The Hamilton Heights volleyball team won the New Castle sectional on Saturday, Oct. 18. The Huskies came back to beat the host Trojans in five sets, then swept Jay County in the championship match. (Photo provided)
The REPORTER
The Hamilton Heights volleyball team returned to the sectional winner’s circle on Saturday, Oct. 18.
The No. 9-ranked Huskies won Class 3A Sectional 24 at New Castle. First, Heights came back to beat the host Trojans in a “reverse sweep,” overcoming the loss of the first two sets to win the next three. The set scores were 18-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-8.
“We hung in there,” said Huskies coach Steve Ward. “We were down nine points in the third and fourth [sets] and fought back. Played as a team, I’m proud of them.”
Macie Smith blasted 31 kills for the match, with Olivia Schiffli hitting 18 kills. Sierra Bramel dished out 24 assists and Reece Blanton provided 22 assists.
Heights collected 94 team digs for the match. Addie Doak led the way with 28, followed by Blanton with 16, Smith with 13, Bramel with 11 and Julia Bearman with 10. Celeste Wiegman totaled four blocks (two solo, two assists), with Riley Suarez making three solo blocks.
In the championship match, the Huskies beat Jay County in a hard-fought sweep, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23. Smith again led the offense with 19 kills, with Schliffli spiking 13 kills. Schiffli also served five aces, with Smith hitting three.
Bramel dished out 20 assists and Blanton handed out 16 assists. Doak was solid on defense with 22 digs, with Smith collecting 14 digs. Smith also made three solo blocks.
Ward had praise for all his players and their roles in the sectional win.
“Aubrey Cloncs came off the bench and did a good job serving,” said Ward. He also credited the freshman Suarez for coming in and making “some key offensive plays for us at the net.”
The Huskies claimed their fourth sectional title in program history, with the others coming in 1983, 2008 and 2023.
Heights is 22-8 for the season and travels to Norwell this Saturday to play the host Knights in a Class 3A regional championship game.
