Columbus East High School

The Columbus East volleyball team showed plenty of heart Tuesday night in the Orange Pit, battling back after a tough first set to defeat Hoosier Hills Conference rival Seymour, 3-1. The Olympians dropped the opener 24-26, but regrouped to take the next three in front of a fired-up Orange Nation student section, winning 28-26, 25-15, 25-13. The match was played at a relentless pace, with both squads diving on the floor, chasing down balls, and hustling on every point. The East crowd fed off the energy, fueling the team’s comeback effort. Anika Jenkins anchored the Olympians at the net with nine kills and six blocks, while Addy Dean added nine kills and four blocks. Payten Osborn directed the offense with 16 assists and three aces, and Kenlee Gault chipped in 14 assists. Defensively, Krea Martin was everywhere, tallying 28 digs to go along with three aces. Kadence Miller added 24 digs, while Chloe Gill sparked the service game with six aces. Izzy Rice also contributed seven key kills. The win keeps East moving forward in HHC conference play. The Olympians return to action on Saturday, August 30, when they travel to Madison to compete in the Madison Invitational. Match start time: 9 a.m.