October 12, 2018 at 3:15 a.m.
Patriots fall in sectional
Patriots fall in sectional
Copyright 2018, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
SELMA — Olivia Kunkler had a pair of blocks and the Owls were whistled for a set error.
The Patriots, vastly undermatched, found themselves leading the fourth-ranked team in the state by three points.
The Owls fired back to lead 22-21 before the set became tied for the 15th and final time. Consecutive MyKel Ivy kills helped put the set away and the Patriots never recovered.
Jay County High School’s volleyball team had its season come to a close on Thursday with a 25-10, 25-22, 25-13 loss to the Burris Owls in the Class 3A Sectional 24 quarterfinal match at Wapahani.
“They are just very, very solid and very, very good,” JCHS coach Fred Medler said of Burris, whose 22 state titles are 13 more than any other program in the state. “We wish we would have played a little better a little earlier. I’m glad we at least put up a fight.”
Burris (28-5) advances to the sectional semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday against top-ranked and defending state champion New Castle, which made easy work of the Blackford Bruins earlier Thursday. The other semifinal pits Wapahani against Delta, who were 15th and 16th in the final poll of the regular season.
After stumbling in the first set, during which it scored consecutive points only twice, Jay County (21-10) fell behind 3-0 to start the second set. But Alana Kunkler (three kills) started a run of four consecutive Patriot points with a kill and the score continued to go back-and-forth from there.
A service error and an attack mishap gave Jay County a 9-7 lead only to have Burris tie the set for the sixth time. It was again even at every point from 10 through 16 until Kunkler’s defense helped the Patriots to their biggest advantage of the evening.
Ivy, a Burris senior who has committed to nearby Ball State, had three kills and a block as the Owls rebounded to take the set.
Ivy finished with a match-high 20 kills, including nine in the second set, and while Jay County was able to put blocks in front of her she was able to fight her way around it or simply jump high enough to go over it.
“We didn’t play defense around (the block),” Medler said. “We hid behind the block and left a hard shot open. They just creeped in next to the block and got a step out of position.
“Then when they dove for a ball they were passing it out of bounds instead of diving a ball the other way.
“(The Owls) are just really, really good.”
Hallie Fields, junior, led the Patriots with six kills. Sophomore Natalie Miles was second on the team with four.
A pair of errors put Jay County out front 2-0 in the second set before Burris took a 4-2 lead it never surrendered.
The Owls scored four straight to make it 14-7 and force a Medler timeout, and after Jay County grabbed two of the next three points Burris put the match away with a 7-0 run.
Thursday’s setback marked the final game for seven seniors, more than half of the Patriots’ roster.
“They’re just great kids,” Medler said of Sarah Walter, Kendal Garringer, Maggie Pryor, Josie Adkins, Randi Ferguson, Kailee Denney and Kunkler. “The sixth-grade level I remember coaching them in the offseason.
“Their knowledge of the game and their ability to play at a fairly high level, being willing to give up spots on the court to younger players at times, just all of that it is hard to get a senior bunch that is willing to do that and pay the price.
“This bunch did.”
All Rights Reserved
SELMA — Olivia Kunkler had a pair of blocks and the Owls were whistled for a set error.
The Patriots, vastly undermatched, found themselves leading the fourth-ranked team in the state by three points.
The Owls fired back to lead 22-21 before the set became tied for the 15th and final time. Consecutive MyKel Ivy kills helped put the set away and the Patriots never recovered.
Jay County High School’s volleyball team had its season come to a close on Thursday with a 25-10, 25-22, 25-13 loss to the Burris Owls in the Class 3A Sectional 24 quarterfinal match at Wapahani.
“They are just very, very solid and very, very good,” JCHS coach Fred Medler said of Burris, whose 22 state titles are 13 more than any other program in the state. “We wish we would have played a little better a little earlier. I’m glad we at least put up a fight.”
Burris (28-5) advances to the sectional semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday against top-ranked and defending state champion New Castle, which made easy work of the Blackford Bruins earlier Thursday. The other semifinal pits Wapahani against Delta, who were 15th and 16th in the final poll of the regular season.
After stumbling in the first set, during which it scored consecutive points only twice, Jay County (21-10) fell behind 3-0 to start the second set. But Alana Kunkler (three kills) started a run of four consecutive Patriot points with a kill and the score continued to go back-and-forth from there.
A service error and an attack mishap gave Jay County a 9-7 lead only to have Burris tie the set for the sixth time. It was again even at every point from 10 through 16 until Kunkler’s defense helped the Patriots to their biggest advantage of the evening.
Ivy, a Burris senior who has committed to nearby Ball State, had three kills and a block as the Owls rebounded to take the set.
Ivy finished with a match-high 20 kills, including nine in the second set, and while Jay County was able to put blocks in front of her she was able to fight her way around it or simply jump high enough to go over it.
“We didn’t play defense around (the block),” Medler said. “We hid behind the block and left a hard shot open. They just creeped in next to the block and got a step out of position.
“Then when they dove for a ball they were passing it out of bounds instead of diving a ball the other way.
“(The Owls) are just really, really good.”
Hallie Fields, junior, led the Patriots with six kills. Sophomore Natalie Miles was second on the team with four.
A pair of errors put Jay County out front 2-0 in the second set before Burris took a 4-2 lead it never surrendered.
The Owls scored four straight to make it 14-7 and force a Medler timeout, and after Jay County grabbed two of the next three points Burris put the match away with a 7-0 run.
Thursday’s setback marked the final game for seven seniors, more than half of the Patriots’ roster.
“They’re just great kids,” Medler said of Sarah Walter, Kendal Garringer, Maggie Pryor, Josie Adkins, Randi Ferguson, Kailee Denney and Kunkler. “The sixth-grade level I remember coaching them in the offseason.
“Their knowledge of the game and their ability to play at a fairly high level, being willing to give up spots on the court to younger players at times, just all of that it is hard to get a senior bunch that is willing to do that and pay the price.
“This bunch did.”
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
250 X 250 AD