NEW MARKET — Southmont’s bid to win its own 2A volleyball sectional came to an end in the championship game Saturday. Parke Heritage ended the Mountie season by winning 3-1. Every set came down to the last few points in the close battle.
In the first set fans got a taste of what the whole match would be like. No team led by more than six points and the set was actually tied at 20-20. However, Parke Heritage’s Hallie Miller had two kills after the score was 23-22 in favor of Parke Heritage to secure the Wolves win.
The second set was much like the first, but this time it was the Mounties who pulled out a 25-23 win. The score was tied at 23 apiece before an ace by Caitlyn Himes put Southmont ahead 24-23 followed by an error by Parke Heritage to tie the match at 1-1.
The Mounties appeared to have all the momentum after the second set win and led the third set until the Wolves battled back to a 20-20 tie. Once they captured the tie, Parke Heritage ran off five straight points to win 25-20 and take a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth and final set followed the same script as the previous three. The Wolves led the majority of the set until Southmont tied it at 20-20. South actually took a 21-20 lead thanks to an ace by Ella Barry. This time it was the Wolves’ Carly Newnum who served the final four points, including two aces.
Barry had 16 kills in the match to lead Southmont. Jenna Grino led South with 29 digs.
Southmont coach Erin Barry was pleased with her team’s effort in the whole match.
“We left it all out there and the team gave me everything they had,” Barry said.
In the Mounties second set victory, senior Mallory Mason went over the 2,000 career assist mark drawing a loud cheer from the Mountie faithful. Mason needed eight assists to eclipse the mark. The senior finished with 29 of the Mounties’ 36 match total.
“We knew she was getting close to the 2,000 mark and we are so happy for her,” Barry said. “It is a goal she has had since she was a freshman and it was pretty cool to see her accomplish it in the sectional championship game.”
Three Mountie seniors concluded their careers with the loss — Mason, Grino and Himes. The trio were a part of the 2022 volleyball sectional championship team.
“The seniors played so hard tonight,” Barry said. “They were great leaders and we will miss them next year.”
Parke Heritage (21-7) will now advance to the one game Monrovia regional and will face Winchester (23-9) at 4 p.m. Saturday.
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Mountie Volleyball won a back-and-forth battle with the North Putnam Cougars in the semi-final round of sectional action.
Battling some nerves in the opening set, the Mounties fell to North Putnam 24-26, but the Mounties took control and beat North Putnam in three straight sets, 25-20, 25-21, and 25-12.
The Mounties were led by Barry, who had 20 kills, eight aces and 22 digs and Mason who had 25 assists, Grino had 15 digs and 3 aces, and Himes had seven kills and 11 digs.
Heather Shirk contributed to this story.
