Published: November 03, 2009 04:22 pm      

Orioles nearly upset No. 4 ranked Trojans

INDIANAPOLIS — After defeating Warren Central in three sets (25-13, 25-20, 25-16) to begin regional action Saturday morning, the Avon volleyball team took on the Center Grove Trojans for the title later that night.

Although Avon (25-12) took an early 2-1 set advantage, the Orioles could not close out the Trojans. Center Grove came back to win 25-20, 24-26, 22-25, 25-13, 15-10.

Center Grove (33-3) brought eight seniors into the match and that seemed to have played a pivotal role, especially in games four and five, but there are no excuses this late in the season according to Avon coach Scott McQueen.

“At this point nobody cares whether you have seniors, juniors, freshman or sophomores,” McQueen said. “We are to the point in the year now where even your freshmen out there aren’t freshman anymore. Our kids have been playing the whole season long just like their kids. And honestly, I thought that they played a little bit tight with their seniors when they were expected to win.”

It was a competitive first set in which neither team led by more than three until Center Grove went up 23-19. Great net play, both blocking and spiking, aided the Trojans in their victory.

Although Avon took a 5-2 lead to begin the second set, Center Grove stormed back and the teams traded leads until the Trojans took a 19-17 advantage, forcing McQueen to take a time out.  Center Grove responded with two quick points, but a late Oriole rally tied the match up at one game apiece.

Katelyn Miller had two kills and two key blocks to seal the game for Avon as teammate Tatem Stoelting served out the set, coming back from a 24-21 deficit, and survived two Trojan timeouts intended to break her rhythm.

“It was exciting to come back, but we were expecting to win the match,” McQueen said.

After falling behind 12-10 in the third set, Center Grove rallied for a 14-12 lead behind three straight kills from Chelsea Kirkpatrick. Avon answered and went up 22-17 and the Trojans pulled within two before the Orioles put the set away for a 2-1 lead.

Avon trailed 11-6 in the fourth set prompting McQueen to call an early timeout to regroup his squad. Avon got back to within two, but Center Grove pulled away for an 18-11 lead before they closed Avon out convincingly.

All of Avon’s momentum disappeared and the Trojans’ experience seemed to give them a decided advantage.

“The fourth and fifth game, I told the kids in the locker room, ‘Seniors, this is up to you,’” Trojan coach Deb McClurg said. “I felt that they stepped up at the end of the game and that made a big difference.”

With the match tied at 7-7 in the fifth set, Center Grove began to pull away utilizing good net play, along with four kills from Sarah Dooms, to put away the Orioles.

Miller led Avon with 12 kills, Madison Reeves had 27 assists and Katie Higginbotham tallied 17 digs.

Avon graduates three seniors, Miller, Morgan Lehmkuhl, and Morgan Griffith, and their presence and leadership will be missed.

“Obviously, they are super kids,” McQueen said. “We had a leadership void from last season and they stepped in and they were great leaders. There were growing pains early in the season, but this was a great group of girls.”