PREP VOLLEYBALL: NorthWood halts late pushes, knocks out Bishop Noll for regional title
Oct. 21—NAPPANEE — No. 5 NorthWood repeatedly held off Bishop Noll Saturday night, beating the Warriors 3-1 to earn their second-straight regional championship on their home court.
"It's emotional, you're just so excited for the girls," head coach Hilary Laidig said following the victory.
After sweeping Culver Academies Saturday morning, the Panthers returned for the nightcap, this time facing Bishop Noll (28-9), 3-1 winners over Mishawaka Marian around noon Saturday.
The heavy home crowd gave the Panthers a large cheering block, and early, it had a lot to applaud about.
NorthWood forced the hand of Warriors head coach David Rodriguez to call two timeouts after the Panthers had picked up a 20-11 lead in the opening set. Junior middle hitter Claire Payne was taken out, and it proved to be helpful to Bishop Noll.
Noll jumped on a 12-4 run to cut the first set to a 24-23 NorthWood lead, but the Warriors made a miscue, allowing the Panthers to escape with a 1-0 lead.
Bishop Noll rode the momentum gained in the first set into the following frame. Holding a 13-8 lead, the smaller Warrior crowd made their presence felt. NorthWood tied the match at 15 and after holding off yet another Noll surge, won the second set 25-22.
"It was frustrating, we're telling these kids not to be frustrated," Laidig said on the struggles to close sets Saturday. "They [Bishop Noll] did an amazing job defensively and from what we watched I had not seen that defense play like that; they were a pain."
Working to avoid the shutout end to their season, the Warriors worked a bookend third set, practically leading from start to finish, taking the third set 25-21 and cutting NorthWood's lead to 2-1.
What had struggled for the Panthers earlier must've been left on the bench beginning the fourth set. It was NorthWood's best of the night, looking almost like a new group. Either way, the 25-14 third-set win captured the regional title, a second-straight one for the RedSlam.
Payne was a clear difference when on the floor Saturday night. On, and Bishop Noll struggled to contain and swallow up spikes from Payne. Off, and the group needed to find another way to move forward.
"We've known all season that she can play like that and dominate a game like that and I'm thankful tonight that she did," Laidig said.
"Today I had the energy and brought it for the team," Payne said. "It takes a lot of effort and mental toughness, because I got stuffed a few times tonight but I still just keep coming back and try to make the smarter plays rather than the harder plays."
NorthWood's win brings a familiar foe to the semi-state round. No. 1 Bellmont (33-2) will join the Panthers at Huntington North with a trip to the state finals on the line.
Since the 2019-20 season, NorthWood's season has always ended at the hands of the Braves. Another chance to reverse their past fortune is on the table.
"It's their turn to tell their different story, don't worry about revenge," Laidig said. "It's a new slate, a new year and we got to go take it to them."
No. 5 NorthWood (32-4) will face No. 1 Bellmont (33-2) in the Class 3A semi-state round at Huntington North Saturday, Oct. 28.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
No. 5 NorthWood def. Bishop Noll 3-1, (25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-14)
Reach Matt Lucas at 574-533-2151, ext. 240325, or at matt.lucas@goshennews.com.
