FORTVILLE — The Mt. Vernon volleyball team kicked off the 2021 season with a 3-0 sweep over visiting Greenwood on Saturday.
The host Marauders won in straight sets, 25-9, 25-16, 25-15.
Rylee Ugen set the team to a .275 hitting percentage with her 31 assists overall, while Cecilia Bulmahn led the Marauders’ offensive attack with 15 kills.
Libby Gee-Weiler led the defense with 17 digs. Bulmahn recorded a double-double with 13 digs.
The first set was nip-and-tuck initially until Mt. Vernon’s Abby Herman rattled off eight straight serves to give the Marauders the momentum they needed.
Herman led the team with eight aces. Macy Lyons had seven kills and posted a team-leading four blocks.
The Marauders hosted state-ranked Cathedral on Monday night for their “White Out” match.
Royals win a pair
The Eastern Hancock volleyball team opened the season Saturday with a 2-1 loss against Northeastern, but the Royals regrouped quickly.
Eastern Hancock won two straight matches to finish its season-opening appearance at the Morristown Invitational.
The Royals (2-1) defeated Rising Sun, 2-1, and ended their run with a 2-0 victory against host Morristown.
They traveled to North Decatur on Monday and are on the road Thursday at Cambridge City Lincoln.
Dragons sweep season opener
The New Palestine volleyball team opened its season with a 26-24, 25-7, 25-11 win over Scecina Memorial on Saturday.
Grace Myers led the Dragons’ defense with 22 digs and four aces. Isabella Gizzi had 28 assists, 11 digs and four kills. Lauren Wilson posted a team-best 14 kills. Reagan Kleiman had 10 kills. McKaylah Flagle added eight digs and three aces.
The Dragons traveled to Connersville on Monday.
Girls Golf
Marauders thriving early on
The Mt. Vernon girls golf team had a busy week, posting a pair of nine-hole victories and two top-five invitational placements.
On Saturday, the Marauders took fifth at the Franklin Invitational behind a team score of 358. Alaina Nugent led the team with a 78, placing fourth overall as an individual.
Meredith Johnson carded an 80 for seventh overall. Mackenzie Miner shot a 98, Sophie Amegnigan had a 102 and Izzy VanHeel added a 117.
Evansville North (331) won the event, followed by Franklin (336), Center Grove (339) and Perry Meridian (357). Mt. Vernon bested New Albany (371), Maconaquah (372), Martinsville (386), Whiteland (450) and Southport.
On Thursday, Mt. Vernon defeated Eastern Hancock at home 220-252 led by Aubrey Trittipo, who shot a 49 for medalist honors.
Natalie Miner (50), Kalin Wallpe (55), Kailee Monroe (66) and Gigi Avers (72) completed Mt. Vernon’s scoring.
The Marauders (182) won over both Lawrence Central (208) and Beech Grove on Tuesday, Aug. 10.
Nugent earned medalist honors with a 39. Johnson shot a 42 and Trittipo fired a 58.
Mt. Vernon also placed third with a 349 during the Center Grove Trojan Classic Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 7.
Nugent was the overall medalist with a 73. Johnson was sixth overall with an 80.
Center Grove (318) won the event, followed by Plainfiled (337). Southport was fourth (366). Perry Meridian was fifth (373). Martinsville was sixth (373). Greenwood took seventh (396). Avon was eighth (409), and Whiteland placed ninth (433).
Dragons finish 12th at Lapel
The New Palestine girls golf team competed in its first 18-hole tournament of the season Saturday and shot a 380 to finish 12th in the 16-team Lapel Invitational.
Zoe Nelson paced the Dragons with an 88. Lauren Appleby fired a career-best 93, followed by a 96 from Kate Stanfield. Hanna Beller carded a 103 and Ava Hasecuster had a 114.
The Dragons opened the season Monday, Aug. 9 with a 198-219 victory over Greenwood at The Links.
Stanfield led the team with a 45. Beller shot a 47. Nelson had a 51 and Appleby shot a 55. Hasecuster and Janie Hamilton each posted 58s.
Boys Soccer
Marauders fall to Royals
The Mt. Vernon boys soccer team lost on the road Saturday to host Hamilton Southeastern 4-0.
The Marauders return home today and face Richmond.
Cross Country
Marauders girls run strong
The Mt. Vernon girls cross-country team opened the season at the Valley Kickoff held Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
The Marauders were led by senior Morgan Tharp, followed closely behind by Lydia Carrell and Allie Jenson. Alex Overshiner and Melinda Cornelius rounded out the team’s top-five scorers.
“I’m pretty happy with how we competed today,” Mt. Vernon head coach Kean Coy remarked. “Obviously, all of the state’s better teams are training through this first month, and we continued to do so in this blistering how week, but as far as competitive drive, I feel we held our own.”
Marauders boys place seventh
The Mt. Vernon boys cross-country team finished seventh overall at the Valley Kickoff at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course on Saturday.
The Marauders were led by Austin Rush, who ran in a time of 17 minutes, 1 second for 27th overall. Joseph Blagrave was 28th, Reyce Morgan was 43rd, Sam Wilson was 51st and Colin Strachman finished 86th.
Center Grove won the 30-team race with Carmel second. Bloomington North was third and Bloomington South was fourth. Floyd Central took fifth and North Central was sixth.
