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GHS seniors finish six-year title run
ROACHDALE — Greencastle’s three senior players in Saturday’s Putnam County volleyball tourney understandably knew what to do after they defeated North Putnam 25-19, 25-15 in the championship match, since such celebrations are kind of a tradition for Sarah Miller, Lydia Trout and Madison Trout.
That Tiger Cub trio had its sixth straight county tourney victory on Saturday, coming on the heels of two in middle school, one at the junior varsity level and the last three years at the varsity level.
“It’s pretty awesome to have that streak going,” Miller said. “We wanted it really badly.”
Madison Trout agreed.
“Six years in a row ....... that’s awesome,” she said, taking a moment to reflect on the accomplishment.
Her identical twin sister obviously agreed.
“We have a really positive attitude and energy, and that’s how we win games,” Lydia said. “We just want to be fired up all the time.”
Greencastle coach Maggie Walters knew her team was looking forward to the county tourney, especially he seniors.
“I know they were excited for it,” she said. “They’ve been talking about it for weeks.”
Greencastle dominated early against Cloverdale in the opening match, reeling off the first four points behind the serving of sophomore Jalyn Duff. After three points by the Clovers, Madison Trout took over the serve for the Tiger Cubs and her team scored six straight points for a 10-3 lead.
The Tiger Cubs led 11-6 when they scored a point on a sideout, and Lydia Trout stepped up to serve. She ran the table for the rest of the set, serving 14 straight winners to put Greencastle ahead 1-0.
The Clovers bounced back to win the second set of the best-of-three match, leading 6-2 early before seeing Greencastle come back to take a 7-6 lead.
The Clovers got four straight points to go ahead for good at 10-7, and freshman Morgan Goss served seven straight points after a sideout to put her team up 18-8. Cloverdale increased its lead to 24-12 behind the serving of freshman Kassie Wade, but could not put the set away.
Greencastle responded with six straight points to cut the margin to 24-19, but the Clovers got the final point to even the score.
The first half of the third set, which only goes to 15 points in invitational tourney play, saw Greencastle take a 7-3 lead before the Clovers came back to tie at 7-7 with Goss serving.
The set was tied at 8-8 before Greencastle ran off five straight. Following a Clover point on a sideout, the Tiger Cubs got the final two points to reach the finals.
Clover coach Kathy Moore was happy with her team’s play, and said passing was a factor that needs to improve.
“We got to a poor start the first set with our passing and just didn’t get anything going,” she said. “The second set we were like a completely different team, played with great hustle and confidence and found a way to win.
“The third set were even at 7 each and a few untimely errors gave them the momentum for the win.”
The second match was between North Putnam and South Putnam.
The Eagles seemed they were going to pull off an upset in the first set. The match seesawed back and forth until the score reached 16-16, before South Putnam got four straight points to go up 20-16.
North Putnam clawed back and cut the gap to 22-20 and 23-21, with the Eagles serving and only needing two points for the win.
The Cougars scored the final four points, three on serves by Bronwyn Spencer, to pull off the 25-23 comeback.
The second set was not as close, as South Putnam had an early 3-1 lead before the Cougars reeled off 11 straight points behind the serving of senior Aleah Duncan to take a decisive lead and go on to a 25-8 win.
The championship match was much closer than a regular-season contest nine days earlier.
The Cougars battled Greencastle to a 17-17 tie in the first set before scoring a point on a sideout and getting four straight serving points from sophomore Bailey Shuee to go up 22-17.
North Putnam cut the gap to as low as four points, but get no closer as Greencastle won 25-19.
The Cougars led 5-4 early in the second set and the score was tied at 7-7, and did not get to a margin of more than four points as the score became 18-15 Greencastle.
The Tiger Cubs got a point on an sideout, and Duff served the final five to wrap up the 25-15 victory.
Greencastle did not breeze through the day, and the Tiger Cubs had respect for the tough battles put up by their opponents.
“The teams we played both played really well,” coach Walters said. “They were really scrappy. Against Cloverdale, I didn’t think we played too well. Our hitters were off. Against North Putnam we were much better.”
Miller said the players also knew they would get everyone’s best shot.
“We were expecting them to come out strong,” Miller said. “We all knew they wanted to win as much as we did. We wanted to come out strong and fighting, and we had an inspiration talk.”
Madison Trout credited the vocal Tiger Cub crowd for helping in the victory.
“The matches went really well,” she said. “We really pulled together against Cloverdale, and again in the championship round. We just wanted it so bad.
