Three-Game Win In Sectional Tips North’s Way

Nick Gonnella

Lawrenceburg — The North Decatur volleyball team will advance to the semifinal round of the Lawrenceburg sectional tournament tomorrow after eliminating the Milan Indians in three games Thursday night.

The Chargers beat Milan for the second straight time, 25-14, 25-21, 25-20.

North head coach Betsy Davis said the Chargers started out energetic as senior Clair Metz began the game emphatically with a big serve.

“We were so fired up in set one that we couldn’t quite get our breath back,” said Davis. She said Milan played a better match last night than the first time the teams played, but North still played solid even with Milan playing better.

“We didn’t lose composure,” she said. “When you beat a team so easily, it’s very easy to feel disappointed in yourself if you don’t beat them the same way again.”

North put game one away with ease, 25-14, but Davis saw the energy the girls exerted catch up with them in the second game. North won the match by overcoming missed serves and missed opportunities in the latter two sets.

The Chargers fell behind 3-0 in set two before a kill by senior Danielle Trenkamp and an ace by senior Hayley Hayden pulled them to within one. Balls hit out by Milan put North ahead 6-5, but North lost the lead and trailed 10-8 before Trenkamp tied it back up with consecutive kills. The lead changes three more times in the game. a block kill by senior Clair Metz tied the game and allowed the Chargers to take over when senior Jill Hammersmith tipped the ball over for a point. Kills from Heather Hayden and Hammersmith gave North a three-point lead at 24-21, and the Chargers won on a Milan ball hit out-of-bounds.

North had made a 15-9 run to win the second game. Junior Alyson Hoeing also contributed to North’s comeback with four points.

Game three was even closer as the lead changed 10 times, with 15 ties. After Milan took an 18-17 lead, Metz stepped up with three late kills. Her last two of the night put North back up on top, with the last one giving her team a 21-20 edge. Milan mistakes allowed North to take the third game and the match.

“The kills were harder for us to get, but we got them,” said Davis. “We had great passing tonight. It was on the mark. Overall, we didn’t have anybody in the negatives in kills.”

North’s record improves to 14-11. Davis said she anticipates a Lawrenceburg win over Switzerland County in Thursday’s second game, which matches up the Tigers with North for the second time in 10 days. The match will take place Saturday at Lawrenceburg following the 11 a.m. game between Hauser and South Ripley.

Serving for North, Hammersmith went 9-for-10. Hayley Hayden served 8-for-10 with two aces. Trenkamp served 16-for-17 with four aces, and Clair Metz served 20-for-20 with three aces.

Receiving for North, Hammersmith went 9-for-10. Denia Laudick received 11-for-11, while Molly Davis received 6-for-7, and Kelly Schwering added 18-for-20.

Hitting, Hammersmith notched 19-of-21 with eight kills. Trenkamp hit 22-of-30 with 12 kills. Hoeing hit 11-of-12 with four. Metz hit 15-of-19 with seven, and Heather Hayden hit 17-of-18 with seven.

Hayley Hayden set 87-for-88 with 31 assists, just two off her record of 33 sets in a three-game match format.

Metz notched two blocks, while Hayley Hayden and Hoeing each recorded one.

Junior Kelly Schwering led North with 23 digs. Digs: Hammersmith-1, Laudick-5, Hayley Hayden-10, Davis-9, Hoeing-2, Megan Riedeman, Metz-4, Heather Hayden-2.

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