Memorial, NorthWood Claim VB Sectional Titles
The Northern Lakes Conference took home its share of championship hardware Saturday in volleyball sectional action.
Elkhart Memorial and NorthWood each captured sectional trophies in area postseason play.
The perennial power and favorite Crimson Chargers topped rival Penn 3-1 to claim the title match Saturday night of the Class 4-A Penn Sectional.
The Panthers, after a thrilling 3-2 win over Fairfield in the semifinals earlier in the day, beat host West Noble 3-1 in the finale of the Class 3-A West Noble Sectional.
No. 10 ranked Memorial, which lost in the semistate final in 2014, beat the Kingsmen 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 25-22 to win its eighth sectional title in the last nine years. Penn, which lost to Memorial 3-1 in the regular season, was denied its ninth sectional crown in a row. This was the first time in nine years that the two programs were in the same sectional field.
Autumn Taylor came up huge in the pivotal third set to spark Memorial to yet another postseason title. The senior finished the match with five big aces to go with nine kills and 10 digs for the champions.
Darrian Mowery had 16 kills to lead the offense for Memorial, which beat Warsaw 3-0 in the semifinals. Bailey Brouwer had 10 kills and Kayona Malone nine. Krystal Grubb had 45 assists for the winners. Kaylin Szucs led the defense with 23 digs and Mowery had four blocks and Brouwer three.
Abbi Zellers led Penn, which had just two seniors, with 13 kills. Rachel Hickey had 20 digs for the Kingsmen.
Memorial improves to 27-9 and will play at LaPorte Tuesday night in a regional match.
Penn finishes its season at 20-16.
The Panthers capped a long day by downing West Noble 25-17, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22 for their first sectional title since 2010.
The outstanding duo of Kennedy Wiens and Sydney Wysong led the way for NorthWood. Wiens slammed 28 kills and Wysong had 17 in the title match win.
Courtney Lengacher had 24 assists and 23 digs in the championship match.
NorthWood showed its mettle to rally past No. 18 Fairfield in the semifinals by a 25-20, 21-25, 18-25, 31-29, 15-11 final.
Wiens had 20 kills and Wysong 16 kills and 23 digs in the incredible comeback win by the Panthers. The victory sidelined the Falcons, who had won 11 straight sectional championships.
NorthWood, now 21-14, will host Leo Tuesday night in a regional matchup.
Westview took the sectional title at the Class 2-A Central Noble Sectional. The No. 9 Warriors defeated Bremen 25-19, 25-16, 25-13 in the finale to win its fourth straight sectional crown.
Grace Hales led the way for Westview in the title match with 12 kills and 11 digs.
Westview will host the Woodlan Sectional winner (Churubusco or South Adams) in regional play Tuesday night.
Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian made it five sectional titles in a row by beating Bethany Christian 25-16, 25-14, 25-23 in the finale of the Class 1-A Bethany Christian Sectional.
Blackhawk, ranked No. 8, will play at Triton Tuesday night in a regional match.