ALEXANDRIA — Alexandria senior Lauren Miller’s statistics and awards alone are enough to justify her selection as The Herald Bulletin Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight time.
She was named First Team All State, All Madison County and also All-Central Indiana Conference. She had 314 kills to go with 432 digs. During the course of her career the Tigers never lost a Madison County Tournament match.
But her coach Ashley Pierce believes that there was more to her contribution than what is revealed in those honors and numbers.
“She was able to deal with the drama that comes with young players,” said Pierce. “She was able to show how to use their frustrations in a positive way on the court.”
“I thought I had a decent year,” said Miller. “At times I could have played better. But I’m very proud of myself and my teammates that we were able to win four county titles.”
Miller played as well as she did despite the fact that she is undersized as a hitter and playing out of position on a physically small Alexandria team. She made up for her lack of size with instincts and vision.
“That comes from how smart she is,” said Pierce. “To see a block the way that she does isn’t something that can be taught. Our defense this year was very scrappy. Not every hit was perfect. Lauren could take a non-perfect set and get a kill out of it.”
Miller had tryouts a couple of weeks back for the Munciana program where she will be used more for her defensive rather than offensive skills. Play begins next month.
She also has made her college choice, deciding to attend Franklin Pierce College in Ringe, N.H.
“I really liked the college a lot,” said Miller. “It was nice and welcoming. I wanted to get away from home a bit. The coach is in her first year there. It is located out in the middle of nowhere. I like the outdoors.”
She is going to major in biology and will be pursuing a pre-med curriculum.
Her repeat as Player of the Year is no surprise to her coach. “She’s that kind of girl,” said Pierce. “She deserves it. Players don’t always progress after winning that kind of award and she certainly did.”
High School Sports
Miller adds to other honors
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Five for fighting
Like other coaches, Alexandria wrestling coach Jack Grimaldi sometimes has to worry about how to motivate his charges as they head into their matches. That shouldn’t be an issue for him with his five Tigers heading into Saturday’s individual semistate at New Castle.
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Red-hot Lapel limiting miscues
Like any basketball coach, Jimmie Howell knows how important it is for a team to be playing its best basketball as the state tournament draws near.
But what’s going on in Lapel might be redefining that theory.
With a 60-42 win on the road over Class 3A No. 6 Guerin Catholic on Saturday, the Bulldogs pushed their winning streak to eight games. Over the 32-minute course of the game against the Golden Eagles, Lapel committed a microscopic four turnovers. -
PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
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Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
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Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
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Wapahani ends Lapel’s season
With both teams scrapping for loose balls and rebounds often, the second game of the first-round girls basketball sectional Tuesday night at Shenandoah seemed destined to become a backyard brawl. And as is so often the case, the more experienced team came out on top. A sloppy but hard-fought contest turned into little more than a war of attrition late as finally Lapel ran out of gas, falling to Wapahani 49-33.
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Madison-Grant survives, advances
Madison-Grant girls basketball coach Kyle Douglas reminded his team before Tuesday’s Class 2A sectional opener that the state tournament marks the beginning of a new season. With 4.6 seconds remaining against Alexandria, Argylls senior Taylor McNutt held the first game of that new season in her hands at the free-throw line. She calmly made her first attempt, and wild scramble for the loose ball erupted when her second try glanced off the rim. The clock expired before either team could gain possession, and Madison-Grant (14-8) escaped with a 58-57 victory and a ticket to Round 2.
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Daleville bucks Liberty Christian, heads into Class A semifinals
Not much changed in Sectional 55 on Tuesday at Wes-Del as Daleville pressured the Lions into submission on the way to a 51-24 win and the chance to face the host Wes-Del Warriors.
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Tribe win over Spartans 50 - 46
Photos from the opening round of the Class 4A Sectional at Greenfield-Central on Tuesday.
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Arabians advance after 55-45 win over Cougars
Photos from the Greenfield-Central sectional as the Pendleton Heights Arabians faced the Cougars.
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