Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BOURBON -ÊSame situation, different outcome.
When Triton hosted the 1999 volleyball regional, the Trojans defeated Adams Central 2-15, 15-11, 15-6. However, Adams Central turned the tables and got revenge Saturday in the 2000 Triton 1A Regional by defeating Triton 15-8, 15-4.
And Adams Centrals' Leeanne Gross had a lot to do with it.
Gross, who has led Adams Central all season in just about every category there is, was a thorn in Triton's side all morning.
"Number three for them did a good job," Triton coach Gayle Perry said of Gross, who wears No. 3. "She didn't have to play hard against us. She just hit it soft over the net and we couldn't handle it.
"We talked about playing the soft game all week. We definitely got beat by it today."
After several possession changes in game one, Triton struck first when Janell Salisbury served up one point. But that lead was short-lived as Gross led the Flying Jets to a 2-1 lead.
Triton regained the lead when Ashley Boardman served two points to put Triton up 3-2. That lead, too, was short-lived as Jeana Schwartz served three more Adams Central points to give the Jets a 5-3 lead.
Then Kristen Kolter gave the Jets a one-two punch that Triton was unable to overcome. Kolter served five consecutive points to put Adams Central up 12-4.
Salisbury gave Triton some hope as she stepped to the serving line and led the Trojans to three more points.
However, the Jets squelched Triton's combeack attempt and won the match 15-8.
"If we could have won the first game, it would have been big for us," said Perry. "I think if we had won the first game, we would have won the match. We would have shifted the momentum our way. The way it went, we lost our momentum and couldn't pull it out."
In the second game, Adams Central took the lead from the get-go. Amber Loshe gave the the Adams Central squad was up 3-2.
Enter Triton's Boardman again. She served up three points to put Triton ahead 4-3.
But that was the last time Triton scored. Schwartz served four points to put Adams Central 8-4, and then Loshe finished the game by serving seven straight points for the 15-4 win.
"The way we played, we probably got what we deserved," said Perry. "We did not play well. We were too busy reacting to No. 3. We had no momentum, no rhythm."
Perry also felt that the girls had to wait too long after the sectional to play in the regional.
"Five days is a long time to wait to play," said Perry. "Five days without a match is just too long. I don't like the way the system is right now. They (the IHSAA) base everything on what basketball does. Since they are phasing out the mid-week basketball regional, they are doing the same with volleyball. It would make more sense to have a regional in the middle of the week.
"We had great momentum after the sectional, but waiting five days and missing school because of the fog a couple of days killed it.
"You can only knock the ball around with each other for so long before you get bored with it."
Triton finished the season 27-10 overall. Adams Central fell to Michigan City Marquette in the regional final 15-3, 15-6.
TRITON REGIONAL
Championship Game
MICIGAN CITY MARQUETTE def. ADAMS CENTRAL 15-3, 15-6
Round One
ADAMS CENTRAL def. TRITON 15-8, 15-4
MICHIGAN CITY MARQUETTE def. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN 15-7, 15-2
Triton leaders -ÊBrandie Ganshorn 6 kills, Amber Feldman 8 digs, Beth Workman 11 assists
