Floyd Central had a goal for Saturday’s Seymour Regional: get in, get out, get to state.
The Highlanders had little trouble advancing to next Saturday’s Class 4A State Finals in Muncie for the third straight year, sweeping Northview in the semifinal and Columbus East in the title game in the Seymour Regional.
After beating the Knights 25-17, 25-11, 25-14 in the morning semifinals, the Highlanders beat Columbus East 25-20, 25-20, 25-21 for the third straight year in the regional.
“We played very well,” senior Kristin Kemppainen said. “We’re excited about going to state.”
FLOYD CENTRAL–COLUMBUS EAST
After winning the first two sets fairly handily against the Olympians, Floyd found itself in a battle in the third set.
The Highlanders led 12-8 early in the set and still held an 18-15 advantage late in the set. East had two errors, then East’s Kreigha Henney had two kills and Sara Bean served an ace and the Olympians led 20-19, prompting Floyd coach Bart Powell to use his first timeout all day.
“We just needed to be more aggressive,” Powell explained. “It was looking like we were getting a little passive. We had to stop the lull and get the lead back.”
Out of the timeout, Smith had two kills and a block out, giving Floyd a 23-20 lead. After East failed to return Camry Hinton’s serve, Laura Der put the game away when the dumped the ball over the Olympian front line just out of the reach of Katlyn Hudson.
“We just needed to stay focused and stay calm,” Kemppainen said about the reason for the timeout. “We knew we could do it. We knew we had it in us.”
“We knew we could do it. We still had the confidence,” said junior Jennifer Smith, who finished with a team-high 10 blocks and added seven kills in the win. “We were going to get them in three (sets).”
Powell said he knew he’d have a fight out on his hands from the Olympians, who won the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament earlier this month.
“We knew Columbus East was going to be a handful,” Powell said. “The kids were pretty focused and beat a really good team.”
Stutsman led the way in the win with 25 assists, 10 kills, nine blocks and five digs. Der had team highs with 12 digs and 10 kills. Kemppainen added five kills and Kyndall Merritt had 11 digs. Allison Sims had seven digs and two aces, including one on the first serve of the match.
“I think the girls just wanted it more than East did,” Powell said.
FLOYD CENTRAL–NORTHVIEW
Stutsman had 25 assists, 12 digs, six kills, three aces and a block as the Highlanders advanced to the championship match with victory over Northview.
Der benefited most from Stutsman’s assists and led Floyd with 14 kills, six of which came in the final set. Smith and Kemppainen added nine kills apiece and Jordan Owens had eight.
Smith helped the Highlanders pull away in the first set. Tied 13-13, Floyd outscored the Knights 12-4 the rest of the way. Smith had five kills in the game, including the final two points on assists from Stutsman.
In the second, Northview led 3-2 until the Highlanders scored seven straight points, six of which came on Stutsman’s serve. During the run, Stutsman had two assists, an ace and a kill to give the Highlanders the lead for good.
Floyd left a lasting impression in the final set, this time scoring 10 straight to go from a 3-3 tie to a 13-3 advantage. Junior Melissa Davoust finished the match off with a kill on an assist from sophomore Courtney McKinley.
Floyd County Sports
CLASS 4A REGIONAL: Highlanders make it three straight
FC sweeps East, is bound for state once again
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BOYS' GOLF: Floyd A-team fourth at Lafayette Jeff
The Floyd Central varsity golf team put up a team score of 323 to place fourth at the Lafayette Jeff Invitational on Saturday. Meanwhile, Floyd Central was third and Providence seventh at the Legends of Providence Invite at Champions Pointe.
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GIRLS' TENNIS: Boesing advances to state
Floyd Central's Olivia Boesing advances to the state finals with a win over last year's champion, but the team fell to Evansville Memorial at Jasper on Saturday, 4-1.
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Highlanders find a way to win another close game in thrilling BNL Sectional final, 3-2
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On Friday night, the Highlanders won the biggest nailbiter of the 2012 season. -
TITLE DROUGHT ENDS: Pioneers win first sectional championship since 2005 with 6-4 victory over Paoli
The Providence softball team’s sectional-championship drought has finally come to an end.
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BASEBALL: Astle strikes out 10, lifts Jeff past FC
Trent Astle struck out 10, scattered five hits, and delivered an RBI single to lead Jeffersonville to a 2-0 victory over Floyd Central Thursday night in the first round of the Class 4A Jeffersonville Baseball Sectional.
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TRACK: NA’s Parrish wins twice at regional
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ROUNDUP: Silver Creek downs Brownstown, 18-0
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“We really put the barrell on the ball tonight and it was good to see,” assistant coach Scott Jennings said. “We beat a good Brownstown club tonight.” - SPORTS IN BRIEF: May 25, 2012
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TENNIS REGIONAL: Floyd Central ‘Dream Team’ wins again
Floyd Central’s “Dream Team” moved one step closer to a possible state championship on Wednesday.
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SOFTBALL: Highlanders down Jennings County in 10, 4-2
In a tense 10-inning affair, Floyd Central pitcher Morgan Harper worked her way out of difficult jams, and the Class 4A No. 5 Highlanders finally came alive on offense in the final frame to down No. 11 Jennings County in the Class 4A Bedford North Lawrence Sectional semifinals on Wednesday, 4-2.
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BOYS' GOLF: Floyd A-team fourth at Lafayette Jeff
