GHS volleyball shows promise in loss to strong Northview squad

Greencastle senior Quinci Miller (No. 8) adds one of her four blocks in Tuesday's match against Northview. (The Brazil Times/CAREY FOX)

BRAZIL -- The Greencastle volleyball team isn't quite where it wants to be yet, but there have been signs of good things to come.

Greencastle lost in war, 25-9, 25-16, 21-25, 25-6, but won a battle against a Northview squad that reached the Class 3A Semi-state last season while winning 33 matches. The Tiger Cubs lost the first two sets handily, but rallied in the third set to provide a glimpse into what this team is capable of when it plays aggressive and with focus.

A block and a kill from senior Quinci Miller broke open a 12-12 tie and allowed the Tiger Cubs to pull out to a 15-12 advantage. Miller, who had a team-high, nine kills and four blocks, was a force on both offense and defense.

Coach Maggie Walters knows that the team needs Miller to play exactly like that in order for Greencastle to take the next step.

"If we can play the way that we did in the third set then we are going to be unstoppable," Walters said. "We just have to stay consistent throughout the entire match.

"When she gets her energy up and she's on, she is hard to stop," Walters said of her senior middle. "It's just getting her there every single set and getting the passes there so she can put those balls away like she was doing."

The Knights made a couple of runs in the set that might have broken the Tiger Cubs' spirit, but a hitting error by Northview and then an ace by Miller pushed the lead up to 23-18. Lydia Trout finished off the victory with an ace.

While Greencastle captured that third set, the Knights responded in kind with a veteran and talented squad, finishing off the match with a fourth set victory.

Senior Olivia Devine posted six digs and classmate Taylor Stoltey provided nine assists in the match.

Despite the loss, Walters pointed to the positives from the match as Greencastle fell to 0-2 this season.

"It's not ideal to play probably the best team we're going to see all season in the second game," Walters quipped. "But it's going to make us better in the end and it's good practice for us."

The Tiger Cubs are off until an Aug. 27 match on the road at Sullivan.

Allison White digs a serve against Northview on Tuesday evening. (The Brazil Times/CAREY FOX)

At Northview

Next match: Greencastle (0-2 overall) travels to Sullivan on Aug. 27.