Greensburg’s three volleyball teams traveled to EIAC foe East Central on
Thursday with the freshman squad returning with a victory.
Greensburg won the freshman contest 25-23, 22-25, 15-7.
Game 1 saw the Pirates jump out to a 15-7 lead, but the host Trojans battled
back to tie the contest at 17-17, then at 22-22 and 23-23. Greensburg’s Michaela
Buell served out the game for the Pirates.
East Central forced a third game with a win in Game 2.
“It was a good game until we let them have a couple of good runs from 13-17 and
again from 18-21, we found ourselves playing catch up and we never seem to do
any good when we do that,” noted freshman coach Brian Dodson.
The Pirates took control in Game 3 and never let the Trojans in the game.
“I was very proud at how the ladies came back in the third game after giving up
the second game. They played hard. It was fun to watch them play the way I know
they can,” added Dodson.
Buell had another big night, serving 12-for-13 with three aces and one kill.
Erica Schwering was 11-for-12 and Tasha Heaton was 10-for-10 with an ace. The
rest of the team filled in going 18-for-23 from the line with three more aces.
The Pirates also had a total of 11 kills and the lone block going to Schwering
to finish the third game.
The reserve Pirates lost in two very close matches by the scores of 25-23,
25-23. This loss is the first loss since winning eight straight and moves their
record even at 9-9 on the season and 3-5 in the EIAC.
“The difference in tonight’s match came in the end of both games, where East
Central was able to come up with just two more key plays to secure the victory.
Although the Pirates lost the match, there were no losers on our side of the
court, because they refused to quit playing hard,” noted Pirate coach Randy
Obermeyer.
Tawna Chauncy led the team in passing as she passed nine from serve receive and
13 digs with no errors. Casey Nelson led in setting assists with nine. Mollye
Leas and April Faulconer tied in kills with six. Jessica Morris led in aces with
three.
In varsity action, the Pirates lost in three 25-13, 25-11, 25-14. Coach
Obermeyer says the scores do not reflect how well the Pirates played.
“We passed the ball very well throughout the match, moving to the ball better,
as well as communicating better. We made some nice quick attacks out of the
middle for some kills, something we haven’t been able to pull off in the past.
We also had some great blocks tonight,” noted Obermeyer. “We were unable to
score from the serve tonight and did not put any aces on the stat sheet, which
in turn made it easy for the East Central’s offense to set up for their attack.”
For Greensburg, Ciara Hershauer dug for 10 and knocked down four kills. April
Hershauer led the team in kills with six. Erica Oakley put up seven setting
assists. Carolyn Moore finished the night with two stuff blocks in just one game
played.
“East Central has many very talented athletes, and is coached extremely well.
The improvements that head coach Jody Thomas has made since he became their
coach at the beginning of 2003 season are amazing. The athletes, although
sometimes a bit unhappy with his coaching style, began to believe in what he was
teaching them and now play their hearts out for him,” noted Obermeyer. “So for
us to play with them as well as we did tonight says much for our own athletes. I
look forward to the opportunity that Greensburg High School has given me to
build this volleyball program to the level that Coach Thomas has done at East
Central. Past and continued support from the community is greatly appreciated.”
The loss drops the varsity record to 9-19 on the season and 2-6 in the EIAC. The
varsity returns to action at 5 p.m. Monday at South Dearborn. The reserve
Pirates have a 6-team tournament at Lawrenceburg on Saturday.
Click here for photographs of East Central vs. Greensburg volleyball action.