August 20, 2021 at 5:10 p.m.
Eagles downed
Jay County volleyball upends Delta in five sets on Thursday
Eagles downed
The Patriots failed twice to put the match away in the fourth set.
They got another chance in the fifth. This time they didn’t let it go by.
Madison Dirksen tallied her match-leading 22nd and final kill of the night, vaulting the Jay County High School volleyball team past the Delta Eagles on Thursday, 25-15, 25-21, 15-25, 25-27, 15-11.
The win over Delta (0-2), which finished 19th in the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association/Indiana Prep Volleyball preseason Class 3A poll, thrust the Patriots into a frenzy on the court as it was just the second victory against the Eagles in more than 30 years following a four-set home triumph in 2019.
“It’s honestly amazing,” said JCHS junior Abbie Fields. “This is our dream to beat Delta, you know?
“We just showed that we can do our best.”
Jay County coach Amy Dillon was at a loss for words following the team’s first win of the season.
“This was not the team that showed up at Madison-Grant Tuesday night,” said Dillon, referencing the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Argylls — 12th in the preseason Class 2A poll — in three sets. “I was very nervous. We worked on a lot of out-of-system plays last night in practice … It just all fell into place.”
Fields fired a point in the fourth set to make it 24-22 Patriots and give the home team a chance to put the match away. But Gracee Gibson rifled a kill and blocked Fields to tie the score before a set error put Jay County back on top.
This time, MJ Smith notched the kill to bring Delta even with Jay County again, and Emily Reno smacked consecutive points to force the fifth set.
The Patriots jumped on the Eagles in the final set to a 6-3 advantage, only to have Reno and the Eagles score four straight to take the lead. The match was tied again at 8-8 and 9-9, but then Fields tipped a kill and blocked Smith to put Jay County back out front.
They didn’t trail again.
“I pretty much said I feel like we played hard tonight and we really deserve to win this game,” Dillon said of the pre-set huddle prior to the fifth. “I just wanted them to know all along … you’re not just Jay County volleyball. You can compete with these kids and I hope you see it now. I’m so proud of them.”
After falling behind 6-5 in the opening set, Fields asserted her presence by sandwiching a pair of blocks around two kills as Jay County scored five consecutive points for an 11-6 lead. Delta pulled to within three, 13-10, but the Patriots scored eight of the next 10 points, including two kills apiece from Fields and Dirksen, to open a 21-12 advantage.
“Honestly, I felt like I did great,” said Fields, who also had nine digs and three blocks. “That’s probably the best I’ve ever done. I don’t know where that came from, really, to be honest.”
Said Dillon: “She had a great night and I’m glad to have her back for another year.”
The Eagles spotted the Patriots seven straight points to start set two and were down 11-1 before battling back. It was a sign of things to come for the visitors, who were finally able to get the offense going and pick apart the JCHS defense.
Reno led the Eagles with 14 kills, half of which came in set four.
Down 3-1 in the fourth, Reno tallied back-to-back kills that started a 9-0 Delta run. Jay County fought back to have a one-point lead twice before getting ahead 20-18. A net violation and two Fields kills aided JCHS in facing match point before the Eagles staved off defeat.
“I think a little bit, Delta came on stronger,” Dillon said. “I think the outside hitter (Reno) killed us a little bit.”
Dirsken matched Fields with three blocks, which was two behind Madison Brunswick’s team-best of five. Izzy Rodgers racked up 44 assists, while Brenna Haines and Hannah Muhlenkamp notched 23 and 19 digs, respectively.
Junior varsity
Jay County set the tone for a winning evening by sweeping the Eagles 25-10, 25-23.
Isabella Denton led the Patriots (1-1) with nine kills and a block. Laila Waddell recorded five kills, and Meredith Dirksen contributed two kills. Dirksen also had four digs, two aces and assisted on a block.
Sophie Saxman tallied six assists, and Joske Herndon added four assists.
They got another chance in the fifth. This time they didn’t let it go by.
Madison Dirksen tallied her match-leading 22nd and final kill of the night, vaulting the Jay County High School volleyball team past the Delta Eagles on Thursday, 25-15, 25-21, 15-25, 25-27, 15-11.
The win over Delta (0-2), which finished 19th in the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association/Indiana Prep Volleyball preseason Class 3A poll, thrust the Patriots into a frenzy on the court as it was just the second victory against the Eagles in more than 30 years following a four-set home triumph in 2019.
“It’s honestly amazing,” said JCHS junior Abbie Fields. “This is our dream to beat Delta, you know?
“We just showed that we can do our best.”
Jay County coach Amy Dillon was at a loss for words following the team’s first win of the season.
“This was not the team that showed up at Madison-Grant Tuesday night,” said Dillon, referencing the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Argylls — 12th in the preseason Class 2A poll — in three sets. “I was very nervous. We worked on a lot of out-of-system plays last night in practice … It just all fell into place.”
Fields fired a point in the fourth set to make it 24-22 Patriots and give the home team a chance to put the match away. But Gracee Gibson rifled a kill and blocked Fields to tie the score before a set error put Jay County back on top.
This time, MJ Smith notched the kill to bring Delta even with Jay County again, and Emily Reno smacked consecutive points to force the fifth set.
The Patriots jumped on the Eagles in the final set to a 6-3 advantage, only to have Reno and the Eagles score four straight to take the lead. The match was tied again at 8-8 and 9-9, but then Fields tipped a kill and blocked Smith to put Jay County back out front.
They didn’t trail again.
“I pretty much said I feel like we played hard tonight and we really deserve to win this game,” Dillon said of the pre-set huddle prior to the fifth. “I just wanted them to know all along … you’re not just Jay County volleyball. You can compete with these kids and I hope you see it now. I’m so proud of them.”
After falling behind 6-5 in the opening set, Fields asserted her presence by sandwiching a pair of blocks around two kills as Jay County scored five consecutive points for an 11-6 lead. Delta pulled to within three, 13-10, but the Patriots scored eight of the next 10 points, including two kills apiece from Fields and Dirksen, to open a 21-12 advantage.
“Honestly, I felt like I did great,” said Fields, who also had nine digs and three blocks. “That’s probably the best I’ve ever done. I don’t know where that came from, really, to be honest.”
Said Dillon: “She had a great night and I’m glad to have her back for another year.”
The Eagles spotted the Patriots seven straight points to start set two and were down 11-1 before battling back. It was a sign of things to come for the visitors, who were finally able to get the offense going and pick apart the JCHS defense.
Reno led the Eagles with 14 kills, half of which came in set four.
Down 3-1 in the fourth, Reno tallied back-to-back kills that started a 9-0 Delta run. Jay County fought back to have a one-point lead twice before getting ahead 20-18. A net violation and two Fields kills aided JCHS in facing match point before the Eagles staved off defeat.
“I think a little bit, Delta came on stronger,” Dillon said. “I think the outside hitter (Reno) killed us a little bit.”
Dirsken matched Fields with three blocks, which was two behind Madison Brunswick’s team-best of five. Izzy Rodgers racked up 44 assists, while Brenna Haines and Hannah Muhlenkamp notched 23 and 19 digs, respectively.
Junior varsity
Jay County set the tone for a winning evening by sweeping the Eagles 25-10, 25-23.
Isabella Denton led the Patriots (1-1) with nine kills and a block. Laila Waddell recorded five kills, and Meredith Dirksen contributed two kills. Dirksen also had four digs, two aces and assisted on a block.
Sophie Saxman tallied six assists, and Joske Herndon added four assists.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD