The Whitko Varsity Lady Wildcats opened their home volleyball season in impressive fashion, sweeping visiting Columbia City 3-0 in front of an energetic home crowd Thursday, August 20. It was a phenomenal night in the gym as Whitko athletes, coaches, students, parents and community members came together to support the Lady Wildcats. The energy in the gym was matched by the team's performance on the court. The varsity Wildcats found themselves with their backs against the wall in the opening set, trailing 20-24. Whitko responded by winning the next six points to complete the comeback and take the first set, 26-24. The exciting opening-set victory provided the perfect opportunity to honor junior setter Meredith Hindbaugh, who recorded her 1,000th career assist late last season. Reaching the milestone as a sophomore was an incredible accomplishment and a memorable achievement for both Hindbaugh and the Whitko volleyball program. Hindbaugh continued to make an impact throughout the home opener, recording 30 assists and nine aces in the 3-0 victory. Her playmaking helped create opportunities for Whitko's hitters, while her quick touches at the net caught Columbia City off guard at important moments. The Lady Wildcats carried their momentum into the second and third sets, winning 25-17 and 25-18 to complete the sweep against their Whitley County neighbor. It was a complete team effort. Audrey Watmough and Izzie Harman were everywhere defensively, keeping points alive with their digs. Watmough finished with 24 digs, while Harman added 10. Alexa Culp, Alyssa Romine, Harman and Makaela Shoue delivered key kills throughout the match, helping Whitko maintain control during important points. Whitko's serving also proved to be a strength, with the Lady Wildcats consistently coming through when they needed a big serve. Whitko Statistical Leaders Aces: Meredith Hindbaugh (9), Audrey Watmough (5), Makaela Shoue (3) Assists: Meredith Hindbaugh (30) Blocks: Alexa Culp (2), Alyssa Romine (2), Meredith Hindbaugh (2) Digs: Audrey Watmough (24), Izzie Harman (10) Kills: Alexa Culp (11), Izzie Harman (8), Makaela Shoue (8), Alyssa Romine (4) The victory moved the Lady Wildcats to 2-0 on the season. Whitko will return to action this week when the Churubusco Eagles (Tuesday, 8/25) and TRC opponent Lewis Cass (Thursday, 8/27) visit South Whitley. The success extended beyond the varsity level, making it an especially exciting night for the Whitko girls volleyball program. Earlier in the day, Whitko's 7th and 8th grade teams traveled to Lakeland Christian and each came home with a victory, giving the junior high program a strong start to the season. The commitment to the program was also evident after the junior high matches. Many of Whitko's junior high girls returned to the home gym after getting off the bus from Winona Lake to cheer on the varsity team. Their presence showcased the strong connection between the junior high and high school programs and the culture being built throughout Whitko girls volleyball. The Whitko JV team also battled Columbia City in a hard-fought three-set match, ultimately falling 1-2. The third set went down to the wire, with Columbia City taking it 15-13. The JV Lady Wildcats showed tremendous fight and grit against a tough opponent and will look to bounce back next week. From the junior high teams starting their season with wins, to the JV's determination, to the varsity's 3-0 home-opening victory and the celebration of Hindbaugh's 1,000th career assist, it was a memorable night for Whitko volleyball. Congratulations to all of our Whitko Girls Volleyball athletes, and thank you to our coaches, student-athletes and supporters for continuing to build a program and culture that everyone can be proud to be a part of!