STATE CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Southwood volleyball team knocked off state ranked #1 Tecumseh to win the state championship Saturday at Ball State University.

After falling 15-25 in the first set the Lady Knights settled their nerves and went to work, winning three straight sets 25-19, 25-23, 25-19 for their first ever stat title.

In the first set the Knights fell behind early 4-0 before trading points all the way to 20-15 before Tecumseh scored the last five points to take the first set.

Again, the Knights would trail early in the second set 7-3 before the tide started to turn. Taking advantage of a few Tecumseh errors and getting a kill from Hali Pershing the match was tied 7-7. Tied at 11 Shania Rhamy would record a kill along with Quinn Claussen collecting two blocks as Southwood led 15-11. Rhamy, Grace Drake and Carly Whitsel would all nail kills along with another block from Claussen as the Knights took the second set 25-19.

The third set Southwood got off to a much better start with Drake and Alexis Lopez controlling the net for a 7-3 lead. The two freshmen, Rhamy and Pershing would keep the Knights up and led 13-10 before Tecumseh found some life. Tied at 16 the familiar Southwood run would take place with Whitsel, Rhamy and Pershing all collecting kills for a 20-16 lead. Tecumseh would claw their way back to tie the score at 22 and 23 before a Drake block ended the set with a 25-23 win.

Tecumseh would grab a 3-0 lead to start the fourth set before the Knights scored four straight. Tied at 7 Drake would record a kill that started a 6-0 run for a 13-7 Southwood lead. The Knights would hang on to a slim lead and at 20-17 got a block and a kill from Drake to make it 22-17. At 23-19 Pershing would take the Knights to 24-19 with a thunder kill before Whitesel hit the game winner down the right sideline for the state championship.

Allie Haecker – 4 Service Points, 1 Ace, 1 Kill, 4 Assists, 18 Digs

Grace Drake – 2 Service Points, 1 Ace, 15 Kills, 15 Assists, 4 Blocks, 13 Digs

Carley Whitesel – 9 Service Points,  4 Kills (Game Winner), 2 Blocks, 10 Digs

Shania Rhamy – 14 Service Points, 2 Aces, 13 Kills, 3 Assists, 3 Blocks, 16 Digs

Quinn Claussen – 2 Assists, 6 Blocks

Adi Deaton – 9 Assists, 9 Digs

Hali Pershing – 7 Service Points, 8 Kills,  6 Digs

Presley Kroft – 1 Dig

Giulia Colombini – 1 Kill, 6 Digs

Hannah Garrison – 

Alexis Lopez – 1 Kill, 4 Blocks

Final Record 32 – 4

To view photos from the day click on the picture and enjoy