“All our fans are fantastic,” Madison added. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
Lydia Trout noted the team had installed a new offense, and thinks the team adapted to it well.
“The girls had had such great attitudes toward it,” she said. “We are just fighting to do well. The county, conference and sectional are all important, but I think this one is more personal.
“We’re with everyone in our county, and you want to be the best in your county,” Lydia added. “We all know a lot of the girls on the other teams, and we don’t always in the conference or sectional.”
Walters and her seniors are all optimistic for the rest of the season.
“This was the first time to run the new offense for an entire match, but it should work out well for the post-season,” she said. “If we can get our hitters to hit smart shots, I think we can do well. We have great ball control, serve receive and defense.
Our hitters have to realize that a kill is a kill, whether it’s a tip or a big swing.”
Miller admits the season has surpassed expectations.
“The season is going awesome,” she said. “Probably better than we thought it would. We are really excited for the rest of the season.”
The Trouts concur.
“The new 5-2 offense puts three hitters in the front row,” Madison said. “It’s proving to let us make good plays.”
Lydia also thinks the new alignment will help.
“I think we’re going to do just fine,” she said.
All four schools were represented in the finals, as Cloverdale and South Putnam reached the junior varsity title match.
The Clovers emerged with a 25-21, 25-24 victory.
__First semifinal
Greencastle 25 19 15
Cloverdale 6 25 9
Second semifinal
North Putnam 25 25
South Putnam 21 8
Championship__
Greencastle 25 25
North Putnam 19 15
County tourney statistics
Greencastle
Madison Trout — 12 kills and 6 digs and 8 aces
Bailey Shuee — 12 kills
Jalyn Duff — 26 assists and 8 digs
Mckenzie Woodall — 10 digs
Jada Amis — 2 blocks and 4 kills
Maggie Meyer — 13 digs
Lydia Trout — 5 aces and 5 digs
Sarah Miller — 6 kills
Allison Stevens — 2 blocks
Cloverdale
Points — Hailey Thomas 7, Kenzie Stoltz 7, Hannah Rady 4, Payten Simpson 3
Aces — Hannah Rady 2, Hailey Thomas 2, Kenzie Stoltz 2
Kills — Justyce Monnett 4, Tori Combs 2, Kassie Wade 1, Hailey Thomas 1
Set-assists — Hannah Rady 5
Blocks — Tori Combs 1
Digs — Hailey Thomas 9, Kenzie Stoltz 4, Lauren Meek 2, Justyce Monnett 1.
South Putnam
Aces — Lexi Vanihel 2, Drew Bratcher 1, Ashley Schroer 1
Kills — Lillie Stein 2
Points — Lexi Vanihel 5, Miranda Bieghler 3, Alex Bratcher 3, Lillie Stein 2, Ashley Schroer 1
Blocks — Lillie Stein 2
Digs — Ashley Schroer 3, Lillie Stein 3, Lexi Vanihel 3, Miranda Bieghler 2, Masey Chambers 2, Drew Bratcher 2, Caitlin Capps 1
Set-assists — Miranda Bieghler 1, Masey Chambers 1
Junior varsity stat leaders
Cloverdale
Both matches
Serving — AnneMarie Williams 19 points, Kiley Shedron 14, Kacey Shedron 14, Annika Whitlock 12
Kills — Katie Gill 9, Kayla Perdue 7 kills
Assists — Macey Jones 14
Digs — Annika Whitlock 25
South Putnam
Vs. North Putnam
Aces — Aubrey Hill 4, Alex Bratcher 4
Kills — Aubrey Hill 3, Alex Bratcher 2, Jalen Hughbanks 2
Digs — Alex Bratcher 4, Brianna Robinson 4, Jaylen Hughbanks 4
Set-assists — Alex Bratcher 3
Points — Aubrey Hill, 12, Alex Bratcher 8
Vs. Cloverdale
Aces — Aubrey Hill 2, Alex Bratcher 2, Abby Teipen 2
Kills — Alex Bratcher 2, Abby Teipen 2
Digs — Alex Bratcher 5, Jaylen Hughbanks 3, Brianna Robinson 2
Set-assists — Abby Teipen 2, Alex Bratcher 1
Points — Alex Bratcher 12, Sydney Jackman 6, Abby Teipen 6
In other volleyball:
• South Putnam 2, Greencastle 1 — South Putnam seventh-grade beat Greencastle in three sets on Thursday by scores of 23-25, 25-15 and 15-11.
Marietta McGinnis served for 16 points, Sabrina Leonard nine points, Cada Remsburg four points, Chloe Pistelli had two points and Savanna Workman had one.