NorthWood, LaPorte facing formidable foes in IHSAA volleyball semistate

There's no denying that both the NorthWood and LaPorte volleyball teams belong in semistate play Saturday.

There's also no denying that each will have to beat arguably the top two teams in Indiana to earn a spot in the State Finals.

Both teams will look to play spoiler this weekend as each tries to claim the first semistate championships in program history.

No. 5 NorthWood (32-4) faces postseason nemesis Bellmont in the Class 3A North Semistate at Huntington North High School. No. 1 Bellmont, which has sidelined the Panthers in postseason play each of the past four years, is 33-2.

No. 12 LaPorte (32-4) will clash with top-ranked and defending state champion Hamilton Southeastern in the Class 4A North Semistate at Frankfort High School. HSE is 31-0 and has lost four sets total all season.

Hamilton Southeastern is ranked No. 1 overall and Bellmont No. 2 in the statewide power poll, regardless of class.

The State Finals are set for Saturday, Nov. 4 at Ball State University in Muncie. The Class 3A title match will be at 4:30 p.m. with the Class 4A season finale at 7 p.m.

NorthWood meeting familiar foe in Bellmont

NorthWood coach Hilary Laidig says her team's focus Saturday needs to be firmly on this season.

That may be easier said than done considering the Panthers postseason history of late with rival Bellmont.

Bellmont, which beat NorthWood 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-10) in last year's semistate, was Class 3A state runner-up in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The Braves have ended NorthWood's season each of the past four years, including in the regional round in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

"We have talked about it with this group in a round about way, and I think this groups needs to focus on this year only," said Laidig of the history versus Bellmont. "Obviously, they know they past and have been here for the past, but their mindset needs to be this is now and nothing about “revenge” or putting pressure on themselves to fix something from the past."

Bellmont, which has won its last 15 matches, has lost to Class 4A No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern 3-0 and Angola 3-1 this season. They have won 93 sets and lost 13 on the season. Bellmont, which owns five semistate championships, topped Northwood 3-1 (25-14, 25-17, 22-25, 25-13) back in September.

"They are almost the same team back and they moved (Jackie) Sutter who was their number two from last year to an opposite hitter to make room for the sophomore (MaryKate) Scheumann who I believe is leading them in kills," Laidig said of Bellmont. "They have great ball control and have a winners mindset. All these girls know is going to state."

Bellmont, which owns five semistate titles, beat No. 3 Angola 3-2 and No. 4 Benton Central 3-0 last Saturday to win the Norwell Regional. Sophomore MaryKate Scheuman led the team with 35 kills in the pair of wins. Senior Jackie Sutter had 16 kills versus Angola and senior setter Hailey Cole had 76 assists in the two regional matches. Senior libero Sami Christen and junior Katie Mills led the defense. Star senior Delany Lawson, a Utah State recruit, was the star versus NorthWood a year ago in the semistate and ranks second in kills this season with 402. Scheuman leads the offense with 426 kills.

NorthWood, which topped Culver Academy 3-0 and Hammond Bishop Noll 3-1 to win its own regional last weekend, is led by the trio of juniors Claire Payne and Sophia Barber and senior Karis Bennett. Payne was huge in the regional with 34 kills in the two wins. Libero Jessie Price also turned in a big time performance in the regional round for the Panthers.

"The big keys for us are having all of our hitters contribute and be efficient with Claire, Sophia, and Karis being very successful," Laidig remarked. "We have got to serve aggressively to try to get them out of system, but even then be ready for a hard attack. Our blocking will be a big factor. We have to be successful at the net blocking to win that game."

The Panthers, who were 6-1 to finish as runner-up to Warsaw in the Northern Lakes Conference, have lost to Homestead, Bellmont, Angola and Warsaw.

Bellmont finished 30-7 a season ago, losing 3-1 to Providence in the Class 3A state championship match.

Slicers facing powerful opponent

LaPorte coach TR Harlan's quick scouting report on Hamilton Southeastern may tell one all they need to know about the Royals.

"They are probably the best high school team I've ever seen on tape," said Harlan of HSE. Obviously extremely talented. Tremendous size and ability. Very well coached."

The top-ranked Royals have mowed down a tough schedule all season long. They have won 89 of 93 sets played, including a 3-2 win over Homestead in the regional finale last Saturday. Their only other two sets lost this season were to Yorktown and Cathedral. HSE went 34-1 a year ago, losing their first match of the season to McCutcheon and then winning the next 34 in a row, including beating pernnial powerhouse Yorktown 3-1 to claim the Class 4A state title.

The Slicers, who beat Warsaw 3-1 and Crown Point 3-0 to win its own regional, are a veteran team. Harlan relies heavily on six seniors, led by hitters Emalee Maesch and Ava Holtz, setter Bella Meier and libero Isabel Freese. Maesch leads the team with 347 kills and Holtz has 328. Meier is over 1,000 assists this season and Freese has 533 digs. The senior duo of Kate Buckley and Madison Dhoore have also been key contributors for the Slicers.

"These kids love being together," said Harlan. "There is nothing they wouldn't do for one another. Our setter (Belle Meier) has done a tremendous job of diversifying our offense. Our numbers show that we are outside heavy, but our middles and right sides have been good all year. Defensively we play with tremendous effort.

"We have six seniors that all play a significant role for us. There leadership on and off the court has been awesome. We consider all six captains."

LaPorte, which went 13-1 to win the Duneland Athletic Conference title, began the season 17-0. The Slicers have lost to Carroll, Chesterton, Angola and Warsaw.

HSE owns a 3-0 win over Warsaw and another 3-0 win over Bellmont among its 31 victories this season. The Royals have six players with 100 or more kills, led by 6-3 senior outsider hitter Lauren Harden with 319. Harden led the offense with 18 kills in the regional final win. The duo of outside hitter Lindsey Mangleson and middle Tiffany Snook have 295 and 174 kills respectively. Sophie Ledbetter leads the team defensively with 359 digs and setters Macy Hinshaw and Ava Hunter run the offense.

Harlan knows it's all about the Slicer controlling what they can come Saturday.

"We have to play our game.," remarked Harlan "We’ll have to pass really well in serve receive and put balls away when we have the opportunity.

"We know how good they are. Everyone does. We are going to take care of our side of the net. They can’t come over there. We have to control what we can control."

IHSAA semistate volleyball pairings

Saturday, Oct. 28

NORTH

All times ET

At Huntington North

Class 1A: Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (28-8) vs. Southwood (30-4), 1 p.m.

Class 3A: NorthWood (32-4) vs. Bellmont (33-2), 3 p.m.

At Frankfort HS

Class 2A: Pioneer (24-13) vs. Muncie Burris (29-4), 4 p.m.

Class 4A: Laporte (32-4) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (31-0), 5:30 p.m.

SOUTH

At Columbus East

Class 2A: Indianapolis Scecina (25-11) vs. Brownstown Central (24-13), 1 p.m.

Class 3A: Tri-West Hendricks (25-9) vs. Providence (29-5), 3 p.m.

At Jasper

Class 1A: Greenwood Christian (24-13) vs. Tecumseh (31-4), 4 p.m.

Class 4A: Roncalli (30-3) vs. Castle (33-3), 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: NorthWood and LaPorte eye volleyball semistate championships