Woodmen, Trojans win, will face each other in semis

New Palestine couldn’t find a way to finish off Greenwood in Tuesday’s IHSAA Class 4A volleyball sectional quarterfinal match at Franklin.

The Woodmen made sure of it.

After three games against New Palestine, Greenwood trailed 2-1. But the Woodmen stormed back in the final two games to beat New Palestine 20-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 15-7.

Junior outside hitter Rachel Krutulis led the Woodmen with 17 kills. Senior setter Kristen Torrance recorded 44 assists, and junior outside hitter Kelly Johns finished with 17 digs and three service aces.

Greenwood returns for a semifinal match at 6 p.m. Thursday against county rival Center Grove, which beat Franklin Central 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 in Tuesday’s other quarterfinal.

Woodmen coach Lisa Lang said she expected a tight match Tuesday after losing to New Palestine 2-1 in the Greenwood Tournament on Sept. 8.

“We lost that third game earlier this season because we got off to a slow start,” Lang said. “And that really was characteristic of tonight because, in the games that we started slowly, we really struggled.

“So we knew going into the last game that we had to start strong and get out quick.”

And Greenwood (14-14) did just that in the deciding fifth game against the Dragons (15-18).

The Woodmen lost the first point but took off to beat New Palestine 15-7 and sealed the match.

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