set with 10 straight points. Macie Smith scored two kills in a row to put the Huskies ahead 18-16. Then she stepped it up and scored three more kills to make it 22-16 and give Heights the second set win. Addie Doak served during that run.
“We just talked about it in the meeting that we have to do our part today,” said Huskies coach Steve Ward. “We had to be careful about the passing game and still defend, but then they recovered right away, which was nice to see.”
The Huskies stormed through the third set. Smith served three aces to start the set, then Heights scored the final six points of the match. Emma Blanton also hit several kills in the third set.
“We have five seniors, so we have a lot of leaders on the team,” Ward said. The Huskies also have commitments to Division I colleges: Smith has verbally committed to attend West Virginia, while Kennedy Cherry is going to Western Kentucky.
Fishers’ Jurnee Hall (11) and Milana Mays (9) block in the Tigers’ four-set win over North Central on Tuesday. (Julie Brown)
The Huskies matched their strong early record with wins over Class 4A teams such as Huntington North and Mount Vernon, one of two teams they beat last Saturday at the Western Boone Invitational. Heights also swept Heritage Christian at that invitational and lost its only game of the season to the Stars, one of Class 2A’s top teams. The set scores were close, with WeBo winning 26-24, 28-26.
Ward said the Huskies are “trying to keep their schedule somewhat competitive” as they look to defend their sectional title from last season.
“Our end goal is we want to win our section again after winning it last year for the first time in 15 years,” Ward said. Heights plays in 3A Sectional 24 in New Castle. The section includes historically strong teams such as the host Trojans and Delta, as well as Connersville and Delta.
“We have to improve our game,” Ward said. “We have to see what we can do.”
The Huskies play at New Palestine tonight and then return home on Thursday to face Lawrence North.
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Westfield won a clear victory over Trinity Lutheran last Saturday, triumphing away in five sets.
The score was 25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 28-30, 15-13. Paige Rudolph had 25 kills, followed by Audrey Bassett with 14, Carsyn Comer with 11 and Stella Terpening with 10. Izzy Jackson had 46 assists, while Emily Blevins had 14 assists.
Kendyl Strack led the defense with 21 interceptions, followed by Brooke Neale with 15, Bassett with 13 and Jackson with 12.
The Shamrocks defeated Harrison 25-8, 25-18 and 25-17 on Tuesday. Bassett had 12 kills while Audrey Davis had 11. Neale served five aces, Comer two. Blevins had 21 assists and Jackson 19. Strack led the defense with 23 digs.
Westfield is 4-1 and will play a Hoosier Crossroads Conference game at Franklin Central on Thursday.
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Fishers finished 3-1 at the Plainfield Invitational last Saturday.
The Tigers defeated Perry Meridian 25-20 and 25-21 to earn their first win. Ava Tester served three aces and had 12 assists. Fishers took care of Linton-Stockton 25-13 and 25-17, with Aubree Valcourt providing four block assists.
The Tigers beat North Central 25-19, 25-18 for their third win of the tournament. Ellie Schoch had 10 digs and Lana Mays had four block assists. Northview handed Fishers its only loss of the tournament, 25-21, 25-16.
Fishers beat North Central again in four sets on Tuesday at the Tiger Den. Results and statistics from that meeting were not available at press time. The Tigers host Zionsville in an HCC game on Thursday.
