Volleyball Results: Sept. 5
Grace 3, Taylor 0
Grace’s volleyball team flexed its offensive muscle to kick off the 2020 season.
The Lady Lancers made quick work of Taylor, beating the Trojans 3-0 on TU’s home court.
As a team, Grace had 43 kills on a .348 percentage compared to 31 kills by the Trojans. Anna Frey was dynamic, producing a match-high 12 kills on a .321 percentage, adding six digs and two block assists.
The two teams could scarcely be separated in the first set of the 2020 season. The score was tied at 10 different times in the set.
The Trojans (0-1, 0-1 Crossroads League), who trailed for much of the set, finally edged ahead late 21-20.
But Grace came through when it counted. Kate Sperry and Gabbey Harrington had a kill apiece, and Gina Novotny capped off a 5-0 spurt with a service ace as Grace won 25-21.
The momentum was on Grace’s side for the rest of the match. The Lady Lancers opened the second set on a blistering 11-2 run. Frey and Sperry had three kills apiece during the opening run, and Makayla Bell added two kills.
Taylor never made a threatening run, and Paige Eakright pounded out a kill on the final play for a 25-16 win.
The third set was even more convincing. Grace racked up 18 kills with just four errors during a 25-13 victory; Taylor was muted to just seven kills during the set.
Harrington impressed as Grace’s setter, tallying 36 assists, 8 digs and 4 kills. Eakright had eight kills on a .412 percentage during her first match as a Lady Lancer, and Bell needed just eight attempts to produce six kills.
A number of freshmen had strong debuts for Grace. Julia Nagy had a match-high 13 digs, and Brittany Baize was right behind her with 11 digs. Sperry recorded seven kills in her collegiate debut.
Novotny had eight digs and two aces, and Emily Sharp also aced twice.
The Lady Lancers remain on the road Wednesday with a match at Mt. Vernon Nazarene. Grace’s home opener is Sept. 12 against St. Francis.
Culver Academy 3, Triton 1
Goshen 3, Triton 1
After earning its first win as the No. 1 team in Class 1-A Thursday night, Culver Academy and Goshen brought Triton down a peg Saturday morning.
Culver Academy rallied from a first game loss to pinch Triton 15-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 and Goshen took on Triton next and outlasted the Trojans 25-15, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17.
Stat leaders for the Trojans (6-3) in the two contests (combined stats) were Addyson Viers with 21 kills, Emma Hepler with 53 assists, Madeline Doll with three aces, Molly McFarland with 20 digs and Abbey Viers with 10 blocks.
Warsaw JV 2-2 At Home Invite
Warsaw’s junior varsity team wound up 2-2 on the day at its home tournament played at the TRAC on the high school campus.
Warsaw opened its day with a 2-0 win over South Bend Adams and again 2-0 over Fort Wayne Northrop. In the semifinals, Warsaw lost 2-0 to Bellmont to fall into the third place game, to which LaPorte came out on top in two games, 25-17, 25-22.
Warsaw stats for the tournament were not immediately provided.
Angola would reign as champions, going 4-0 on the day with straight set victories over Mishawaka, Penn, LaPorte and Bellmont, the championship game going 25-23, 25-22 in favor of the Hornets.