North Judson Gets 3-0 Win Over North Newton

It was an extremely competitive night at Rensselaer High School as the defending State Champion North Judson San-Pierre Lady Bluejays took on North Newton in the first game of the Sectional, hosted by the Bombers. While the Jays came away with a 3-0 win (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) the victory was anything, but easy, as the Lady Spartans of North Newton made the Lady Jays earn each set.

“I think coming out tonight, our energy could have been a lot better” said Lady Bluejays Coach Madi Fingerhut. “I think communicating on the floor could have been a lot better, I just hope Saturday we can come out with a lot of energy”. The Jays were able to overcome their lack of communication throughout the night with very aggressive and accurate serving from start to finish. “I thought that we were serving really well” said Fingerhut. “I thought that offensively our hitters were taking, for the most part, some smart shots” Fingerhut continued. “I was really pleased with Alexie Harper. I thought she did a really good job passing for us. She’s usually a pretty reliable passer, so I think she was a pretty steady force in the back row for us tonight” Fingerhut said, eyes filled with energy. “I thought Delaney Martin did a good job in the middle, I think that Tabitha Pop did a good job with serving and also playing some defense”. The Lady Bluejays were very focused throughout the game, and made it very clear, even when North Newton made their runs, the ladies in blue and gold were not going to be rattled.

“I think the biggest keys for us were to focus on our passing” Senior Natalia Gebka said following the win. “Then once we started focusing, we got our offense to work better, and that’s how we started scoring points”. Gebka also noted that the same kind of focus will be key in their next game against Boone Grove. “I think it’ll be the same key” she said. “We need to keep making sure our defense is good, our passing is on point, because passing effects everything, from our setting to hitting, it all comes together from passing”.

The Lady Bluejays will be back in action on Saturday morning when they take on the Boone Grove Lady Wolves at 11am central at Rensselaer.