Volleyball sectionals open Tuesday

Greenwood Christian Academy (20-9) celebrates a point.

Beech Grove players rejoice after scoring a point.

Center Grove is favored to repeat as Sectional Champions.

Franklin Central’s Kelsey Ferrell (No. 11) and Corri Rusk (No. 14) try to block Lutheran’s Emma McIntosh.

Greenwood's Hannah Anderson prepares to serve in early season game.

Roncalli opens sectionals against Ben Davis at Brebeuf.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Center Grove, ranked No. 5 in 4A, and Class A No. 4 Lutheran are favored to win volleyball sectional titles next week.

The Trojans host Southside sectional newcomer Martinsville at 7 p.m., Oct. 22, with the winner advancing to the title match at 10 a.m. Oct. 24. Greenwood opens the 4A Center Grove Sectional against Whiteland at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, with No. 11 Franklin facing Franklin Central at 7 p.m.

Class A Sectional host Lutheran meets Morristown at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The winner advances to semifinals Oct. 24.

Beech Grove meets Danville at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 3A Northwest Sectional.
Here’s a capsule look at the nine Southside teams (won-lost records through Monday):

Beech Grove (12-12) – Entered Cowan Invitational field winless and snared tourney prize … in slight 2-6 tailspin … leaders are underclassmen Katie Giller, 197 kills; Alyssa Walsh, 387 assists; Michele Jennings 301 digs; and Abbe Ferrer, 35 blocks … Mount Vernon visits tonight and Hornets go to Covenant Christian Thursday … meet Danville in 3A Northwest Sectional Thursday … BG fell to Warriors 25-13, 25-18, 25-17 in early September.

Center Grove (25-6) -  Defending 4A sectional champs … undefeated in Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference … won Johnson County tourney … on 16-1 run … team leaders: Ohio State recruit 6-3 Madison Smeathers has 435 kills (fifth in the state), backed by 5-11 Malea Howie (198 kills) and 5-10 Ellen LeMasters (192 kills) … 5-9 Macy Carrabine leads with 293 digs and 5-11 Taylor Hammill, an Auburn recruit, has 709 assists … close at home Thursday against Bishop Chatard … face Martinsville in bye sectional match … 4A No. 11 Franklin in opposite bracket … Trojans have defeated Grizzly Cubs twice this season.
 
Franklin Central (13-13) – Opened 4-0 with new coach Sandra Moore … went through midseason four-game skid … lost three times to Perry Meridian … juniors Madison Munger (193 kills) and Haley Sobieralski (171 kills) lead at the net … senior Harper Wright has 368 digs … Elleanne Moore leads with 372 assists … finish at New Castle Thursday …face 4A No. 11 Franklin in Center Grove Sectional at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Greenwood (16-11) – Most wins since 2008 … won five of last seven matches … finished 11-3 at home … 6-foot senior Olivia Stilley leads with 233 kills. 51 aces and 35 blocks … freshman sister Alyssa Stilley has 34 blocks … sophomore Hanna Anderson has 509 assists … five Woodmen have more than 100 digs, topped by Emily Struewing’s 177 …  wrap up at scrappy Edinburgh Thursday in tough tourney warm-up … open Center Grove Sectional against Whiteland Tuesday.

Greenwood Christian Academy (20-9) – Savvy and rangy team … three losses to ranked teams … best streak of eight straight wins … first-year coach Jeff Fishburn has Cougars sharing the wealth … team leaders are Hannah Peters, 216 kills; Sierra Gilson, 103 aces (No. 3 in the state); 6-3 Delanie Kent, 51 blocks; Grace Peters, 227 digs; and Katie Cruse, 203 digs; Alexandra Hooten, 449 assists … finish Thursday at Morristown … definite Class A Lutheran Sectional dark horse, face Arlington in bye match Oct. 24 at 12:30 p.m.

Lutheran (19-9) – Came within one win of reaching state finals in 2013 … play tough schedule every year … team leaders are 6-2 Whitney Hoover, 462 kills, third in the state, 63 blocks; 6-0 senior Alex Engler has 40; junior libero Elise Sombke has 401 digs, No. 2 Emma McIntosh has 247 digs; senior setter Julia Simons leads with 626 assists, 88.4 percent of team’s total; at home Thursday against Ritter in season finale … hosts Morristown in Lutheran Sectional at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Manual (8-9) – Jumped to a 4-2 start … defeated Howe, Northwest and Shortridge … Shelby Skaggs leads in kills, blocks and aces; Jyah Taylor in digs and Destinee Harden in assists … drew Bishop Chatard, toughest opponent of 2015, in 2A Crispus Attucks Sectional, 12:30 p.m., Oct. 24 … tourney favorite New Palestine is in opposite bracket.

Perry Meridian (17-11) – Impressive 6-1 road record … reached finals of Marion County tourney … solid 11.2 kills per set, 15.1 digs per set … 6-3 freshman sensation Caitie Baird leads in kills (392, 11th in the state) and aces (48), soph Sadie Hill and senior Jenni Castoe one-two in blocks with 65 and 46, respectively … Heather Corbin has 449 digs, 13th in the state … 6-1 senior Riley Taylor has phenomenal 832 assists, seventh in the state … face Decatur Central in 4A Brebeuf Sectional, where title run is possible.

Roncalli (17-14) – Rugged schedule has Rebels ready for playoffs … reached semifinals of Marion County tourney … 7-1 against county teams … average 18.9 digs per set … leaders are 5-9 seniors Kayln Schreiber, 197 digs; and McKenna  Lundy, 150 digs; 6-0 Anne Strevels, 176 blocks; and sophomores Hannah Irmer, 296 digs; and Amelia Banister, 319 assists … close out against Southport Thursday … benefit in move from far Southside sectional to Brebeuf Sectional … meet Ben Davis at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Brebeuf.

Southport (6-21) – Young Cardinals under first-year coach Lyndsey Weller have seven sophomores … impressive wins over Beech Grove and Connersville … dropped last six matches … team leaders are soph Tiana Wright, 92 kills and 80 digs;  junior Bailey Fields, 19 blocks; junior Emily Patrick, 210 assists. Patrick, 73 digs, and soph Kierston Whitlock, 71 digs, are effective in back row … meet Perry Meridian-Decatur Central winner in Brebeuf Sectional at 11 a.m. Oct. 24.