Indians Fall Against Harlem

The Poplar Indians had a disappointing start to the District 2B volleyball tournament when the Indians fell to Harlem on Thursday afternoon. Harlem came away with a 25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, victory.

Behind by a 16-11 margin in the first set, the Indians roared back with the next four points on the serving of Sophia Crawford. An ace by Frankie Gourneau put Poplar up by an 18-17 score.

After kills by Madi Barr and Nahani Stiffarm gave Harlem a 21-18 advantage, an ace by Makenzie Crawford scored a point for the Indians.

With Harlem up by a 22-19 margin, the Wildcats scored the final three points on aces by McKennen Montes.

The Indians stayed close early in the second set on the serving of Gourneau and Jacey Azure. The set was deadlocked at 13-13, but Harlem gained an 1816 advantage. A kill by Stiffarm and aces by Ali Doyle increased the Wildcats’ lead to 22-16.

Harlem tallied the last three points of the second set including a kill by Barr.

Ahead by a 16-15 margin in the third set, the Indians struck for two more points on kills by Carsyn Fourbear and Daralyn Bullchief. Harlem tied the score at 23-23, but Poplar scored the last two points of the set including an ace by Azure.

In the fourth set, the Wildcats jumped out to a 14-5 advantage. Down by a 15-9 margin, Poplar fought back to 15-13 on the aces by Bullchief and Young along with a kill by Fourbear.

The net play of Natalie Richman and Doyle led Harlem to a 23-14 advantage, but the Indians got back to 23-20 on the strong serving of M. Crawford. Harlem ended the match on a kill and ace by Doyle.