The Hamilton Southeastern Royals boys volleyball team pulled off a 3–1 win over New Palestine in front of a home crowd, showing grit and resilience in a back-and-forth matchup. The Royals came out strong in the first set, leaning on their offense to take control early and earn a 25–21 win. But New Palestine wasn’t backing down—the Dragons turned up their defensive intensity in the second set and pushed the Royals. Still, HSE stayed calm under pressure and pulled out another close win with a score of 25–22.

Down 0–2, New Palestine came alive in the third. They took advantage of some unforced errors and played with urgency, grabbing a 25–20 win to cut the lead in half. The Royals didn’t panic. Instead, they regrouped, stayed focused, and delivered their cleanest set of the night in the fourth, using strong communication and smart play at the net to finish off the match with a 25–18 win.

The Royals were led by a dominant showing from Evan Lekuyer, who came through with big kills when the team needed them most. Their libero also stepped up, making clutch digs and anchoring the back row during some long rallies. On New Palestine’s side, their setter kept the offense flowing, while their outside hitter consistently applied pressure throughout the match.

It was a hard-fought win for Hamilton Southeastern, one that showed how well the team can handle pressure when the game gets tight. For New Palestine, it was a tough loss, but they proved they’re capable of competing with some of the toughest teams around. With the postseason approaching, both teams walk away from this match with lessons learned and plenty to build on as they prepare to head into the most challenging part of their schedule—followed by the Midwest Battle and then into sectionals.