Volleydogs advance to IHSAA Sectional 12 Championships

By: Maddie Greer

The Bulldogs had a 3-0 win over Plainfield in Sectional Semi-Finals with set scores of 25-18, 25-14 and 25-18. The team will move onto Sectional Championships tonight, Oct. 19, at 7 PM at Plainfield. 

Set 1 had a mid-set score of 15-8 with the Quakers taking a timeout right after a nice block by senior Skyy Smith and sophomore Audrey Naberhaus. Set 2 had a mid-set score of 15-11 an the Quakers were forced into a timeout after a kill by senior Ashley Margetts. Set 3 had a mid-set score of 16-13 with the Quakers taking timeouts twice after errors. 

Head Coach Katie Maples had this to say about the win: "We just did a really good job of executing the game plan and being composed. We've talked a lot this year about the mental side of the game and taking care of our business and being composed, not having highs and lows. I just think our girls did a very good job of playing that way and acting that way and obviously our skills kind of fell into play too." 

Defensive leads were sophomore Audrey Naberhaus with 6 block assists, senior Skyy Smith with 5 block assists, freshman Ella Hemmings with 8 digs and junior Jaelyn Keown and senior Katie Hardegree with 6 digs each. 

Offensive leads were senior Katie Hardegree with 21 assists, junior Morgan Syoen with 13 assists, senior Skyy Smith with 13 kills, senior Ashley Margetts with 8 kills and freshman Quinci Thomas with 6 kills. 

The Volleydogs will face off against rival Avon at 7 PM tonight at Plainfield for the title of Section 12 Sectional Championships. 

About the Orioles

• Won a bye in the first round and beat Terre Haute North Vigo 3-0 in Semi-Finals with set scores of 25-13, 25-6, 25-11. 
• 16-12 record
• 3-4 conference record
• Currently ranked #25 in the state 
• 2 players ranked in HCC top 20 hitters (Abby Maesch and Cilicia Aleong) 
• 1 player ranked in HCC top 20 kill leaders (Abby Maesch) 
• 1 player ranked in HCC top assist leaders (Aubrey Lenz) 
• 1 player ranked in HCC top 20 ace leaders (Delaney Needham) 
• 2 players ranked in HCC top 20 blockers (Paris Downing and Abby Maesch) 
• 1 player ranked in HCC top 20 dig leaders (Jillian David) 

About the Bulldogs

• Won 3-0 over Terre Haute South Vigo in round 1 of Sectionals with set scores of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-7.
• Won 3-0 over Plainfield in Sectional Semi-Finals with set scores of 25-18, 25-14 and 25-18. 
• 20-11 record
• Second in conference records with a 6-1, Hamilton Southeastern holds the top spot with a 7-0 
• Currently ranked #11 in the state 
• 4 players ranked in HCC top 20 hitters (Skyy Smith,  Quinci Thomas , Kendall Meller and Ashley Margetts) 
• 4 players ranked in HCC top 20 kill leaders (Quinci Thomas, Skyy Smith, Ashley Margetts and Kendall Meller)
• 4 players ranked in HCC top 20 assist leaders (Katie Hardegree, Morgan Syoen, Cate Murphy and Ella Hemmings) 
• Ella Hemmings ranked #19 in HCC top 20 ace leaders with 23 aces.
• 4 players ranked in HCC top 20 blockers (Audrey Naberhaus, Kendall Meller, Skyy Smith and Marah Wood) 
• 3 players ranked in HCC top 20 dig leaders (Ella Hemmings, Ashley Margetts and Morgan Syoen) 

Previous Matchup

The Dogs beat the Orioles on September 12 3-1 with set scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-27 and 25-17. 

Offensive leaders tonight were freshman Quinci Thomas with 20 kills, senior Skyy Smith with 11 kills, junior Morgan Syoen with 28 assists and junior Cate Murphy with 18 assists. 

Defensive leads were senior Ashley Margetts with 24 digs and junior Cate Murphy again with 11 digs. Additionally, Skyy Smith and Quinci Thomas had 2 blocks each along with sophomore Audrey Naberhaus with 3 blocks. 

Sectional Matches

Tuesday | 10.15

Match 1: Decatur Central vs. Terre Haute North Vigo // 7 PM (Terre Haute North Vigo won 3-1)

Thursday | 10.17

Match 2: Brownsburg vs. Terre Haute South Vigo // 6 PM (Brownsburg won 3-0)

Match 3: Plainfield vs. Mooresville // 7 PM (Plainfield won 3-0)

Saturday | 10.19

Match 4: Avon vs. Terre Haute North Vigo // 11 AM (Avon won 3-0)

Match 5: Brownsburg vs. Plainfield // 1 PM (Brownsburg won 3-0)

Sectional Championship: Avon vs. Brownsburg // 7 PM

All above matches will be played at Plainfield High School

Follow @bhsdogs on Twitter for real-time updates on Brownsburg advancement in Sectional play.