Burris ends Jay's season

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DECATUR – The Patriots spent most of the week working on their passing off the serve.

The Owls still managed to find open spots on the court.

Jay County High School's volleyball team struggled to handle the Burris serve as the Owls totaled 18 aces in handing the Patriots a 25-15, 25-8, 25-12 defeat in the Class 3A Sectional 23 opener on Thursday night at Bellmont.

“I think we were needing to talk early,” said first-year JCHS coach Karlie Reid. “Maybe some of the points we were getting in our head down. Knowing this could possibly be our last game made some people get down.

“They were ready to fight. I could tell they were ready to win tonight. They anted to win so bad. I could see the intensity, much higher than it has been the past few games. I was happy with their intensity but we just couldn't pull it out.”

Burris, the fifth-ranked team in the state, improves to 26-6 on the season and advances to the sectional semifinal on Saturday against No. 11 Heritage. Bellmont, which finished 14th in the most recent poll, meets Delta in the other semifinal.

Jay County's season ends with a 16-11 record.

Mara Perry of Burris notched the team's first ace to cap a four-point swing early in the opening set, and Kyle Wagaman added one as well.

Moments after three consecutive Emily Adamowicz kills made it 16-5 Burris, Adamowicz stepped to the line and fired back-to-back aces. An Abigail Kesler serve that fell to the back left corner of the court marked the final ace and point of the opening set.

Jay County appeared to get things in order in set two despite an early 11-4 deficit. Two blocks and a kill from Sara Hemmelgarn helped the Patriots cut to with two points, 11-9, and force legendary Burris coach Steven Shondell – he has won 22 state championships – to call his only timeout of the night.

Burris got momentum back by taking five of the next six points, and after trailing 18-11 Jay County went on another run.

Natalie Miles sandwiched two of her team-high four kills around a Burris attack error, and another offensive mishap pulled the Patriots within three, 18-15.

The Owls got the next seven points for the win.

“When we get those runs, when we are getting points all of our energy is up and high,” Reid said. “When we make a mistake sometimes we get down and it takes a little bit of time to get our confidence back to get us back up there.

“If we could limit the other team to only get two points in a row before we get our next point I think (it) would be a little bit easier for us to come back. We wouldn't get in so much of a hole and then have to fight so hard to come back.”

Lauren Nixon rifled four consecutive aces early in the third set and Adamowicz had two more as the Owls racked up seven for the second time on the night.

Sara Hemmelgarn, one of two seniors to have her career come to a close, led the Patriot defense with seven blocks, three of which came on one possession ahead of a Miles kill in the first set.

“Sara had some great blocks up there,” said Reid, noting Shondell told her the Patriots had 15 blocks for every two defensive stops by the Owls. “She was getting up and I couldn't be more proud of that.”

Thursday's defeat was also the final match for Hallie Fields.

“They played their game this time, I just wish we could have pulled it out for them and the rest of the team.” Reid added. “They should be proud of how they went out. They did well.

“We are really going to miss them.”