Reese Edwards
Columbus North saw why Franklin is considered the favorite to win the Franklin volleyball sectional next week.
The Bull Dogs improved with each set, but they eventually fell to the Grizzly Cubs 25-11, 25-18, 25-20 on Thursday night.
“This is a good eye opener, especially being at the end of the season of what we need to work on,” North coach Jenna Ortega said. “We need to come out a lot stronger at the beginning. We did change up some lineups to have some different ideas to go with.”
The Bull Dogs (15-11) have one final tuneup before they begin sectional play, and it’s a huge game. They’ll play Terre Haute South, which is unbeaten in Conference Indiana at 4-0. With a win Saturday, the Bull Dogs, who are 3-1 in CI, can earn a share of the conference title.
“It’ll be a huge game being conference, and they’re a very good team. I think they’ll help us prepare, and we can handle it,” Ortega said. “We’ve been in cases like that before, so as long as our minds are right, they shouldn’t have a problem.”
Kennedy Horn pounded eight kills, two solo blocks and three assist blocks, and Reese Edwards totaled 19 assists and 12 digs to lead the Bull Dogs. Karen Dutro finished with eight kills, two solo blocks and one assist block, Morgan Osborn notched 11 digs, Roselynn Venegas served two aces and Sydney Ousley added four kills.
If North wants to win the sectional, it knows it likely will see Franklin again. The Bull Dogs opens sectional play against Shelbyville on Thursday.
“I definitely think they’ll be the favorite this year for sectional,” Ortega said, “and I have no doubt once we put in the work the next week, we can really focus on our strong points and weaker points we need to work on. I think we’ll be able to show a different side of us come sectional time.”
