Columbus East High School

The Columbus East boys volleyball team made a statement on the road Tuesday night, cruising past the Shelbyville Golden Bears in straight sets: 25-12, 25-18, 25-18. With a dynamic mix of power, precision, and poise, the Olympians controlled the tempo from the first serve and never looked back. Leading the offensive charge were Justin Lopez and Alex Duncan, each tallying nine kills to keep the Shelbyville defense on its heels. Duncan also dished out a game-high 27 assists, orchestrating the offense with pinpoint accuracy. Alex Wenzler (5 kills), Tyler Ernst (4), Keaton Stephenson (4), and Ian Scholl (3) added depth to a well-rounded attack. The Olympians brought the heat from the service line, racking up 10 aces, including four from Duncan and two each from Scholl and Stephenson. On defense, Trevor Ernst anchored the back row with five digs, while Duncan and Wenzler protected the net with 4 and 3 blocks, respectively. After the match, head coach Kailey Smith couldn't hide her pride: “Proud is an understatement. I’ve said it before, but tonight I am proud of them—not only for how they played, but for the energy they had, being aggressive, and learning from their mistakes and making those changes mid-game.” Next up, the Olympians face a tough test as they travel to Center Grove to take on the Trojans this Thursday.