Tiger Cub volleyball team gets win over rival Cougars

Friday, October 3, 2014
Sarah Miller from Greencastle rises up to make play on the ball during the win. (Banner Graphic/JOHNATHON GOODE)

ROACHDALE--A North Putnam volleyball team that earned a big win Tuesday night against Monrovia hosted its second game in a row Thursday night against the Greencastle Tiger Cubs.

It was the height and length that prevailed in this matchup, which led to the Tiger Cubs beating the Cougars in three sets, 25-19, 25-22 and 25-15.

"I thought we did a nice job hitting around the block," Cougars' coach Brandy Dickson said. "The only problem with that is we were hitting right to their blockers. We have to avoid that block. They were able to find the openings that we weren't."

Lyndi Parent of North Putnam sets up her teammates during the loss.(Banner Graphic/JOHNATHON GOODE)

North Putnam (8-15 1-3 WCC) passed the ball incredibly well and got exceptional attack attempts, but six blocks by the Tiger Cubs (13-8 2-0 WCC) and host of tipped balls became the doom of the Cougars.

"I think that we came out wanting to play for ourselves, our team and our crowd," Dickson said. "I think that we really did go out there those first two sets and laid it all out there. We had a few breakdowns in that first set that were way too costly for us."

The first set was virtually even with both teams getting runs of three to five points in a row. That is why more than midway through the set the Tiger Cubs were only up two on the Cougars.

"We came out kind of slow," Greencastle coach Maggie Walters said. "They found out how to push back and tie the game. They kept pushing forward. That was good to see. Our height in the middle definitely helped. We had a lot of touches on their hits, which helps our defense out tremendously."

Greencastle was finally able to acquire some breathing room because of two kills by Brynne Shuee and Taylor Stoltey and an ace by Lydia Trout. The Cougars were forced to call a timeout under the command of Dickson down 22-18.

Three of the next four points went in favor of the Tiger Cubs and an attack error on senior Shay Lucas managed the set win for Greencastle.

After a tough way to end the first set, North Putnam only used its desire to win in the second set.

The Cougars went out on an 11-5 run that provoked Walters to signal for a timeout. Junior Taylor Nauert displayed a boss attitude on the court and let Greencastle have no momentum off of her. In the run she had two kills, a block and an ace.

For the night Nauert had six aces, 11 kills and two blocks.

"Taylor does a really good job of hitting around and knowing where the blockers are," Dickson said. "She's practiced with Quinci Miller a lot at clubs, so she kind of knows Quinci's tendencies. She led in attacks and kills tonight, but we needed her to have more around 20. The games we've won she's had a higher number of kills."

The Tiger Cubs, led by the attack of senior Miller, roared back and gave the Cougars a taste of their own medicine. Miller rallied up two kills and a block as her team took its first lead 15-13 on a block by Miller assisted by Stoltey.

"It is very valuable (having quality hitters)," Walters said. "It's critical about having communication with our setters and hitters. Our setter connects really well with all of our hitters. That allows them to be able to get good attacks."

North Putnam did not let the match get too far away from themselves. They forced the Tiger Cubs to call a timeout because they had two attack errors in a row that helped the Cougars get to within one, 23-22.

Whatever Coach Walters said in the timeout helped her team because the stole the next point and the set point without an issue.

The final set score was a little deceiving. 25-15 really does not tell the story of the match because at one point the Cougars were only down four, 17-13.

Fatigue finally set into the Cougars and Greencastle, with its size and speed ran away with it. They tallied eight of the next ten points to win. Olivia Divine, who came in late in the match, recorded the final kill of the game.

"They pushed every single point," Walters said. "They did a really good job, especially when they were down early in the match. They were able to push back and keep fighting."

As for the Cougars, they really cleaned up some of their mistakes and looked undoubtedly sharp. Their serving errors were below 10, which with the way they played tonight a few were acceptable and they rarely let a free ball hit the ground. Communication was good and their positioning was superb.

"I think we have the talent for sure," Dickson said. "I think they know where to go and where to be. Serving wise I don't think we did too bad. We were serving tough and I can forgive a few errors when they are serving tough or trying to put it in a certain spot. Greencastle is a very fundamentally sound team. They were able to cover our hitters well and they capitalized on that."

The Tiger Cubs felt great to come into a big game like this and get a win. Their goal is to win conference and with this win, they are still undefeated and well on their way to the title.

"It feels pretty good," Walters said. "It's our second conference win and our goal is to win conference. This is just one step closer."


At North Putnam

Greencastle 25 25 25--3

North Putnam 19 22 15--0

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