Versailles ended the Jets’ season 25-11, 25-9, 25-7 in a Division III district title match on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Tippecanoe High School with punishing spikes and rally-killing blocks.
The Jets don’t have a player taller than 5-foot-9 on the roster, and “when their front row is that much taller than you, it leaves your back row high and dry,” Northeastern head coach Kari Kitchen said.
Every time 6-foot-1 senior Megan Campbell left her feet, something good happened for the Tigers — and the Jets didn’t have a player to match her. Campbell finished with 19 kills and four blocks, and controlled the net at all times.
Northeastern did have a few bright spots. Logan Shore had eight digs and was a perfect 29-of-29 on service receives. Brittany Markley had seven digs and four kills, and Jillian Adams had seven digs and five kills.
Northeastern finished 14-11 and the district runner-up to Versailles (22-2) for the second time in as many seasons.
“We set some goals in the season about what we wanted to do, and we accomplished a few of those,” Kitchen said. “Our five seniors didn’t want to give it up.”
The matched lasted about 50 minutes, and the Jets couldn’t keep any momentum. Up 5-3 in the first game, Versailles reeled off 10 straight points, including six kills from Campbell, for a commanding 15-3 lead.
A 9-6 score in the second game was quickly 17-7 in Versailles’ favor. After Northeastern went up 1-0 in the third (its only lead), Versailles went up 10-2 and then 18-3.
“At some moments we played really good defense, and sometimes we just stopped,” Kitchen said.
Campbell didn’t win the match by herself. Lauren Rindler had 13 kills and 11 digs, and Jill Hemmelgarn had 40 assists.
Versailles, a state semifinalist a year ago, will play Roger Bacon in the regional tournament.
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