By RYAN WALKER
Norwell entered The Tiger Den and came out a victor over county rival Bluffton on Monday night.
The Knights (15-10) made it quick and defeated the Tigers (8-17) in straight sets, wanting no part in the five-set thrillers the two have gone through the past two seasons.
“I think they’re a little extra excited,” Norwell head coach Kayla Hunter said. “There’s always more emotions in this game for whatever reason — probably on both sides. It feels good just to take care of business and you feel like you can exhale a little bit.”
With the win over the Tigers and Southern Wells, that will make Norwell the top dog in Wells County for volleyball.
Norwell won by scores of 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20. All sets were close, and in fact, Bluffton held the lead in each of them in the early parts of the period.
But it was Bluffton without the killer instinct it needed to hold on and Norwell’s part in not quitting. Both coaches admitted their teams need to be stronger, but in the opposite areas: Norwell wants to start quicker and Bluffton wants to finish games.
Bluffton’s coach Caylee Pyle was complimentary of her team’s efforts against a strong Norwell team that is starting to hit its stride and get healthy with Macie Saalfrank back from injury. A point of emphasis is getting her team to believe in themselves.
“We’re starting to play at the level we can,” Pyle said. “We’re starting to believe it a little bit more. We’re starting to push ourselves a little bit harder, but it’s not cohesive throughout the entire set. We have sparks and highlights of great things in certain places, and then we fall short in other places. We’re working on that full circle connection.”
She also mentioned that she’s seeing her Tigers reap the benefits of working on their defense throughout the season. Players are moving better, covering spots and finding a rhythm in communication.
Hunter also shared an area of growth from her team.
She has been preaching the mental toughness for her team over the past few weeks and believes that the Knights are starting to click.
Saalfrank’s return to the team has certainly helped as one of Norwell’s anchors and adds a piece to the puzzle that’s been missing all season. Saalfrank led the team with 18 assists, 11 kills and eight digs Monday night.
Because of that and the team’s ups and downs, they could have something cooking.
“I was proud of the way we fought and they finished well in all three of those (sets),” Hunter said. “I don’t know at the beginning of the season they would have finished like that because they’ve definitely grown mentally that way.”
Norwell stat leaders: Saalfrank with 18 assists, 11 kills and eight digs, Izzy Anderson and Emma Vachon three aces and Vanessa Rosswurm four blocks.
Bluffton stat leaders: Maryn Schreiber seven kills, Isla Gibson 14 assists, Marly Drayer two aces and 18 digs and Sophie Eisenhut two blocks.
Norwell won the junior varsity match 2-1 (18-25, 25-17, 15-10).
The Tigers were led by Lucy Mace with seven kills, Kamryn Ault 15 assists and Jaida Mills 18 digs.
Bluffton will host North Side for its final regular season match of the season starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Norwell will return to The Castle and face East Noble at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8.
ryan@news-banner.com
