By Tom Reck
WEST TERRE HAUTE — Sullivan volleyball players and others connected with the team have been wearing shirts with Take It Back inscribed on them at the West Vigo Class 3A Sectional this week.
The Arrows “took it back” Saturday night, defeating West Vigo in three games, 25-8, 25-16, 25-12, to win their fifth sectional in the past six seasons under coach Jennifer Murdock.
They lost to Owen Valley in the championship a year ago in five games for the only runner-up finish in that period.
Sullivan defeated Brown County and South Vermillion to gain the championship match while West Vigo bested Owen Valley and Edgewood to gain the finals.
Six seniors are on the 24-11 Sullivan team that will meet the winner of the Mt. Vernon Sectional — probably Boonville or Evansville Memorial — in the Jasper Regional on Saturday.
Two of the seniors, Jenna Lisman and Alexa Lankhar, will have lettered all four years in high school.
Other seniors are Lauren Adams, Tiera Land, Kelsey Lane, and Shelby Lamb.
Adams typified the play of the group in the championship match. She hurt her ankle in the second game but continued to play, finishing with eight points, three aces, 26 assists and 15 digs.
“We’ll have to see how serious the injury is,” said Murdock.
She her players were “really focused” for the championship match and played their best volleyball of the tournament against the Vikings.
“The teamwork was outstanding. These girls have worked hard and put in the extra effort it takes to win,” said the coach.
West Vigo finished 18-13 after going 7-22 last year, Cherish Easton’s first year as coach. Seniors on the squad are Kaysee Pearson and Samantha Richey.
“We came a long way this season. We played together as a team and worked hard. Our seniors were great leaders, leading by example. We just hoped to end it better than we did,” she said.
West Vigo Sectional
Championship match
Sullivan 25 25 25
West Vigo 8 16 12
Highlights — For Sullivan, Jenna Lisman had nine points, one block, three kills and 12 digs while Lauren Adams had eight points, three aces, 26 assists, and 15 digs. Mikaela Chagnon recorded eight points, one ace and 10 digs; Brekiesha Weszely had eight points, two aces, 11 kills and 12 digs; Rhagen Smith had three blocks and eight kills and Alexa Lankhaar notched seven points, two aces, two kills and 14 digs.
Next — Sullivan (24-11) will meet the winner of the Mt. Vernon Sectional in the Jasper Regional on Saturday. West Vigo concluded an 18-13 season.
I I I
n Sectional semifinals — Sullivan and West Vigo volleyball teams defeated Western Indiana Conference rivals Saturday afternoon to advance to the championship game.
Both teams won in three games in defeating teams they had beaten in the regular season.
Sullivan bested South Vermillion 25-14, 25-13, 25-12. West Vigo defeated Edgewood 25-19, 28-26, 25-15.
West Vigo had beaten Edgewood in five games when the teams met earlier and the Mustangs nearly rallied to win the second game in the sectional after the Vikings led most of the way in winning the first game.
West Vigo took a 14-6 lead in the second game but the Mustangs came back to lead 22-21 and 25-24 but the Vikings then came back to win and had little trouble in the third game.
“That was a true test of our team,” West Vigo coach Cherish Easton said of the second game.
South Vermillion 14 13 12
Sullivan 25 25 25
Highlights — For Sullivan, Brekiesha Weszely had 16 points, four aces, nine digs. Jenna Lisman had nine points and 11 digs; Kelsey Lane notched four blocks and 11 kills; Rhagan Smith recorded two blocks and 17 kills and Lauren Adams had five points, one ace and 30 assists.
West Vigo 25 28 25
Edgewood 17 26 15
Highlights — For West Vigo, Erin Barton had four aces and six kills and Jessica Coombs had four aces and 10 kills. Kaitlyn Cardinal and Leigha Cottom each had seven kills while Caitlyn Tilford had 14 assists and Kaysee Pearson had 12 assists.
Next — West Vigo (17-12) and Sullivan (23-11) advanced to the championship game. Edgewod finished 13-20 and South Vermillion concluded an 8-23 season.
