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October 29, 2009

VOLLEYBALL: Dragons have unfinished business this season at Jasper

Silver Creek to face host Wildcats in Class 3A regional semifinal on Saturday

By KEVIN HARRIS

All season, the Silver Creek volleyball team has lived by one motto — unfinished business.

The Dragons established that mindset after last year’s Class 3A Jasper Regional semifinal loss to Owen Valley, 25-17, 24-26, 25-15, 26-24. That setback has been their motivation ever since their offseason workouts this past summer.

“Unfinished business has kind of been our team mantra this year,” third-year Silver Creek head coach Jeff Zimmerman said.

Last weekend, Silver Creek earned its right to go back to regional by winning the North Harrison Sectional.

Now, the Dragons are prepared to have more success at Jasper this Saturday.

The Dragons (25-11) will face the host Wildcats (21-13) in the first regional semifinal at 11 a.m. The second semi will pit Sullivan (25-11) against defending regional champion Boonville (25-10) at approximately 12:30 p.m. The championship will be at 7 p.m.

Last year, Zimmerman blamed a severe case of the nerves for his troops’ regional setback to Owen Valley. But this season, he believes the Dragons will be more prepared to deal with the regional pressure.

“Mentally, we are more prepared,” Zimmerman said. “Last year, we didn’t know what to expect with the fans and the travel. This week, we’re more relaxed. It’s been an awesome week of practice.”

But Silver Creek has battled its share of obstacles this week. On Monday, the Dragons were without four players at practice due to either the flu or strep throat. All four players returned to practice on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, sophomore outside hitter Kristyn Maymon twisted her ankle during practice. Zimmerman says Maymon, who is one of Silver Creek’s leading attackers, is questionable to play on Saturday. If Maymon plays in the regional, most likely she will play in the back row.

“It’s been Murphy’s Law,” Zimmerman said about this week.

If Maymon cannot go, she will be replaced by Hannah Smith. The sophomore was a standout for the Dragons’ junior varsity team this year, and Zimmerman is confident that she can fill in for Maymon quite nicely.

“I don’t feel the least uneasy putting her in,” Zimmerman said. “She’s excited about it. But no one can replace Kristyn Maymon.”

Silver Creek outside hitter Haley Garr also is expected to step up her game with Maymon injured. Maymon and Garr each averaged nine kills per match in last week’s sectional.

Setting up Silver Creek hitters will be junior setter Danielle Ramser, who leads the Dragons in assists. Creek libero LeAnn Osterhoudt is the team’s leading defensive player, as she has made more than 250 digs this season.

“We feel like we can play with anybody at the regional. We just have to put it together and get some W’s,” Zimmerman said. “This is the best team I’ve had at Silver Creek. Nobody bellyaches and cries. It’s been fun.”

The Dragons played both Jasper and Boonville during the regular season. The Wildcats edged Silver Creek in pool play of the Active Ankle Challenge on Sept. 19 at New Albany, 35-33, 25-23. The Dragons lost to Boonville in the Jeffersonville Invitational on Sept. 12, 25-19, 15-25, 15-13.

“(Jasper) has that never-say-die attitude,” Zimmerman said. “They have a couple of tall middle (hitters), but they don’t beat the ball to death.

“(Boonville) is really strong with their middles. They are similar to us. They play more of a Providence style.”

Last Saturday, Silver Creek won its second straight sectional crown by beating Corydon in the North Harrison final, 25-22, 25-13, 25-18. It was the first time the Dragons had won back-to-back sectional championships since the 2003-04 campaigns.

Zimmerman said this year’s sectional title felt different than last year’s because the Dragons planned on winning the 2009 crown.

“After it was over, it didn’t feel as good as last year,” the Silver Creek mentor said about last weekend’s championship. “Last year, the girls were crying and I was crying. This year, we were expecting to win.”



CLASS 3A JASPER REGIONAL

• SEMIFINALS: Silver Creek (25-11) vs. Jasper (21-13), 11 a.m.; Sullivan (25-11) vs. Boonville (25-10), 12:30 p.m.

• CHAMPIONSHIP: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

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