Columbus East High School

The Columbus East boys volleyball team delivered a statement performance on the road Monday evening, topping Whiteland in four sets, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, behind a thrilling comeback and contributions from across the roster. The turning point came in the third set. With the match tied at one set apiece and the Olympians trailing 20-13, senior Tyler Ernst stepped to the service line and didn’t look back. Ernst rattled off 12 consecutive points, flipping the momentum and lifting East to a stunning 25-20 comeback set win. "Those boys were aggressive tonight on offense and defense and showed great teamwork," said head coach Kailey Smith. "Everyone contributed in one way or another, including the bench bringing awesome energy from the start. I'm proud of them—but especially tonight." Alex Duncan continued to be a steady force for East, tallying 19 assists, five blocks, and four digs. He also added four kills and an ace. Ian Scholl led the team in kills with five while contributing four digs and two blocks. Keaton Stephenson chipped in with four kills, three blocks, and two aces. Justin Lopez and Alex Wenzler each recorded four and three kills respectively, with Wenzler adding a block and a dig. Ernst finished with two kills, an ace, and the clutch service run that turned the tide. On defense, Jon Ruch, Trevor Ernst, Scholl, and Duncan all registered four digs apiece, helping to keep Whiteland’s hitters in check. The win improves Columbus East to 8-9 on the season. JV Battles Tough, Falls in Three The JV Olympians fell just short against a tough Whiteland squad, dropping the match 11-25, 25-19, 13-15. Despite the loss, Coach Smith praised the team’s intensity. “They came out and competed, playing one of their most aggressive games so far this season,” Smith said. Columbus East will look to carry the energy and momentum from Monday night into their next match as they continue their spring campaign.