Karen Dutro
Columbus North hit a huge bump in the road Tuesday night when it faced New Albany.
Once North got back on track, it put it on cruise control as it prevailed in five sets 25-17, 10-25, 12-25, 25-20, 15-12.
“A lot of us in the huddle (after the third set) were saying that we know how we played in the first set and know how we played against other teams, and it was not how we can play,” North junior Karen Dutro said. “We can play better defense, better blocking and better attacking, and we just knew all-around that we can play better. We wiped the slate clean and came out with smiles on our faces and focus on this fourth set, getting the win and starting a new game.”
North (9-12) got off fast start in the first set to go ahead 14-8. New Albany couldn’t make up the deficit as North cruised to a one-set lead in the match.
North had a lapse in the serve-receive during the second and third sets. It allowed New Albany to have an early 11-3 lead in the second set and extend it to 19-6 until closing it out. The third set was much the same as New Albany jumped out to a quick 10-1 lead, and North couldn’t recover.
With New Albany in the lead 2-1 entering the fourth set, North finally got it back in gear. It jumped out to a 7-1 lead, but New Albany came back to get it within 15-14. North then scored six straight points to lead 21-14 and eventually take it to the fifth-set tiebreaker.
In the fifth set, New Albany had the early 4-1 lead, but North fought back to tie it at 5-5. North scored four of the next five points in the set to give it the cushion needed to close out the set and match.
“It takes every single one of them to be pumped and have the energy and the desire they want. I honestly really put some pressures on the captains just to bring their team up,” North coach Jenna Ortega said. “I’m super proud of them for pushing through and coming out on top because Sets 2 and 3 were not pretty. I think they finally got that fight in them, and they weren’t going to give up.”
Kennedy Horn
Kennedy Horn recorded 12 kills, three aces and two blocks for North. Reese Edwards tallied 17 assists and three aces, and Dutro had 12 kills and two blocks.
Also for North, Morgan Osborn notched 17 digs, Holly Evans finished with 17 assists, Elaina Penrod had 10 kills and Lucy Wilson added three aces.
