They weren’t strangers. In fact, it was the third time the Jasper Lady Wildcats had met the Castle Knights in the Class 4A sectional volleyball finals in as many years. And Saturday night’s match at Jasper High School ended much the same as in years past, with Castle securing the team’s 26th consecutive sectional title.

After a stern talking to at halftime, the Jasper girls soccer team came into the second half of its regional game against Northview High School on Saturday afternoon with a vengeance. But it wasn’t enough to earn a win.

In hindsight, Northeast Dubois interim head coach Madison Mundy and her team would probably have changed a few things for Saturday night’s Class A sectional against the host Springs Valley Blackhawks. If they could have gone back in time with an altered game plan, they might have emerged as the sectional champion instead of losing the title match in four sets.

Heritage Hills coach Kayla White made the necessary adjustments. The problem was, Evansville Memorial always answered with a new look, and it led to the Tigers winning the Class 3A volleyball sectional title Saturday night over the Patriots, 25-21, 25-19, 25-21.

Heritage Hills overcame some early nerves, which contributed to unforced errors that cost the Patriots the first set, to win three straight sets in Thursday night's opening-round match with host Mount Vernon in a Class 3A volleyball sectional.

The Rangers struggled to close out the second set to tie the match against the Warriors, and the result was a premature end to Forest Park's participation in a Class 2A sectional on the Rangers' home court.

It took the Jasper Wildcats just 45 minutes to ring up three lopsided scores Thursday night en route to a 3-0 elimination of Evansville Central in the opening round of a Class 4A sectional on the Wildcats' home court.

Two of the most unique athletic achievements in Jasper High School history happened 20 years ago — the girls’ tennis doubles state title in June 1999 followed by the boys’ team winning an unprecedented tennis state championship in October. 

Both the Forest Park and Southridge volleyball teams had their never-say-die moments in their Class 2A first-round sectional match Monday night.

The Cats return to their home field for Saturday’s regional, facing off with 11th-ranked Northview (17-1) at approximately noon in the second semifinal.

A fast start for Evansville Day proved to be Forest Park's downfall.