Menu
Greencastle advances in sectional, ousts Mustangs
SULLIVAN -- It took the Greencastle volleyball squad longer to travel to meet its sectional opponent Edgewood, than it did to finish them off. The Tiger Cubs ousted the Mustangs in three games 25-13, 25-20 and 25-16, setting up a showdown with West Vigo at 11 a.m. Saturday.
"I'm super happy with our team play," GHS coach Trish Lowe said. "We're not counting on just one person. The second season started today and we did what we wanted to do."
Greencastle attacked the Mustangs early and often, jumping out to an 8-1 lead powered by a block from Olivia Miller and aces from Kelsey Hennette and Kayla Nobles. Greencastle continued to build on its lead, with great net play along with strong floor play.
Hennette and Nobles teamed up again with the score at 20-9; to keep the ball alive and Miller drove it to the Edgewood floor, inching the Tiger Cubs toward the game one win. A kill from Chelsea Samuels would close the game for Greencastle.
In the second game, Greencastle continued to press the Mustangs and capitalize on their mistakes, mixing in some creative shot making.
As Edgewood was expecting a Hennette set, she floated the ball over the outstretched hands of the Mustang defenders, finding an empty spot on the Edgewood side of the net.
Sarah Land recorded a couple of big blocks for the Tiger Cubs with Kristen Flint providing power at the net. The Mustangs crept back into the game, but Samuels sealed the second game with a kill.
The third game started with Greencastle allowing the Mustangs to post five quick points but retook the lead with Nobles serving five consecutive points for a 7-5 lead the Tiger Cubs would not relinquish.
Again Greencastle showed its spunk when Brooke Lewis slid across the floor, keeping the ball alive with a dig, setting up Flint to put the point away. Flint recorded three kills and a monster block in the final game.
The Tiger Cubs never allowed the Mustangs to become comfortable throughout the night. When the momentum seemed to be changing, Greencastle just powered its way back in control.
After a block from Braden Amis, Nobles ended Greencastle's night with an ace.
The Tiger Cubs received a lift from its bench with Veronica Sawyer, Mallory Miller and Samuels giving big time performances.
"I'm really happy with the way we're playing now," Lowe commented. "The kids that have stepped up from the junior varsity -- they've done a really good job and they can help us.
"Really we have a varsity team of seven, so we need those kids and I'm happy with that," Lowe added.
A new dimension to the tournament for the Tiger Cubs was playing earlier in the week. Lowe acknowledged how she thought the time and the draw would help her team on its quest for a sectional championship.
"This is the first time we've had to play on a Tuesday night. We're better off than Riverton Parke who played last Thursday and doesn't play again until Thursday," Lowe said. "And I think we got a great draw. We got the draw that allowed us to play, getting some playing time, work on some different thing and still be able to get into the championship.
"We still have to play West Vigo now. I think they understand that this is it. We have four seniors and they haven't won a sectional. We'll see what happens," Lowe concluded.
The Tiger Cubs will face West Vigo at 11 a.m. Saturday.
At Sullivan
Greencastle 25 25 25
Edgewood 13 20 16
Individual stats
Kills -- O. Miller 10, Flint 6, Samuels 4, Land 4, Lewis 4, Hennette 2, Nobles 1.
Digs -- Lewis 20, Hennette 17, Nobles 10, Flint 10, O. Miller 9, Sawyer 5, Samuels 2, M. Miller 2.
Assists -- Hennette 24,
Blocks -- O. Miller 11, Land 9, Flint 9, Samuels 3.
Next match -- The Tiger Cubs will face West Vigo at 11 a.m. Saturday.