The Kokomo Wildkats ended their regular season on a high note by defeating Peru in five games (20-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-20, 15-7) in volleyball Monday.
Kokomo coach Ron Byram was pleased to see his team grab another five game match win.
“Every match that has gone to a fourth or fifth game that this year, we have won,” Byram said. “That is good when you are going into sectionals. You will have to play a four or five game match there. We now have the confidence to win those matches.”
Kokomo didn’t come out the aggressor, according to Byram.
“For the first couple of games, Peru was the aggressor,” Byram added. “We had to pick up the intensity.”
Kelly Hopkins led Kokomo with 22 kills and seven blocks. Abby Hemmeger added 13 digs and eight kills. Jackie Filip had 22 serve receptions and 15 digs. Shana Bowley pitched in with 22 serve receptions and 12 digs, and Margaret Booher had seven kills and two blocks. Ashley Lobeck came up with 22 assists and Whitney Weir added 15 assists.
“Booher had a really good night with seven kills in 14 attempts for a .500 hitting average,” Byram commented. “She also had a couple of blocks and some defensive digs. Hopkins’ 22 kills in five games was also very good.”
Kokomo takes its 14-18 record into the McCutcheon Sectional to meet the Logansport/Harrison winner in the second match on Saturday.
Northwestern def. North Miami 25-23, 25-13, 25-11
Northwestern coach Marty Britten had to figure that one of his team’s best matches of the season couldn’t have come at a better time.
“It was our fourth win in a row and the girls played very well,” Britten said. “It was Senior Night and it had been a while since we had beaten [North Miami], so I’m hoping we are peaking at just the right time with sectionals starting this week.”
The victory pushed the Tigers to 14-15 on the season before their Thursday sectional opener at Twin Lakes against Benton Central.
Senior Amy Harshman was one of the key figures for Northwestern. She had 10 serving points and two aces, while also handling 10 service receptions. Senior, Bri Kuffel had 12 points and three aces and classmate Kat Lowden had five points and eight serve receptions.
Bailey Muhlenkamp was cited by Britten for outstanding serving and setting. She finished with seven points, two aces and six digs. Lainey Sewell had six serve receptions and three digs.
Delphi def. Taylor 25-17, 25-13, 20-25, 25-15
Taylor couldn’t get its sixth win of the season, losing to Delphi in four games.
The Titans’ coach Shane Vore wasn’t pleased with the total team effort.
“The story of the night is the story of the season,” Vore said. “We play one really good game, and that’s good enough. We don’t play like we are capable of playing. When we played Oak Hill [during the regular season], we didn’t play our best, so we need to show [Oak Hill] that it will be a match.
“This is also the third year in a row we’ve lost to Delphi in four games. Their team has really improved”
Liz Mamaril led Taylor with 14 digs and eight kills. Amanda Seidel added 13 assists, and Jennifer Seal came up with 10 digs. Elise Black passed out eight assists, and Rebecca Maack pitched in with eight service points, including one ace.
“Mamaril played out of her mind, and Brooklynn Lemons did a pretty good job on serve receive,” Vore added.
Taylor (5-24) plays Oak Hill in the first game of the Eastern Sectional Thursday at 6 p.m.
Tribune Sports Editor Dave Kitchell and sportswriter Kenny Hetzler compiled this round up.
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Discussion
PREP ROUNDUP: Kokomo needs five games to knock off Peru
NW beats North Miami on Senior Night
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Western girls put defensive clamps on West Lafayette
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Rival Berries visit Kokomo
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Black takes spot among Taylor’s elite
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