Emily Noto and Kam Burns Lead Penn to IHSAA Sectional Title

Penn High School Volleyball Team Claims Sectional Title

LAPORTE — The name "Noto and Burns" might sound like the start of a law firm, but on Saturday night, it was the perfect pairing for the Penn High School volleyball team. Freshman Emily Noto and junior Kam Burns led the Kingsmen to a 3-1 victory over rival Mishawaka in the Class 4A LaPorte Sectional title match.

The Kingsmen secured their 20th sectional title in program history and their second consecutive championship with a score of 25-15, 23-25, 25-21, 25-15. Noto delivered 18 kills, while Burns added 16, showing off their powerful performance throughout the game.

Penn (23-6) will now advance to face Warsaw (28-4) in a one-match regional next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Culver Community High School. Warsaw won its own sectional title by defeating Elkhart 3-0. The Kingsmen previously faced Warsaw on August 27, winning 3-2, and lost to them 2-1 on August 30 in closely contested matches.

Mishawaka, led by senior Ellie Adams, finished the season with a record of 25-8. Adams, one of five seniors on the team, played a key role in the second set, leading her squad to a 25-23 win after a 4-0 run that turned a 20-19 deficit into a 23-20 lead.

Key Moments from the Match

In the opening set, Noto sparked Penn with four kills during a 7-0 run that helped the Kingsmen overcome an early 7-4 deficit and take an 11-7 lead. Penn closed out the first set with a kill from Noto.

Adams, who had over 400 kills this season and more than 1,000 digs for her career, led the Cavemen in the second set. After Penn took a 20-19 lead, Mishawaka went on a 4-0 run to make it 23-20. Penn managed to get within 24-23, but Adams' kill sealed the set for Mishawaka.

The third set was a back-and-forth battle, with Penn taking control after a 7-2 run led by junior Anna McCullough. This run turned a 7-7 tie into a 14-9 advantage for the Kingsmen. Despite a late rally by Mishawaka, McCullough's key kill helped close the set.

In the fourth set, Penn used a 6-0 run to take command. A replay call after a point was awarded to Mishawaka gave them a 5-4 lead, but the Kingsmen capitalized on the momentum, with McCullough and Burns delivering crucial kills. Burns ended the match with the final kill, sealing the victory.

Players’ Perspectives

Burns, a 5-6 outside hitter, emphasized the importance of playing for her teammates. "This is my seniors last year and I'm playing for them," she said. "We want to win so bad. Our motivation is to win every game. My mentality out there is to trust my teammates and listen to them out on the court."

Noto, who ranks second on her team in kills, showed maturity beyond her years. The 15-year-old watched her older sister Sarah help Penn win championships last season. Sarah now plays at Tennessee Tech.

"I just came in this season with the intention to help the team," Noto said. "We can accomplish so much because there is so much talent on our team."

Coach’s Take

Penn coach Kaitlyn Hickey praised the team's defensive efforts. "I thought we did a really good job on defense and we passed well, moved the ball well and our kids were swinging aggressively which was nice to see," she said.

Hickey, who was a star player on Penn's back-to-back state title teams, described Noto and Burns as "fearless." She highlighted their mindset on the court.

Junior Carson Petty contributed 27 assists, while Montana Swartz, one of four seniors, recorded 23.

Mishawaka’s Farewell

Mishawaka coach Randa Adams reflected on the bittersweet end of the season for her senior players. "It's kind of like last year was for us. But all of these seniors will go on to bigger and better things," she said.

Adams acknowledged the effort from her team, including two JV players who stepped in during the match. "Credit Penn. Their defense picks stuff up. They are scrappy."

Mishawaka will lose several key seniors, including Ellie Adams, Andie Shields, Alex Lowery, Cassie Creech, and Soren Sculati.