Jay claims tourney title

When it comes to playing in a tournament at home, the Patriots are nearly unstoppable.
The Jay County High School volleyball team didn’t lose a set Saturday, going a perfect 3-0 to win the Jay County Invitational for the fourth consecutive season.
Jay County (3-2) played even or behind the Marion Giants in the opening set of the first match, trailing at one point 12-8. A kill from Kaelyn Weaver started a run of five straight points for Jay County on the serve of Kailee Denney. Marion tied it up at 13, and again at 17, until the Patriots went on an 8-2 run to close out the first game 25-19.
Denney served 10 straight points in the second set as Jay County handled the Giants, 25-11.
Abby Barcus and Britlyn Dues each had five kills against the Giants, with Olivia Kunkler chipping in with four and Audrey Shreve adding two. Dues also had six assists and 13 points. Chloe Trissel led the Patriots defensively with 10 digs.
Barcus led the Patriots with 13 kills in a 25-22, 25-10 victory against the Northeastern Knights, in which the home team built a sizable early lead only to see it nearly slip away. Northeastern pulled even late, but JCHS was able to eke out the win and then dominated throughout game two.
Kaelyn Weaver tallied seven kills, with Dues and Kunkler each adding four. Sarah Walter contributed three kills. Trissel tallied another 10 digs. Barcus had six and Audrey Shreve notched five.
Jay County then knocked off the Anderson Indians 25-22, 25-10 to claim the tournament title.
Barcus again led the way with 14 kills and had a team-high seven digs. Weaver tallied seven kills and Dues had six. Trissel notched six more digs.
Kendal Garringer totaled 30 assists for the tournament, and Denney had 17.