Indianapolis definitively defeats Yellow Jackets in home opener

By Danielle Cherry

Hits weren’t going down, blocks were being flattened and digs were only touching air. On September 12, the Yellow Jackets faced off against Indianapolis University, ending in a decisive loss for Cedarville.

While the Jackets were struggling to find their footing on the court, the Greyhounds relentlessly pounded balls, giving Cedarville little chance to recover between plays. 

“We weren’t playing fast,” head coach Greg Smith said. “We weren’t playing the way we know we can.”

The Jackets were working hard to dig stray balls and swing with power, but the Greyhounds were matching every move Cedarville made. Indianapolis outwitted the Jackets on the net with unique ball placement and tricky hits to win the match 25-16, 25-18, 25-23. 

Coming off a concussion, outside hitter Madelyn Hensley stepped back onto the court like she owned it, placing 16 kills on Indianapolis’ ground. Her swings broke through a solid wall of defense, erupting cheers from the packed-out gymnasium. Her consistency on the court was refreshing and gave Cedarville a fighting chance. 

Though Hensley was swinging hard, Cedarville’s back row was flattened on the ground trying to keep up with the Greyhounds’ hits. Nothing was a simple ball to pop up; everything required precise diving and timing to keep the ground clear. 

Though the gymnasium was loud, communication on the court was lacking, leading to out-of-system passes from hitters when it should have been setter Kaley Matney’s ball. The Jackets made errors due to confusion about where others were on the court. 

“I felt like we played slow tonight,” Smith said. “We didn’t play with a lot of enjoyment; they were just quiet, and that’s not how we are successful.” 

Despite a quieter court, defensive specialist Alivia Rutt played with intentionality. Everywhere there was a player hitting, Rutt was in the background, ready to recover any balls that landed in her vicinity. 

While Rutt picked up trash Indianapolis threw at Cedarville, Cassi Shields pounded balls at the opponent, racking up nine kills over the evening. Her spin-toss serve crashed over the net, the crowd gasping in amazement at its sheer speed and strength. When Shields jumped up to hit, Indianapolis cowered at her towering strength.

While Cedarville made good plays, Indianapolis always seemed to outplay the ladies on the net. Hits suddenly switched into sets, earning the Greyhounds 49 kills. The Lady Jackets were dusting the floor, trying to reach for loose balls. 

“I told them that we got to be better at playing on our side of the net and not worrying about the other side,” Smith said. 

In response, the Yellow Jackets defended their net, putting up 10 ball-stopping blocks to Indianapolis’ three. Though Matney is a setter, her block defense on the net earned Cedarville a break from the endless barrage of kills. 

The Jackets’ lack of momentum in the first set left them trying to recover the whole game. Though the second and third sets were closer in score, Cedarville was left in the dust, struggling to pick up balls from the back court, and only stopping 38 from hitting the ground. 

“We have to learn how to handle teams like this and handle the pressure better than we did,” Smith said.

The third set was a race to the finish. The close score gave Cedarville a hope of a victory, and changed their hitting. To switch up the pace of the game, Nanea Merryman and Hensley came flying out of the deep court to surprise Indianapolis with back-row attacks. 

Using variety in the attacks on the Greyhounds allowed the Jackets a moment’s joy, seeing a potential victory in the third set. But unfortunately, continuous errors from Cedarville let the Greyhounds run away with the victory, 23-25. 

Although the Jackets appeared sluggish, this was their second game of the day, as they were victorious over Saginaw Valley State in three sets earlier on the 11th. They still managed to hold their own against Indianapolis, forcing them to defend all over the court. Cedarville made some show-stopping plays and admirable defenses, yet confusion on the court ultimately handed the victory to the Greyhounds. 

“That’s why I said it was a disappointment, I don’t think we showed or played our best,” Smith said. 

The Yellow Jackets face off against D`Youville University at 2 p.m. on September 13. The Jackets are 3-2 in this early season and have a chance to redeem their home court by bringing a different level of intensity and energy to this matchup.

Danielle Cherry is a sophomore communication major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves to travel and talk about Marvel.