Cougars beat Eagles in sectional, Cadets next

Friday, October 23, 2015
Haley Abdon (6) of North Putnam scores a point as she blocks a South Putnam attack Thursday. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

MONROVIA -- A Putnam County rivalry sectional matchup between South Putnam's and North Putnam's volleyball teams Thursday, brought out the best volleyball from an Eagle team that has struggled this season.

While the Eagles played well, North Putnam took the win in three sets dominating the third game after two close sets.

"We changed our defense a little bit to double block," Eagle coach Kristen Hendrich said. "Our goal was to be as scrappy as possible. I think we did a really good job of that and we just ran out of gas in that third game. They played so hard and I don't think they had anything left."

Katie Hewitt passes to her Eagle teammate during the Monrovia sectional. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The first game was competitive as South Putnam matched the Cougars for the whole game and taking the lead 13-12 and fighting the Cougars to a 20-20 tie. The new defensive strategies implemented by the Eagle coaching staff seemed to perplex the Cougars at times leading to South Putnam's early success, albeit North Putnam earned the win 25-21.

"We had a very slow start in that first set and leading into the second set," NPHS coach Brandy Dickson said. "We started picking it up in the second set and seeing the floor better. We just weren't doing a good job of communicating. It's really the first time we've seen a middle up defense. But I thought once we figured it out we got going."

In the second game the Cougars jumped to a 10-3 lead early and looked to be in control against their rivals. However, South Putnam wasn't ready to call it quits as the Eagles fought back to within three before falling 25-19.

Eagle senior Blaze Bottorf chases down a ball for the Eagles in her final match at South Putnam. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

"I think it was the rivalry with North Putnam," Hendrich said. "They were fired up to play and we had a really good week of practice. I think that rivalry got them fired up."

North Putnam controlled the third game, thwarting many of the Eagle attacks and the Cougars wn the set 25-9NPHS will move on to play Cascade on Saturday in the first game of the second round.

"We're going to have a full practice tomorrow just to make sure we're on our A game Saturday morning," NPHS senior Raegan Bowling said. "We play the first set. We usually are a slow starting team so we just need to make sure we are up and ready to play so we can bring home the win."

Dickson said that it takes a early air of assurance to get off to that good start that more than likely will be needed to pull out the sectional championship.

"They just need to come in with more confidence," Dickson said. "Sectional is one of those things where anything can happen. So everyone has nerves. We have to get past those nerves and get down to business and do what we came here to do."

North Putnam earned the regular season win against Cascade in four games but it was anything but easy as each match was competitive. Dickson said the Cougars can't afford a slow start against the Cadets.

As for the Eagles most will return next year, but South Putnam will lose Blaze Bottorf and Katie Hewitt, two seniors who do a lot on the floor for the Eagles.

"We are going to miss them," Hendrich said. "They are two of the best senior leaders we could ask for. They're just such sweet girls so it's going to be a really big loss losing the two of them."

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  • The first photo of the NP player is Carlie Bundy, not Haley.

    -- Posted by PutCoRes on Fri, Oct 23, 2015, at 9:44 AM
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