LINDEN – North Montgomery’s volleyball program honored their three seniors and used the night for Cancer Awareness, but there was not a win, as the Chargers lost a 3-0 match to Sheridan.
The Blackhawks, nearing the end of a historic season for their program, were dominant serving and used their two big hitters effectively, as they run their record to 15-11 with the 16-25, 22-25, 19-25 victory.
North had issues on both ends of the service, as they fall to 10-15.
They had 10 serves either into the net or out of bounds, and then had Sheridan dish out 23 aces.
“Tonight did not reflect the way we have been playing the last few weeks,” North coach Taylor Dyson said. “Things did not go the way we thought it would go. There was just a lack of energy – it just wasn’t there tonight.”
The hope had been to honor seniors Annabel Anderson, Trista Thomas and Ella Fritzen with a win in their last home appearance, but the visitors had other ideas as they continue on their own special season.
Fritzen did lead her team with eight kills, moving her to 111 on the season, which is second-best on the team. Anderson is the team leader in kills and her two give her 154 overall. Her two aces also move her to 51 for the season. Thomas moved close to the 200 mark in serve receives, which is on the team, and she hit the 100 mark in digs.
“I’m so proud of these three,” Dyson said. “They have done a lot for us, and they have played a big role in turning this season around. We have double-digit wins for the first time in a while, and it is due to their leadership and the roles of mentors they have performed.”
The Blackhawks came off a tough serving night Monday in a loss to Lebanon to record their 23 aces.
“We had 17 service errors Monday,” Sheridan coach Melissa Jump said. “It was a point of emphasis tonight.”
The visitors also had a special moment in the third set when junior Nova Cross set Trinity Parker for one of her five kills.
It was the 1,000th of her career, and the team called timeout to cheer her and show off some balloons.
“She is the first player in school history to record 1,000 assists,” Jump said.
That note is only part of the fun of this season for Jump and her team.
“We have never had 15 wins in a season in school history,” the sixth-year coach proudly noted. “This year will be the first in school history where volleyball finishes with a winning record. I’m just so proud of the girls, the heart and grit and determination they have shown is just awesome.”
Parkin’s five kills takes her over 260, which is team best. Kenzie Garner had seven more, which takes her over 200 for the year. The aces were spread around.
Making the smiles even larger for the Blackhawks is that all the aces, and all but one of the kills, were recorded by players who are not seniors, which makes the future very bright.
Both teams have one outing left before sectional play starts next week.
Sheridan takes on Hamilton Heights Thursday, and then they have a bye into the semifinals next week in the 2A tournament they will host.
The Chargers host their North Montgomery Invite this Saturday before postseason play starts next week with a Tuesday match against West Lafayette at Frankfort.
“We are going to forget about tonight as fast as we can,” Dyson said. “We will work on the serve receive, and try to get back to the level we were at coming into tonight. We have been playing very well, so that is our challenge going into the weekend and next week.”
