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Cubs achieve back-to-back volleyball titles
NEW MARKET — Greencastle’s sectional championship volleyball match against Southmont on Saturday night following the same script as the entire regular season for the defending champion Tiger Cubs.
Fortunately for coach Maggie Walters and her team, this script had a happy ending and concluded with the Cubs claiming first place for the second straight year.
Greencastle started off the season just 3-3 in its first six matches, and stood at 6-4 after a lopsided defeat to Cloverdale on Aug. 30.
The Cubs regrouped to win the county tournament, and since the loss to Cloverdale they have gone 18-2 — including winning their last 10 matches.
The Cubs dominated Benton Central 3-0 in the morning semifinal round, but admittedly came out flat against Southmont. The host Mounties won the first set 25-15 and looked to be on their way to a win.
As in the regular season, though, Greencastle got it together and swept the final three sets to claim the title.
“We were scared,” Walters admitted. “I saw it on all our players’ faces. We played really tight and we were hesitant on defense.
“I told them to just relax, and in the second set that’s what they did.”
Senior Jalyn Duff served five straight points to put her team up 5-1 to start the second set, and the Cubs quickly increased their lead to 12-4.
Southmont chipped away and cut the deficit to 15-9, but the Cubs dominated the rest of the way.
Duff served nine straight points to open the third set as the Cubs cruised to a 25-12 win.
The Cubs got normally strong play from the usual suspects, but got a boost from juniors Macy Clark and Madison Rodgers.
Clark stepped up her game with nine kills and one block against Benton Central, and followed that up with seven kills against Southmont.
Rodgers, a transfer student new to the program this year, had played mostly junior varsity but was elevated to a role as a server to replace frontline specialist Allison Stevens.
Rodgers served four straight points to help seal the win in set two, and served the final two points in the third set in addition to the game-tying point in the final set that made the score 17-17.
“Macy struggled Thursday night, but she had some huge plays [Saturday],” Walters said. “[Saturday] she trusted Jalyn and was able to keep the ball in front of her and play the way we know she’s capable of playing.
“Madison did a really good job, not just in serving but also playing defense and communicating with the rest of the back row,” Walters added. “It’s great to have people off the bench like that.”
Duff, who helped take over the team leadership role after Maggie Meyer graduated, agreed with her coach on the team’s problems in the first set.
“There was just a lot of emotion,” she said. “We came together as a team and did what it took to win another sectional. We had tons of fans here, and it was a great environment.”
In the morning round, the Cubs were down 10-7 to Benton Central when Duff served seven straight points to put her team ahead for good.
Greencastle went ahead 6-1 and 13-4 in the second set and was never challenged in a 25-19 win.
In the final set, Greencastle led 14-9 on four straight service points by Mackenzie Woodall, but the Bison made a comeback and cut the Cub lead to 22-18.
Greencastle got the next point on a sideout, and Lilly Meyer served the final two points to seal the 25-18 win.
Duff thinks that victory, easier then expected over a team that had won 23 matches, helped in the finals once the team calmed down.
“It kind of made me realize that we were going to win the sectional,” she said. “This team is special, and I’m just glad I have another week with them and hopefully more.
“I’m not ready for it to be over.”
Duff gives a lot of credit to fellow seniors Woodall, Jada Amis and Ivy Wright for helping key the team’s season turnaround.
“We all realized that this is our team, and we had to do everything in order to win,” she said. “Jada really turned it on.”
Amis had eight kills in the morning match, and ramped up her numbers in the finals with 12 kills, one block and four digs.
Normal tournament matches are played to best of three sets, but in the state tourney the format reverts to the traditional best of five.
Duff admits the team got a little more tired from the longer matches, but she said the Cubs were ready.
“Coach Walters makes us run a lot,” she said. “We hate it, but it’s what made us win so it’s worth it. She pushes us really hard in practice, and we know what it takes to win.”
Walters agreed with Duff that the morning match set the tone for the evening contest.
“The Cubs were able to control the pace of the game by making great first contact,” she said. “The team was only aced three times in the set. This allowed Duff to control the offense. Off of the set, all the offensive players were executing and making smart plays.
“It was fun to watch everything the girls have worked so hard for come together in this match. This level of play gave the girls momentum going into the final match.”
Walters credited her four seniors with showing great leadership on Saturday.
“They were outstanding leaders in both matches Saturday,” she said. “They showed up, did their jobs, and took care of business. And what a great team of girls they have to play right along with them. All nine players stepped up in key moments throughout the day.
“The team would like to thank the amazing support of the Greencastle fans,” Walters added. “What an unbelievable atmosphere they created to play under!
The Cubs will play in the Danville Regional on Saturday, meeting the host Warriors in the second match at noon.
Danville has a 24-6 record, and defeated Greencastle 3-1 on Sept. 24.
Bishop Chatard of Indianapolis and Northview meet in the first semifinal match.
Finals are at 8 p.m.
Sectional stat sheet
vs. Benton Central
Scores: Greencastle wins 25-16, 25-20, 25-18
Allison Stevens: 14 kills and 2 blocks
Jada Amis: 8 kills
Lilly Meyer: 8 kills and 9 digs
Jalyn Duff: 35 assists and 7 digs
Macy Clark: 9 kills and 1 block
Ivy Wright: 12 digs
Mckenzie Woodall: 8 digs
Anna Zellers: 3 digs
vs. Southmont
Scores: Greencastle wins 15-25, 25-11, 25-12, 25-20
Allison Stevens: 12 kills and 2 blocks
Jada Amis: 12 kills, 1 block, and 4 digs
Jalyn Duff: 36 assists and 6 digs
Ivy Wright: 15 digs and 2 aces
Macy Clark: 7 kills
Lilly Meyer: 9 kills and 10 digs
Mackenzie Woodall 12 digs
Volleyball tournament results, schedule
SOUTHMONT 3A SECTIONAL
Thursday
Greencastle 3, Lebanon 1
Southmont 3, North Montgomery 0
Saturday
Greencastle 3, Benton Central 0
Southmont 3, Crawfordsville 0
Greencastle 3, Southmont 1
DANVILLE 3A REGIONAL
Saturday, Oct. 20
10 a.m. — Bishop Chatard (14-18) vs. Northview (33-2)
Noon — Danville (25-7) vs. Greencastle (24-6)
8 p.m. — Championship