ROACHDALE — Looking for their 13th win of the season Crawfordsville volleyball made the short trip to North Putnam on Tuesday evening. Crawfordsville’s size, depth, and experience proved to be too much for the Cougars on Tuesday night at they defeated the Cougars 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-21). The Crawfordsville victory improved their record to 13-5, while the Cougars dropped to 10-7 for the season.
“Crawfordsville is definitely one talented team, they’ve got one big hitter and are really good,” North Putnam head coach Jenny Heron said.
That talent was on display early as CHS jumped out to quick 3-0 lead in the first set. The Cougars were able to rally as Ashleigh Riley found the range from the left side of the net. Three straight kills by the junior tied the score at 4-4 before Macy Bruton put Crawfordsville up to stay in the match with a pair of kills.“
Crawfordsville slowly extended the lead to 17-11, but North would not go away. Phoebe Fouts sparked a comeback with pair of big kills in the middle and Cougars stayed within striking distance until late in the match. A couple of North Putnam errors combined with a big kill by Bruton set up Brooklyn Mills to end the match with a kill of her own.
“We’ve got a strong offensive team and we also play good defense. You need that combo,” Crawfordsville head coach Kelly Johnson said.
Bruton continues to inch ever closer to the 2,000 kills and 1,000 digs mark in her career as he ended with 22 kills and 11 digs in the win. Hallie Gayler ended with eight kills of her own and the senior added three blocks. Halle Elliot led CHS with 17 digs and Elyse Widmer recorded eight. Jessica Tribble racked up 31 assists in the win.
Bruton led the way early in the second set for Crawfordsville. The senior had five of the first 12 points for the Athenians, but Alexa Stiff was matching her for North Putnam. The junior outside hitter was able to pickup five points, including a pair aces in the set to keep the Cougars close.
The last half of the second set was dominated by Gayler. The senior middle hitter scored six of the final 12 points for Crawfordsville. She was able to do it in a variety of ways with kills, blocks and even a service ace. The tired Cougars made a couple of errors late and the final of the second set ended at 25-16 in Crawfordsville’s favor.
“Hallie Gayler does a great job. We did a good job at the net. That along with our good defense will win you ballgames,” Johnson said.
Crawfordsville looked like they would just run away with the third set as they went on a 12-2 run highlighted by Bruton scoring from the net with power and finesse, serving well and playing all over the court. The senior sparked the Athenians to a 14-4 commanding lead.
“Macy is the most pure player, I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach, it’s just natural. She does a phenomenal job,” Johnson said.
Bruton for her career has tallied 1,865 kills and 962 career digs
North Putnam would not go away. Stiff and Riley went to work, but was supported by Kylie Rust putting pressure on the Athenians. The Clovers cut the lead to 20-18 forcing a Crawfordsville timeout.
“I didn’t like how we started playing with them and not being the aggressor, but overall, we had a good match,” Johnson said.
North would get no closer as Bruton would score the remainder of Crawfordsville’s points and take the third and final set by a score of 25-21.
The Athenians will be back in action on Thursday when they return home after playing their last four on the road. It will be the first county action of the year for CHS as they will host county rival North Montgomery.
