12/10/2024
How good is girls’ high school volleyball on the Southside?
Four Southside teams – Roncalli, Franklin Central, Southport, and Lutheran – reached the Marion County tourney Final Four Saturday at Lawrence North.
3A No. 1-ranked Roncalli came away with the championship trophy by sweeping Class A Lutheran 25-14, 25-10, 25-11 and tiring Franklin Central 25-13, 25-10, 25-11. They were able to snare the title on the passing of junior setter Abbie Haberthy with 28 assists against the Saints and 34 against the Flashes. Senior Logan Bell, an Oregon commit, showed extreme power and versatility with 14 kills, 10 digs, and five aces in the title match. The Royals had 13 aces against Lutheran and were strong up front with junior Lydia Stahley, 15 kills, and senior Mackenzie Kruer, 11 kills.
“We are so aggressive in every aspect of our game,” Royals coach Christina Erazmus said. “We distributed the ball well, we blocked, and our all-around defense was good.”
Franklin Central defeated determined Southport 3-1 (25-17, 15-25, 25-19, 25-21). The Flashes were plagued by slow starts in all three sets, trailing 5-0, 7-0, and 9-0.
The Royals triumph and the progress of Southside teams bodes well for the IHSAA playoffs that begin Tuesday.
Also, 4A No. 7 Center Grove, as expected, handily won the Johnson County tourney for the 12th consecutive time Thursday at Edinburgh, defeating Indian Creek and sweeping Greenwood Christian. The Trojans opened the tourney by defeating rival Franklin.
By Al Stilley Editor How good is girls’ high school volleyball on the Southside? Four Southside teams – Roncalli, Franklin Central, Southport, and Lutheran – reached the Marion County tourney...