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Tiger Cubs take sectional opener in five
SPENCER -- The volleyball sectional at Owen Valley was full of thrills when Greencastle played Edgewood Thursday. The match was competitive to the very end and it ended after five games and a huge effort play by Greencastle, giving them the win.
"Every time they were down, they picked each other up," GHS coach Maggie Walters said. "They believed in each other and that is huge. They have great team chemistry and our crowd was awesome tonight. That really picked them up."
The Greencastle team didn't get out in front early and didn't get enough momentum to make a stand in the first game. They went down 25-10.
"I was a little worried after the first set," Walters said. "We didn't come out to play. We brought them in and I said, 'Guys, your season is going to be over. You need to pick up your game,' and they did. They fought hard."
Hard work was the order of the day from then on, as Greencastle jumped to a 13-6 lead in the second game. The front line of Taylor Stoltey, Quincy Miller and Allison White really kept the offensive attacking game consistent. Olivia Divine and Tera Amis also helped immensely against a tall Mustang team that featured both a 5'11 middle blocker and a 6'0 opposite hitter.
The Tiger Cubs withstood a big surge by the Mustangs, winning 25-23 after being tied at 19, 22 and 23.
It wasn't just the seniors that played a part in the wins. Maggie Meyer, Sarah Miller and Lydia Trout all gave outstanding effort on the Owen Valley court. It was truly a team win.
"(Their height) was a little intimidating but our defense is really good," Walters said. "So even if they are hitting over our block, our defenders are quick on their feet."
Greencastle continued its dominance jumping to a big lead 20-14 and holding off another surge from Edgewood winning 25-19.
After being up 2-1 Greencastle struggled after giving up a small lead in game four. They went down and never regained control of the fourth game, though the Tiger Cubs did battle back giving everything they had before losing 25-20.
The fifth game began with tense feelings all around as the Tiger Cub cheering section roared into life. The last match started evenly before the Tiger Cubs took a 7-4 lead. They managed to maintain a two-point lead all the way to the last set, when a hard spike was dug by Greencastle and hit the court dividers hanging from the ceiling.
This prompted the Mustangs to celebrate, believing they had won the point. The Tiger Cubs, refusing give up on the play, chased the redirected ball and sent it back over while more than half of the Edgewood players were still huddled in celebration. The ball bounced in and the match ended in total jubilation for Greencastle and total confusion for Edgewood.
With the win Greencastle will play Northview on Saturday morning and the winner of that match will play in the sectional championship game on Saturday night.
"If they play with that intensity they can beat anyone," Walters said. "We take teams out of their own game when we play like that."
At Owen Valley
IHSAA Sectional 28
Greencastle 10 25 25 20 15
Edgewood 25 23 19 25 13