GHS defeats North in three

Friday, September 28, 2007

Greencastle' volleyball team came out firing on all cylinders Thursday night against North Putnam, taking advantage of a Cougar squad which has been struggling of late. The Tiger Cubs put together a dominant performance, defeating the Cougars 25-16, 25-9, 25-12.

Things started out well enough for the Cougars, who got out to a 7-2 lead in the first game. But the Tiger Cubs came back to tie the score at 10.

Greencastle's Olivia Miller and Sarah Land block a spike attempt from North?Putnam's Kayla Green.

The teams traded points, tying it up again at 11 and 12 before Greencastle began to inch away two or three points at a time.

Finally, a Kelsey Hennette kill did in the Cougars, 25-16.

"Greencastle took advantage of every problem we had," Cougar coach Michelle Spencer said. "Then we fell apart and made it easier for them to get points."

The problems really began to show up in game two. The Tiger Cubs jumped out to a 6-0 lead with Hennette serving. Two servers later, Olivia Miller made it 14-3.

In the end, GHS put together five in a row to close out the game, 25-9 behind Hennette's service. In game two, 19 of the Cubs' 25 points had come in three spurts.

Lowe credited her team's play to their excitement. Besides playing a county match, Thursday was Middle School Night, with all the Greencastle Middle School players being honored. They also made the stand much fuller than usual.

"I think anytime you play a county opponent your team gets fired up. It was at home, and it was middle school night," Lowe said. "More than one of the kids said, 'It's exciting to play when there's a crowd.' It was fun and it was loud."

In game three, it was more of the same. Greencastle got out to an 8-1 lead. Then they stretched it to 15-4.

The Cougars collected only three service points in game three, which ended 25-12 behind the service of Greencastle's Mallory Miller.

Spencer did not hide her displeasure with the Cougars' recent play.

"In order to win games at the varsity level, you cannot have the number of errors that we are making now," Spencer said.

Lowe was obviously thrilled afterward.

"It was just a great performance, I felt, from everybody including the JV," Lowe said. "The JV played well, and the varsity played well. I'm just real happy with our team play."

The Greencastle junior varsity was also victorious 25-15, 25-11. However, several of Lowe's JV players also saw some action in the varsity match. She said she was trying to prepare them for the future.

"I think that you have to remember that the four seniors are doing their jobs, but they're seniors," Lowe said. "So next year, if you just leave those kids in all the time and you don't get your underclassmen some experience at the varsity level, they panic. I just think the speed of the game is different from the JV to the varsity level.

"I think it's important to get them some playing time," she continued. "And they need to understand that you're confident and comfortable with them in the game."

North Putnam hosts Fountain Central at 6 p.m. Monday. The Tiger Cubs (12-11) visit Cascade at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

At Greencastle

North Putnam16 9 12
Greencastle25 25 25

Individual statistics

Points -- Alles 4 (1 ace), McGaughey 2, Wendling 2, L. Doyle 1 (1 ace) (NP), O. Miler 13 (1 ace), Hennette 13 (1 ace), Sawyer 7, Nobles 5 (1 ace), Lewis 3 (1 ace), Flint 2, M. Miller 2, Samuels 2 (GHS)

Kills -- A. Doyle 5, Alles 3, McGaughey 3, Tippin 1, Green 1, (NP) O. Miller 17, Flint 10, Lewis 4, Hennette 4, Nobles 2, Land 1, Samuels 1 (GHS)

Assists -- Wendling 6, McGaughey 1 (NP), Hennette 30, Land 2 (GHS)

Blocks -- Tippin 1, Green 1 (NP), O. Miller 9 (1 stuff), Flint 4 (2 stuffs), Land 3 (1 stuff), Lewis 1, Samuels 1 (GHS)

Digs -- L. Doyle 10, A. Doyle 7, McGaughey 7, Alles 5, Wendling 4, Tippin 1 (NP)Lewis 20, Hennette 12, O. Miller 10, Sawyer 9, Flint 5, Nobles 4, M. Miller 2, Samuels 2 (GHS)

JV results

North Putnam15 11
Greencastle25 25

Individual statistics (GHS only)

Kills -- Samuels 9, Amis 4, M. Miller 2, H. Miller 2, Cochran 1, McClain 1

Assists -- M. Miller 13, Lewis 2

Blocks -- Amis 1 (1 stuff), Samuels 1 (1 stuff)

Digs -- Lewis 8, Samuels 8, M. Miller 5, H. Miller 3, Buckner 2, Cochran 2, Grzesiek Next match -- North Putnam hosts Fountain Central at 6 p.m. Monday. Greencastle travels to Cascade for another WCC match at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

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