Greencastle struggles against Patriots, falls in three sets

SPENCER --Ten days ago, Greencastle's volleyball squad was beaten at Owen Valley in three sets.

In the opening round IHSAA Class 3A Sectional No. 28, the song was the same for the Tiger Cubs, who fell to the Patriots in the opening round of sectional play 25-6, 25-23 and 25-19.

The hosts opened up with a torrential attack that caught Greencastle flat footed and resulted in the Patriots taking the first 10 points of the opening set.

The Tiger Cubs could not recover as Owen Valley overwhelmed the visitors on the scoreboard on the way to a 25-6 opening set win.

Greencastle settled down in the second set and kept the gap close throughout most of the second set.

Trailing 11-10, the Tiger Cubs seemed to be losing the Patriots as the hosts opened up a five point gap at 22-17 before Greencastle rattled off four straight points to cut the gap to 22-21.

After a pair of Owen Valley points, Greencastle took the serve and closed to 24-23 but could not prevent the hosts from taking the final point of the set and losing 25-23.

Buoyed by their improvement in the second set, Greencastle took the lead early in the third 5-1 and 8-4 before Owen Valley tied the set at 10-10 and 12-12.

Seizing the opportunity to close the match out, the hosts pulled away at 16-12 and kept Greencastle at arm's length for the remainder of the set. The match ended when a Greencastle serve went long to seal the win for the Patriots.

Greencastle finished the year 6-22, with all six wins coming after Trish Lowe took over head coaching duties midway through the season.

Lowe admitted after the match that the squad was on edge early in the match.

"I think we played a little nervous and after we relaxed and allowed ourselves to play volleyball, I think we did a good job," Lowe said.

For Lowe, the end of an abridged season was one that was more impressive in her eyes for the way that the squad adapted to a coaching change in the middle of the season.

"I've enjoyed working with the kids and appreciate their dedication. Hopefully they won't give up on it," Lowe said.

"Every coach does things differently. They were willing to accept what I wanted them to do and I think that they stepped up and did that."

"Whether the coaches at, say, Edgewood do it one way and we do it another way, they did what was asked of them," Lowe added.

"From the first day I started until today, we had improvement, they worked hard, did what they were asked and you can't ask for more than that."

Since Lowe's original exit as head coach, Greencastle's volleyball squad collected only five wins in two and a half season.

For the current seniors, Raleigh Amis, Ellen Gobert and Jessie Covert, as well as the rest of the squad, Lowe didn't want them to give up on the sport.

"For the seniors, there's still opportunities available for them to play. It's a great game and it's a great team game," Lowe said.

"I hope the kids love the game as much as I do. It's an awesome game and I hope they continue with it as much as possible."

At Owen Valley

IHSAA Class 3A Sectional 28

Greencastle 6 23 19

Owen Valley 25 25 25