The Columbus North volleyball team had one final tune up as they prepare for next week’s East Central Sectional.
Fortunately for the Bull Dogs, the season ended on a high note.
North got off to a quick start out of gate, and Seymour never recovered in a 25-16, 25-19, 26-24 Bull Dog victory.
North prevented the Owls from stringing together more than four points at any point during the match.
“The girls came out, and our defense looked really strong tonight,” North coach Caitlin Greiner said. “They did a really good job of reading where Seymour’s hitters were hitting. Then, we ran with it. We served them tough and took them out of they wanted to do as a team.”
Solid serving by the Bull Dogs (16-13) put them ahead 8-3 in the first set. Leading 11-8, they went on a 7-2 run that helped them close it out from there.
In the second set, North found pulled ahead 16-10. Seymour stormed back by scoring six of the next seven points and cut the lead 17-16. The Bull Dogs then went on an 8-3 run to put the set away.
“We were communicating very well and made a lot of great passes,” said North senior Hannah Weaver, who finished with eight kills, two blocks, and two aces.
The Owls never quit and made the Bull Dogs earn the third set. Seymour picked up a 7-6 lead early in the set. After the teams were deadlocked and trading points back and forth, the Owls found themselves ahead 24-23 with set point. North shut the door by scoring the next three points.
Mady Johnson tallied 29 assists and seven digs. Imani Guy finished with seven kills and six blocks. Maliah Howard-Bass had five blocks and three kills.
Agustina Fainguersch finished with nine digs, five kills and an ace. Maddy Sebahar had 18 digs and an ace. Mackenzie Rooks added 20 digs and an ace.
The Bull Dogs have plenty of time to get prepared for the sectional. They drew a familiar foe in the first round in crosstown rival Columbus East.
The Olympians defeated North 31-29, 25-18, 26-24 on Sept. 29. The two teams square off at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at East Central.
“They are focused, especially with how competitive the last game was,” Greiner said. “It is all about going out and doing what we need to do as a team to keep improving and playing our best. It is nice we have a lengthy amount of time until the girls can recover, rest up a bit, but also mentally prepare for the tournament.”
