Karen Dutro
Tuesday night’s battle for the Conference Indiana volleyball title lived up to the hype.
Unfortunately for Columbus North, it came up on the short end of a five-set battle. Bloomington South pulled out a 20-25, 25-21, 25-19, 16-25, 15-10 victory to finish unbeaten in the conference and spoil the Bull Dogs’ senior night.
“We definitely took charge in the first set and the fourth set, which was really exciting,” North coach Sarah Stair said. “In the fifth set, I just got the impression that Bloomington South wanted it a little bit more based on the way that they were playing. There were at least three or four balls in that fifth set that I thought were going to fall, and they managed to somehow still keep it alive. They were very scrappy, especially in that fifth set. I know how badly our girls wanted it, but we just weren’t able to put it together today.”
The Bull Dogs (17-11, 3-1) looked to have the momentum after cruising in the fourth set. They took leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the fifth set before the Panthers (25-5, 5-0) took a 7-4 advantage.
North got back to within 9-8 and looked to have tied the game at 9-9 when a Bloomington South player was whistled for crossing the line under the net. But the referee opposite the chair umpire ruled it an inadvertent whistle, and the point was replayed. The Panthers won that point and the next two and went on to take the match.
“The down referee claimed it was an errant whistle because she was outside of the court,” Stair said. “Obviously, we don’t have a replay. He went over and talked with the up official and said it was an errant whistle. I thought she was under the net, as well, and I went over and asked him, and he responded that it was an errant whistle. That changes it a lot.”
Karen Dutro recorded 16 kills and two solo and four assist blocks, and Morgan Osborn had 20 digs and two aces to lead the Bull Dogs. Lexi Denny notched 26 assists.
Also for North, Tania Maldonado tallied nine kills and two block assists, Sydney Ousley pounded nine kills and Elaina Penrod added eight kills and one solo block. Dutro, Osborn and Clara Balzano all posted two assists; Denny had two block assists Hannah Perry notched 14 digs and Kyndal Wheeler and Rori Pollert each added 13 digs and one ace.
Prior to the game, seniors Balzano, Dutro, Kaitlyn Olivo, Osborn, Ousley, Penrod and Perry were recognized.
The Bull Dogs have two more home games this week, hosting Franklin Thursday and Terre Haute South Saturday. North then will have a week before playing the Columbus East-Franklin winner in the semifinals of the Franklin Sectional Oct. 18.
“I’m proud of how hard they have continued to work this year,” Stair said. “Tonight was disappointing for all of us, but we’re ready to fight for Thursday and Saturday and heading into sectional.”
