Super Schmiesing

Amy Dillon said she felt her middle blockers would be a strong point for the Patriots in 2024.

The trio caught fire in the third and fourth sets to lead the Patriots to a win.

Sophomore Brenna Schmiesing and her fellow middle blockers disturbed the Winchester Golden Falcons’ offense enough to push the Jay County High School volleyball team to a 25-17, 20-25, 25-17, 25-10 triumph Tuesday.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Dillon, the JCHS coach. “I think in the first two matches of the season, a little lack of knowledge showed. So, in practice, we’ve been working on that knowledge aspect with at least one drill that touches on that.

“Last night we worked on seeing the block and not just swinging. Tonight when they came off they were all like, ‘I actually saw the block tonight.’ So I think the knowledge part is going to come and it looked a little bit better tonight.”

Middles Mya Kunkler, Maria Hemmelgarn and Schmiesing led the Patriots statistically to total 27 of the team’s 41 kills and 11 blocks. Schmiesing had the strongest day, leading with 11 kills while adding two blocks and an ace. It was only the sophomore’s third varsity match and the first time she had more than one kill.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Schmiesing said. “I couldn’t have done it without an amazing team, amazing passers and amazing setters. Everybody did a great job. …

“I just really felt the momentum tonight. Everybody was up and cheering me on.”

The third set started off back-and-forth before Dillon found a lineup that clicked offensively, particularly one that benefitted Schmiesing.

The run started when the teams were tied 13-13 and Hemmelgarn got one of her seven kills by switching hands midair to get the ball back on the Patriots’ side.

The lineup that had Paisley Fugiett, Brenna Bailey and Schwieterman in the back row and Elizabeth Barnett, Schmiesing and Hemmelgarn in the front rattled off seven straight points to take control of the set. Schmiesing in particular excelled with two blocks and two kills.

“Those last two lineups that we ran and two middles … I do think that made a bit of a difference because Brenna was on fire tonight with blocking and finding a hole,” said Dillon. “So, keeping her in that middle spot … really helped with the last two sets.”

Winchester (4-3) stopped the run but trailed 20-13 before taking three points back. Schmiesing followed with her fourth kill of the set before Lyndi Whitenack of the Golden Falcons took one back.

The set ended on four consecutive Patriot points that included a pair of Hallie Schwieterman kills, a hitting error by Auden Hummel and a kill by Lani Muhlenkamp.

The Patriots took off running in the fourth set, scoring the first five points on a pair of Winchetser hitting errors, two aces by Muhlenkamp and a kill from Elizabeth Barnett. The teams traded points until the scoreboard read 8-4 in Jay County’s favor. The Patriots then went on a 17-6 run to end the match, including nine straight.

The Patriots took the first set courtesy of three runs of four points or more and 10 Winchester hitting errors. Hitting errors accounted for six of the final 10 Patriot points along with a service error, a Brenna Bailey ace and a Hemmelgarn block.

The Golden Falcons took the second set thanks to nine kills by Hummel — the sophomore finished with a match-high 13 — and two late runs.

“(Hummel) had an OK game,” said Winchester coach Matt Curts. “We’ve got to get more swings around the blocks and place the ball better. But, in terms of offense tonight, they really put us down with her.”