Tiger Cubs fall short against Knights

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Greencastle's Rayleigh Amis blasts a shot toward two waiting Northview foes Tuesday night.

BRAZIL -- Opening their 2012 volleyball season against a veteran and talented Northview squad proved a bit too much for Greencastle on Tuesday evening.

Returning most of the weapons from a 31-win season last year, the Knights overpowered the Tiger Cubs from the beginning in claiming a 25-3, 25-10, 25-13 victory.

Greencastle coach Liz Spencer admitted that it was a tough match-up for her Tiger Cub squad to start the year.

"We've got a lot of youth with not much varsity experience," Spencer said. "I thought Rayleigh Amis and Ellen (Gorbert) played well defensively. (Northview) is a very athletic team and they play a lot of ball. They are a veteran team and they took it to us."

Greencastle had trouble handling Northview's powerful front line as junior outside hitter Shelbi Morris pounded out seven of her 14 kills in the opening game. The Tiger Cubs managed just three points in the first set.

In the second game, Greencastle stayed close in the early going before the Knights' Taylor Hess served out 10 straight points before the Tiger Cubs regained serve briefly. Amis had a block late in the set to slow the Knights and Quinci Miller added a block of her own as Greencastle trailed 23-9, but wasn't able to get much closer in the 25-10 loss.

The third set was the Tiger Cubs' best as the squad got a kill from Amis and Jessica Lenihan in grabbing a 5-1 lead. Greencastle was still within 7-6 after another successful attack from Amis, but the Knights strung together a pair of aces from Hess and three straight kills to gain control 13-6.

The Tiger Cubs were within 18-10 late in the game, but the Knights finished out the game winning seven of the final points.

Greencastle (0-1 overall) hosts Crawfordsville on Thursday evening.

At Northview

Northview 25 25 25

Greencastle 3 10 13

JV -- Northview wins 25-9, 25-12.