Cougars celebrate senior night, tune-up for Tiger Cubs with win over Mustangs

BAINBRIDGE – Senior night is always a special night and the North Putnam volleyball team sent its eight seniors out in style, defeating the Fountain Central Mustangs in four sets in non-conference action Tuesday night. Ashleigh Riley led from the front with 18 kills while 16 service aces from the Cougars paced the victory.

As typical of senior night, the Cougars got off to a slow start, but quickly took control, taking 14-of-16 points after spotting the Mustangs the first six. Four aces from Callee Riggle helped spur the run.

Taking advantage of the Fountain Central serve-receive, North continued pressing with tough services. Lexi Daigle would end the first set with an ace to take the opening set 25-13.

Unlike the first set, the Cougars started strong in the second. The offense kept the Mustangs on their heels. Riley would really come alive with seven kills in the set, while Phoebe Fouts also had a couple of her own. The hosts would dominate the set, with Riley putting the final nail in with a kill for 25-10 set win.

Up two sets to none, the Cougars experimented with some different rotations. The Mustangs still had some fight in them, leading by as many as five, before a North comeback.

Trailing 20-13, kills from Riley, Fouts and Daigle propelled the Cougars back in the set, eventually knotting it at 24-24. They could not quite get over the hump, as a kill from Hannah Pickett gave the Mustangs the third set.

With newfound confidence, the fourth set remained tight through the early portions. Trailing by two, North began to find its stride again and Riley was a big beneficiary.

Riley put down six kills in the final 12 points and blocks from Fouts and Riggle put the match out of reach as the Cougars went on to win the set 25-15 and the match 3-1.

“We didn’t play the best we could, we could have played a lot cleaner volleyball. We just have to play our game,” North coach Jenny Heron said afterwards.

The win is No. 16 on the season for the Cougars and sets up a big WIC match with Greencastle on Thursday. North currently sits a half game behind the Tiger Cubs in the tough WIC conference as they battle for position.

Riley led the way with 18 kills while Fouts added seven. Riggle’s four aces led the way behind the service line. The Cougars also had four blocks on the evening. The big stat was the team kills as North dominated 45-14.

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Kills - (NP) Riley 18, Fouts 7, L. Daigle 4, Davies 4, Mason 4, Stiff 3 H. Daigle 2, Riggle 1, Reed 1, Osburn 1; (FC) Pickett 5, McTagertt 4, Wesley 2, Jones 1, Brown 1, Ashwill 1

Aces - (NP) Riggle 4, Riley 2, Stiff 2, Fouts 2, L. Daigle 2, Osburn 2, Davies 1, Reed 1; (FC) Pickett 1, Wesley 1

Blocks - (NP) Riggle 1, Fouts 1, Davies 1, Mason 1; (FC) McTagertt 2