GREENCASTLE VOLLEYBALL SECTIONAL: Tiger Cubs scramble Cougars for semifinal spot

Greencastle's Olivia Richardville capped off the third set against North Putnam with a series of aces, cementing a three-set sweep of the Cougars and sending the Tiger Cubs to Saturday's second semifinal against South Putnam at 1 p.m.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Five different Tiger Cubs had at least five kills, helping Greencastle to win its first-round matchup with county rival North Putnam in straight sets Thursday night 25-20, 25-19 and 25-15 in sectional action.

In a much anticipated match-up in which the two teams had split during the season, it was expected to be a tight affair. The first set did not disappoint. Both squads were sharp to start in front of a nice crowd at McAnally Center.

The Cougars were the first to try and break out. After a pair of Saylor Carrell kills and an ace, they were up four.

Greencastle countered with six-straight points of its own, including two kills from freshman Keely Amis. The set remained tight until the Cubs went on another run late in the set. Mackenzie Creviston, another freshman, added three kills from the middle to set the stage. The Cougars could get no closer than three and fell in the first set 25-20.

The second set seemed a carbon copy of the first. The teams battled back and forth for much of the set. Ashleigh Riley got the Cougars a slim two-point lead at 15-13. Caroline Gooch kept Greencastle close, adding two kills and a block.

With the score tied up at 18-18, the Tiger Cubs tallied six-straight points, ending with another Gooch kill. Greencastle finished it off after a service error by North to take the second set.

The third set was a different story. North Putnam took the opening point, then Greencastle sprinted out on a seven-point run. It concluded when Kylee Owens hammered one home.

There was fight left in the Cougars though. After trailing by as many as seven, they cut the lead down to three with kills from Carrell and Riley. With the score 19-15, Greencastle would end it in three sets behind the serving of Olivia Richardville as three service aces down the stretch saw Greencastle move on.

“(North Putnam) is such a good team, so disciplined. Kylie Rust sees the floor so well and Riley takes some big swings,” Greencastle coach Denise Meyer said. “We’ve talked a lot about finishing sets and we did that tonight. It was great to see.”

North Putnam’s season ends at 15-12. They will be losing just one senior in Rust.

“Greencastle has improved a lot from the beginning of the season. Both teams competed and we just fell a bit short. Kylie would run through a brick wall. I’m super proud of her, I’ve coached her since eighth grade and I hate to see her go,” Cougar coach Jenny Heron said.

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Kills - (G) Amis 9, Creviston 9, Clark 6, Gooch 5, Owens 3, Richardville 1, Plew 1; (NP) Riley 12, Carrell 7, Fouts 2, Rust 1, Stiff 1, Daigle 1

Aces - (G) Richardville 3, A. Landry 2, York 2, M. Landry 1; (NP) Carrell 2, Riley 1, Stiff 1

Blocks - (G) Creviston 3, Gooch 1, Owens 1; (NP) Carrell 1, Fouts 1