By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – When veteran Floyd Central coach Bart Powell, a Hall of Famer who has been on the sideline for multiple decades, calls something his “best ever,” it’s time to take notes. That’s high praise.
The Highlanders, one of the perennial powers in the Hoosier Hills Conference, have earned his approval on the service line, and Bedford North Lawrence had to agree. Autumn Engle served seven straight points during a key third-set run as Floyd continued its mastery of the Stars.
Floyd, with firepower from Macy Sorg at the net, bounced BNL in straight sets on Thursday night, recording a 25-16, 25-19, 25-14 victory. The Highlanders improved to 6-2 overall, 2-0 in the Hoosier Hills Conference.
The Stars (5-5, 0-2) had their moments. They owned an 8-4 lead early in the second set, they were even at 9-9 in the third. It just didn’t last.
“It’s like a wake-up call, we’re close,” BNL coach Aaron Wagoner said. “If we just hit aggressively, attack aggressively, serve aggressively, keep it in bounds . . . when we don’t, they have two hitters that can just bury the ball.”
Sorg was super up front, cracking 15 kills, while teammate Keylee Kruer added 10 kills. Lillie Furmail handed out 31 assists. None of them are seniors.
“We have the potential to be really good,” Powell said. “We’re pretty young, starting three sophomores, and they have their moments where their brains collapse a little bit. But you can tell it’s there. It’s just piecing it together. They’re just thinking way too much.”
Any possible BNL rally was erased in the third when Engle took control at the service line and propelled the Highlanders to a 16-9 advantage. “This might be the best serving team I’ve ever had,” Powell said. “We’re pretty aggressive.”
Sammie Gratzer paced the Stars with 10 kills, Jenna Allen and Sara Williams both totaled 15 digs, and Adalynn Bailey had 7 digs.
”Our ballhandling is improving,” Wagoner said. “It might not be there yet, but we’re progressing toward it. The whole thing is getting there by the sectional, because we have to play that team again.
”The trick is getting them to believe they’re that good. We play down to the competition and up to the competition. We play a dangerous game. When you do that, you can be all over the board.”
The Stars will travel to Providence on Monday.
