INDIANAPOLIS
Overcoming adversity has been a way of life for the Indian Creek volleyball team this season. Overcoming a two-game hole in a sectional semifinal against Cardinal Ritter, however, proved one task too far for the Braves.
Indian Creek fought gamely by winning the third game, but the Braves used up their remaining mental energy in battling back to extend the match. When the Raiders jumped out to a big lead in the fourth game, the Braves didn’t have enough left to mount a response, ultimately concluding their season with a 25-18, 25-20, 16-25, 25-13 loss in Class 3A action Saturday at Speedway High School.
“We just looked tired out there,” Indian Creek coach Andi Ferris said. “It’s been a rough season, and I’m really proud of the kids for trying to fight through all of the issues we’ve had. We’ve got to be mentally tough, and we just weren’t there.”
As in Indian Creek’s sectional opener on Thursday against Beech Grove, the second game proved to be a pivotal one. This time, however, the Braves (7-19) were on the wrong end of the comeback. Indian Creek started the second game in excellent fashion, building an 11-5 lead, but the Raiders (10-20) responded by winning 12 of the next 15 points, taking control of the game and forcing Ferris to try a timeout to get her team back on track.
Unlike Thursday night, it didn’t work. Cardinal Ritter won four of the next five points out of the timeout and secured a two-game lead, eliminating Indian Creek’s margin for error.
“I probably should have done a better job getting the rotation a little differently to keep people fresher, but hindsight is always the best sight,” Ferris said. “The good news is that we have a lot of kids who are back next year who got some significant time this year.”
One of those returning players is setter Haley Bramlett, who closed out her junior season with 29 assists Saturday. Junior Makena Hogue recorded 11 kills and junior Tori Iaria added 10, while Avery Hensley, one of five seniors, finished her high school swan song with seven kills.
Ferris said that she hopes her returning players will use the memory of fighting through a difficult season and winning a sectional match to push forward to better things in 2020.
“No matter what your circumstances are, they don’t define you,” Ferris said. “As long as you keep working hard, anything is possible.”
