Host Center Grove proved used an aggressive attack and nearly error-free performance to sweep Franklin in three straight sets, 25-22, 25-21 and 25-21 Thursday evening in girls volleyball action.
It was the Trojans’ seventh win in their past eight matches.
Franklin might have literally passed and served this one up to the Trojans, with several costly errors throughout the match. Still, this could well have been a sneak peek of the championship match in the upcoming Johnson County tournament next month at Edinburgh.
“It definitely will be,” Center Grove coach Chris Due said.
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According to Due, the Trojans weren’t in top form — which could send shivers to future opponents.
"(Franklin) got us off the hook a lot and we didn’t play our best volleyball," he said. "We got really hyped up on Tuesday (against Carmel) and we just kind of settled in here."
After an early Grizzly Cub lead in the first set, the Trojans scored five straight points and held onto a slim lead until Franklin made two critical serving errors late in the set that helped the Trojans.
Only down 19-17, Franklin hit the ball into the net. Then with the Trojans up 22-20, an errant serve that went out of bounds helped Center Grove close the game out.
The Trojans took a 7-2 lead in the second set and held the upper hand by preventing the Grizzly Cubs from scoring several points in succession.
In the final set, Center Grove continued to wear down the younger Franklin team and kept its cool even when the visitors tied the game late.
“Franklin was resilient and kept the ball in play,” Due said. “But I was really happy with the team and the way they put the pressure on at the end of the game, and anytime it got close we took it up to another level and kind of put them away.”
Katie Egenolf had 15 kills for the Trojans, while Jamie Brown and Grace Boggess had nine kills each.
Cami Kelsay had 14 kills for Franklin. Haley Haldeman had 27 assists.
Franklin might have literally passed and served this one up to the Trojans with several costly errors throughout the match.
“Our passing was an issue,” Franklin coach Roxie Chapman said. “We’re younger and still trying to get used to each other.”
Center Grove (7-2) plays in the Providence Early Bird tournament on Saturday, while Franklin has plenty of time to move on to its next match. The Grizzly Cubs host Bloomington South next Thursday.
