Senior staff writer
Center Grove captured its girls golf sectional Monday at Hickory Stick by 15 strokes over runner-up Roncalli.
Led by medalist Lucy Young (35-36 – 71), the Trojans fired a 330 with Halle Booher (40-44 – 84), Maddie Heineman (41-44 – 85) and Hope Davis (43-47 – 90).
Roncalli finished with 345 strokes from Annie Sullivan (39-42 – 81), Kathleen Ameis (40-41 – 81), Nicole Clifford (42-48 – 90) and Sophia Egold (45-48 – 93).
Perry Meridian missed the team cutoff for regional play by only six strokes. However, Alexandria Quinlan (44-44 – 88) and Anna Eisenbarth (40-49 – 89) qualified as individuals for the regional.
Greenwood finished second in the Mount Vernon Regional at Old Oakland Golf Course. The Woodmen, led by sophomore Maecee Terhune’s 10-over 81, fired a 387. Team members and scores – Laka Stein 96, Maeci West 103, Bridget Lindstrom 107 and Taylor Watson 109.
At Hickory Stick, Southport was sixth, led by Marissa Munoz 90; Franklin Central seventh, paced by Haley Gill 89; and Beech Grove eighth, led by Kameron Collins and Andrea Stevens, each 105.
Qualifiers from Hickory Stick play in the Roncalli Regional at The Legends, Franklin, at 8:30 a.m., and from Old Oakland in the Lapel Regional at Edgewood Golf Course at 9 a.m., Saturday.
Volleyball notes
• Earlier this season, Center Grove’s highly regarded Trojans scored a signature win against Avon by winning the last three sets after being down 2-0.
Coach Maggie Harbison attributed the triumph to the experience and grittiness. The Trojans feature four players who are college commits: seniors Ellen Lemasters (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville), 238 kills; Devynne Merriman (Indiana State), 244 digs; and Emma Jones (University of Indianapolis), 113 blocks; and sophomore standout Madison Hammill (Wisconsin), 649 assists.
The Trojans have talent and depth as three more players have more than 100 kills and 100 digs.
Center Grove, ranked No. 5 by maxpreps.com, is the class of the Southside and among the top teams in the state. The Trojans are 17-1 with their only loss to No. 1 Zionsville.
The Trojans notched its 15th win Saturday against Mount Vernon (Fortville) 25-15, 25-23, 25-19 with Hammill having 29 assists and 10 kills.
They play in the Lady Irish Invitational at No. 24 Cathedral Saturday, journey to Edinburgh as a heavy favorite in the Johnson County tourney Sept. 28, which features Greenwood Christian Academy, and there is the North-South Showdown at Columbus East Sept. 30. They finish the regular season at No. 3 Yorktown Oct. 7.
• Franklin Central (12-7) was runner-up Saturday in the Franklin Volleyball Invitational, winning three matches but falling to the champion host Grizzly Cubs 25-12, 25-21. The Flashes defeated Connersville 25-13, 25-21, Greenwood 25-12, 25-10 and Seymour 25-21, 21-12. Greenwood, after dropping two matches, recovered to defeat Southmont 25-21, 25-18 and Lawrence Central 25-22, 25-15 to snap a six-match losing skid.
• Greenwood Christian Academy (16-3) continues to upgrade its competition. The Cougars were 2-1 Saturday in the Warren Central Invitational, losing to 4A Pike but defeating the host Warriors and 1A Tindley. GCA’s three losses were to 4A teams. Team leaders are seniors Sierra Gilson, 129 kills; Grace Peters, 123 kills; Aubrey Odgens, 121 digs; and Lexi Odgens, 392 assists.
• Since going 2-2 in the prestigious Providence Invitational, Roncalli (13-6) has won four straight matches. Team leaders include Elizabeth Eads, 126 kills; Betsy Crosley, 52 kills; Hannah Irmer, 322 digs; and Lauren Fey, 293 assists.
Southport is 5-12, Perry Meridian 4-12 and Beech Grove 2-16.
The Marion County tourney is Sept. 27-30.