Westfield’s Paige Rudolph has hit 214 kills for the Shamrocks this season. (Mike Navarro/File photo)
Both teams trying for first-ever titles, trips to state
By RICHIE HALL
There’s always more history that a team can make.
The Westfield and Hamilton Heights volleyball teams added their names to the list of regional champions, with both teams winning their first-ever trophies at that level on Saturday, Oct. 25. This Saturday, the Shamrocks and the Huskies will head north to try for their first-ever semi-state titles – and a trip to the state finals.
No. 2-ranked Westfield will play the Class 4A north semi-state at Rochester. The Rocks take on 4A’s No. 1 team, Fort Wayne Carroll in the second semifinal, which starts around noon. The first semifinal, between No. 5-ranked Crown Point and Penn, begins at 10 a.m.; the championship match is at 7 p.m.
Nationally ranked
Not only will the Shamrocks-Chargers match be a 1 vs. 2 battle, it will also be a match-up of two teams that are nationally ranked on MaxPreps. Carroll is rated No. 7 by the website, while Westfield is ranked No. 13. Two other Indiana schools are ranked in the top 30: Roncalli is No. 18, while Hamilton Southeastern is No. 26.
The Chargers are 34-0 for the season and have only lost one set, to Roncalli on Oct. 11.
Carroll had no trouble winning the Fort Wayne North Side sectional, beating Northrop in the semifinals and Snider in the championship. The Chargers played at the Homestead regional, where they swept Harrison for the championship.
Senior Bailey Sinish, an IU Indianapolis recruit, has been dominant for Carroll, hitting 488 kills (5.4 per set) this season. Sinish has served 56 aces, right behind sophomore Cala Haffner’s 57 aces. Senior Sophia Gisslen is the main setter, dishing out 736 assists for the season.
Haffner is on top of the defense with 373 digs this year. Two seniors are tied for the top blocker: Addi Shippy and Lola Sasse each have 68 total blocks.
The Rocks are 26-1 this season, with their only loss coming to Southeastern in a Sept. 17 five-set match. Westfield avenged that loss in the semifinals of the Zionsville sectional, defeating the Royals in five sets before sweeping Carmel in the championship.
The Shamrocks claimed their first regional title with a sweep of Bellmont at the Norwell regional.
Senior Georgia Bresnahan, a Southern Illinois-Edwardsville recruit, leads in kills with 309, followed by juniors Carsyn Comer (a Louisville recruit) with 234 and Paige Rudolph with 214. Junior Kendyl Strack (Bowling Green State) has the most aces with 58. Two juniors split the setting duties: Emily Blevins has dished out 543 assists and Kenna Robinson has handed out 492 assists.
Strack also leads in digs with 343. Comer has the most blocks with 64, followed by Rudolph with 50.
Huskies vs. Saints
Ninth-ranked Hamilton Heights takes on Bishop Dwenger in the 10 a.m. first semifinal at the 3A north semi-state, which will be played at Huntington North. NorthWood and Mishawaka Marian play the second semifinal at noon, with the championship match at 7 p.m.
The Saints are 18-8 and began their postseason run by winning the Concordia Lutheran sectional. Dwenger beat DeKalb in the first round, Angola in the semifinals and swept the host Cadets in the championship.
The Saints played West Lafayette in the regional and won in five sets, edging out the Red Devils 15-13 in the fifth set.
Seniors Nicolette Watercutter and Lindsey Snyder are among the offensive leaders, with Braelyn Hodgman one of the top players in digs and blocks.
The Huskies are 21-8. They won the New Castle sectional with a five-set comeback over the host Trojans in the semifinals and a sweep of Jay County in the championship match. Heights swept host Norwell to claim its first-ever regional title.
Senior Macie Smith, a West Virginia recruit, has been dominant on offense with 547 kills and 58 aces. Senior Sierra Bramel is on top of assists with 533, followed by junior Reece Blanton with 370.
Junior Addie Doak, a Marshall recruit, leads the defense with 372 digs, while Smith has 313 digs. Freshman Riley Suarez has 57 blocks, followed by sophomore Celeste Wiegman with 51.
