Hawks bow out in three to Milton-Union
By George Starks

BROOKVILLE- When a D-IV school like Mississinawa Valley is forced to play at the D-III tournament level, it would be understandable if the smaller group of Hawks would throw in the towel early to the larger school.

That was not the case Saturday against Milton-Union.

Mississinawa Valley came out with all guns blazing but in the end it wasn’t meant to be as the Hawks fell to the Bulldogs in three, 25-18, 25-8 and 25-17.

Game one watched the Hawks fly high, getting as much as an 11-6 advantage before the Milton-Union coach called for time.

Telling his players to pick it up that they were looking past their competition, the Lady Dogs took it to heart.

After the one minute break, Milton Union went to work, going on an 11-5 run, gaining its first laed of the game at 17-16.

The lead would go back and forth before the Dogs would go up for good, 20-17 and never look back.

Game two was as lopsided as the Leaning Tower of Pisa as the Dogs would roll to a 25-8 victory.

“I was so proud of my team the way they came out and too it to Milton Union. We came out with all our guns firing,” said Hawks coach Billie Hunt. “We were playing some of our best ball this season and I knew thing were off balance when I saw their coach standing up. I knew they were looking past us. My girls were a little psyched coming in here a small school playing against the much bigger D-III team. We came here to play. I’m thrilled with the way we played. I’d like to forget the second game ever happened but I will concentrate on the first and third.”

Game three was a mirror image of the opener as the Hawks once again held several leads but was never able to put the Bulldogs away.

“In the first and third games, we were able to get passes and get our hands on the ball,” commented Hunt.

If the Hawks had one obstacle they could not overcome, it came in the form of Kindsey Douglas.

The Dogs middle hitter was a thorn for the Hawks right from the jump.

“She’s a tremendous hitter and I’m glad we played as well as we did against her,” admitted Hunt. “She is one of the toughest hitters we’ve come up against this year. The only reason I took them in them in the sectionals is because we scrimmaged them and I knew what they had. This is a good team. I thought we played and handled her really well.”

Hunt concluded by saying she will miss the six seniors and are good players.

The loss finished the Hawks season with a 9-12 mark.