By RICHIE HALL
FISHERS – It’s business as usual for the Hamilton Southeastern girls volleyball team, since the Royals’ usual business is winning.
The Royals are out to a 4-0 start this season, adding to their victory total last Saturday when they swept Benton Central 25-16, 25-14, 25-12 in a home match. Southeastern began its season Aug. 16 with wins over Warsaw and McCutcheon, then beat Carmel Monday, Aug. 18 in an all-county match.
The Bison are expected to be one of the top teams in Class 2A this year. Royals coach Jason Young likes the idea of his team seeing some different teams and styles during the season.
“Their ball control is really, really good,” said Young. “They had some things that give us problems. Early in the season, it’s good to get a variety of different teams to be able to play against.”
Southeastern had to make a comeback to win the first set, as Benton Central got the Royals down 11-6 early. Southeastern roared back to tie the match at 11-11; Merritt Sliwa and Brooklyn Sigler helped out with kills, and Mia Walpole served an ace for the tying point.
The Bison won three straight points to lead 14-11, and HSE came back again to tie the score at 14-14. Benton Central edged ahead 15-14, but after that it was all Royals, as they won 11 of the next 12 points to take the set.
Madi Miles tied the game with a kill, then teamed with Bre Morgan for a block that pushed Southeastern ahead 16-15. Miles made another block and later hit a kill, while Sigler served an ace during the run. Mia Zabel smacked two kills, Morgan had a successful net tip, then Sliwa smacked a kill on set point.
The Royals were in control during the entirety of the second set, steadily building a lead. Sigler hit two kills during the middle of the set, then teamed with Morgan on a block. Morgan’s ace put HSE up 22-12. The third set went even faster, with the Royals at one point leading 22-8. Morgan made a block on match point to clinch the victory.
Sliwa hit 10 kills, with Morgan putting down eight. Morgan dominated the net with six blocks, while Sigler made five blocks. Jasmine Daniels dished out 20 assists and led the digs with seven. Maggie Sliwa handed out 12 assists.
Southeastern hosts Brownsburg on Thursday for its first Hoosier Crossroads Conference match of the season.
Huskies sweep Tipton
Hamilton Heights swept Tipton 25-7, 25-12, 25-8 on Tuesday in the Huskies’ first away match of the season.
Celeste Wiegman dominated the game with strong serves and kills.
The Huskies played at the Western Boone tournament last Saturday and went 2-1. Heights lost a three-set match to Mt. Vernon 19-25, 27-25, 15-10, but rebounded to beat the host Stars 25-18, 25-21 and Logansport 25-11, 25-20.
Sierra Bramel recorded her 1,000th career assist during the Mt. Vernon match.
The Huskies are 8-2 and host New Palestine tonight.
Westfield win five-setter
Westfield traveled to Harrison Tuesday and scored a comeback, five-set win.
The Shamrocks won 25-23, 20-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-8. Audrey Bassett and Paige Rudolph both hit 12 kills, followed by Carsyn Comer with 11 and Audrey Davis with 10. Emily Blevins dished out 30 assists and collected 10 digs. Kendyl Strack had 32 digs, while she and Kenna Robinson each served two aces.
Westfield is 4-0 and hosts Franklin Central Thursday to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.
