Columbus East High School

Olympians Earn First Conference Win with Sweep of Jennings County Building on momentum from earlier in the week, the Columbus East volleyball team captured its first Hoosier Hills Conference victory Tuesday night with a straight-sets sweep of Jennings County (25-22, 25-13, 25-20) in the Orange Pit. Addy Dean paced the attack once again with a match-high 18 kills. Playmakers Jillian Chapple and Kenlee Gault orchestrated the offense effectively, dishing out 20 and 11 assists, respectively. Ava Tartt produced a strong all-around performance with seven kills, eight digs, and three service aces, while Cadence Smith added four kills, three aces, and a block. Emma Armstrong registered four kills, two aces, and a block, with Taylor Anderson contributing a block at the net. Defensive balance in the back row came from Shelby Williams with six digs and Kadence Miller with five. The opening set required a late comeback after East found itself trailing 22-20. The Olympians answered by forcing a sideout before Smith served four consecutive points—closing the set with an ace to steal the 25-22 win. Columbus East carried that energy into the final two frames, never trailing in either set. Armstrong served out the final three points of the second set, capped by a Dean kill, and later put the match away in the third frame with a late ace after the Panthers closed within three points. The Olympians will look to extend their winning streak on Wednesday night as their three-match home stint continues against another conference foe, the Jeffersonville Red Devils, in the Orange Pit. Junior varsity action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., with the varsity match following immediately after.