Published: October 21, 2005 02:51 am

Greensburg in Sectional Cruise Control

Volleyball Sectional Opener

Aaron Kirchoff, Sports Editor, Greensburg Daily News

BROOKVILLE — Sometimes beating a team for a third time in the same season is not easy. The Pirates made it look easy in the early going of the sectional opener against South Dearborn. The Knights were able to rally to win Game 3, but the Pirates closed out the Knights in four games 25-11, 25-8, 23-25, 25-20 and advance to the sectional semifinal on Saturday to face Batesville.

The Bulldogs won the other game at Franklin County on Thursday — in three games over Rushville.

Greensburg got off to a quick start in Game 1. With Ciara Hershauer serving, the Pirates broke a 2-2 tie to grab a 9-2 lead. In the run, April Hershauer had a pair of kills and Erica Oakley added a kill for the Pirates.

South Dearborn tried to get back in the game behind the serving of Katherine Nicholson. She served the Knights to within three points at 9-6.

Greensburg stopped the run with a spike by Kelly Nicholson. The Pirates built the lead to 18-6 on an Oakley ace and the Knights needed a time-out.

Nicholson served the final two points for the Pirates as they took Game 1, 25-11.

Holly Kohrman started Game 2 from the service line and before she was done the Pirates had an 8-0 lead.

South Dearborn’s Wesley Hollingsworth put down a kill to get the Knights on the board.

Ciara Hershauer again came up big from the service line and hit a serve the Knights could not return to push the Pirate lead to 13-3.

Oakley had a tip for a 15-3 Pirate lead and then Oakley’s ace pushed Greensburg in front 18-4.

It was on cruise control from there as the Pirates won Game 2, 25-8.

“We had great passing which led to some great quick set plays. Everyone did a great job at covering their positions on defense, then transitioning quickly to their offensive attack positions. It really made it difficult for the Knights to set up their defense because of us hitting from every angle so quick,” noted Pirate head coach Randy Obermeyer.

South Dearborn got the good start in the third game. The Knights led 10-5 on a service winner by Nicole Lohmiller. Coach Randy Obermeyer took a time-out and it worked as the Pirates fought back to take the lead at 15-14 on a Kohrman attack.

The back-and-forth game came to a Knights’ 24-23 advantage. South Dearborn’s Nicholson tipped the ball over the net and it found the floor to give the Knights the game 25-23.

Greensburg was really not threatened in the fourth game. The Pirates jumped out to a 9-5 lead on an Oakley ace. Ciara Hershauer’s block had the Knights calling for a time-out trailing 15-8.

The Knights could only cut the deficit to five points the rest of the way as the Pirates took Game 4 (25-20) and the match.

Leading the team in passing from the serve was Ashley Leitgabel with 18 passes and only one error. Nicholson led the team in digs with a perfect 16-for-16. Leitgabel also finished with a perfect passing night going 14-for-14. Kohrman dug 13-for-13.

“To have three players go perfect with that many passes is absolutely amazing,” noted Obermeyer.

April Hershauer stuff blocked two for the match and dominated on the attack with 21 kills. Kohrman and Oakley combined for 44 assists. Oakley also fired off five service aces.

Click here to see photographs of the IHSAA 2005 Volleyball Sectional match between Greensburg and South Dearborn