Triton Central dominates match to secure volleyball program's first regional championship

MORRISTOWN – Triton Central dismantled Northeastern in every facet of the game Saturday to capture the volleyball program’s first regional championship, 25-18, 25-10, 25-18.

The Tigers (24-8) will face No. 6 Eastern (Pekin) (30-5) in the second semistate semifinal match on Nov. 1 at Bedford North Lawrence. Eastern defeated Southwestern (Hanover), 25-9, 25-4, 25-11 Saturday to earn its semistate berth.

In the other Class 2A semistate semifinal at 10 a.m., No. 1 Barr Reeve (30-5) will face Greencastle (30-4).

The semistate championship is set for 7 p.m.

At Morristown Saturday afternoon, Triton Central’s defense smothered Northeastern’s offensive sets and put its senior setters, Maryrose Felling and Audrey Darlage, in position to set up the big hitters.

“We practiced a couple different things (this week) to see what we thought would be best, and we ended up sticking with the rotation although we modified it a little bit,” said Triton Central head coach Lyndsey Skipton. “It was what we needed, and it allowed us to keep the ball alive and continue to have some pressure. And when we were hitting … we were scoring.”

Triton Central never trailed in the opening set and established the tone with big swings from Lucy May and Addison Gibbs who combined for 10 kills in a 25-18 win.

“Our hitters were really good today,” said Triton Central senior Gwyn Williams, who had 11 digs in the first set. “They played really smart. Not all the hits were 100% swings. They did offspeed, tips and rolls to the corner worked well too.”

Skipton credited Williams, the only player in the rotation that does not come off the floor, with getting the Tigers in rhythm early.

“Gwyn (Williams) was instrumental in the back row keeping the ball alive. She’s a veteran. She is just so good reading (players),” said Skipton.

The Knights (22-10) took an early lead in set two before the Tigers went on a 15-2 run to squash any comeback thoughts.

May and Gibbs combined for nine more kills in the second set.

“May and Gibbs are going to put the ball down and find the seam and they make you pay for it,” said Skipton.

Northeastern never led in set three but pushed the Tigers to finish strong to end the match.

A May kill made it 16-9 but the Knights battled back to 20-18 before Sum Kamdyn served long to get the Tigers back to its starting rotation.

Felling found May for her match-leading 16^th kill and a 22-18 advantage.

Felling then knocked a floating ball at the net to the sideline for another point.

Williams, the Tigers’ career service aces leader, ended the match with back-to-back aces.

Williams (photo, accepting the regional championship trophy from Morristown Athletic Director Dan Theobald) mentioned earlier in the week that the volleyball program placard in the gymnasium listed no regional titles. The Tigers will now get to update that placard with another week of volleyball.

 “I am so happy. I don’t want it to be over,” said Williams. “I don’t want my senior year to go away.”

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