Big matches upcoming for area volleyball teams
Volleyball season this year has gone pretty much as I'd expected so far. Aside from a match here and there that might have gone the other way there have been no major surprises.
Bloomfield, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton and White River Valley all figured to be strong this season with all four teams returning at least five starters from last season. Bloomfield welcomed the top eight rotation players from its two-time defending regional champion squad.
Bloomfield, Eastern Greene and Linton-Stockton have yet to play each other this season. The teams will all meet in the next three weeks and those matches will go a long way in determining the top team in the area.
Last year the Lady Thunderbirds defeated the Lady Cardinals and the Lady Miners.
Not to take anything away from the T-Birds, who were a perfect 7-0 in SWIAC play but it must be noted that both teams were nowhere near full strength when they met Eastern Greene.
Bloomfield had three starters battling injuries for much of the season, finally getting healthy just in time for the sectional. Linton was minus setter Libbi Fougerousse who missed a huge chunk of the season with a stress fracture.
To illustrate Libbi's impact, consider the Lady Miners only lost one match with her in the lineup. That loss came in the regional at Perry Central.
The first upcoming matchup of area teams is set for Tuesday when WRV (8-6 after Saturday's Loogootee Invitational) hosts Bloomfield, 9-5 after Monday's win over Washington Catholic.
WRV lost earlier in the season to Eastern Greene and Linton-Stockton, both losses coming in four sets.
WRV has been the king of the four-set loss this season accounting for five of their six losses.
It's usually come down to one set where the Lady Wolverines get off to a slow start, dig themselves a hole and fall behind, unable to mount a comeback.
WRV pushed Bloomfield to the brink in a 30-28 set in last year's sectional before the defending champs prevailed.
The Lady Wolverines have athletes. Look no further than the basketball court, where WRV repeated as sectional champions and regional finalists.
Shannon Pittman manned the post. Defensive stalwarts Abby Denham and Lexi Graves repeatedly harassed opponents into turnovers in WRV's pressure defensive scheme.
Denham also qualified for the state track meet in the hurdles.
WRV coach Shawn Brown says the key to turning some of those matches around is running their offense.
"Once we set the ball up and our hitters do a better job of hitting it we are able to score."
Speaking of hitting the ball, Bloomfield has no shortage of hitters.
In the words of Sullivan coach Sue Chagnon, "Bloomfield's biggest advantage is they don't have just one or two hitters - they have a whole array of hitters."
Emily Bucher, Area Co-Player of the Year in 2014 has led the Cardinal hitting brigade, with 156 kills through the first 13 matches.
The Lady Cardinals also excel at the service line. Meaghan Bond achieved a career milestone with her school-record 200th career ace. Madison Toon tied a school record for aces in a match, serving 11 against Washington Catholic. Aubrey Adams nearly matched Toon with 10.
Eastern Greene, 7-4 after going 2-1 at the Loogootee Invitational takes on 10-5 Linton-Stockton at home Thursday.
The Lady Thunderbirds have been on a hot streak of late, winning six straight matches before a loss to Loogootee at the Invitational.
Kelsey Fleener and Katie Morguson have been steady and consistent at the net and all over the court. Speaking of all over the court, hard-working Amanda Butler is everywhere - setting up assists, diving for balls and charging the net.
Those three have provided senior leadership for first-year coach Whitney Richardson.
Junior Sally Spice has been a solid all-around performer as well.
One thing was certain for Linton-Stockton heading into this season. The Lady Miners would miss Macy Fidler's presence in the middle.
Fidler was the other area Co-Player of the Year and was arguably the area's most dynamic player. Libbi Fougerousse setting up Macy was practically an unbeatable combo.
How much Fidler has been missed isn't easily quantifiable. But Macy's younger sister Ryleigh and Kaitlyn Clothier appear capable of stepping into that role. Ryleigh, a sophomore, started as a freshman and should only continue to get better.
All the SWIAC marbles could be on the line Monday, October 5 when the Lady Miners invade Guy Glover Gym to take on the Lady Cardinals.
These are the matches I've been waiting for all season. Will one team emerge head and shoulders above the others? Or will they take turns knocking each other off?
Sit back and enjoy!
Terry Schwinghammer is a sports writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 27. He can also be reached via email at tschwing32@yahoo.com.
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