Carmel Boys Volleyball battled through a demanding weekend at the Midwest Battle, finishing 4th out of 24 teams and moving to 16-5 on the season. The Greyhounds opened Friday with a pair of strong performances, sweeping Southport in two clean sets before earning another straight-set win over Homestead. The match against Homestead was highlighted by a dramatic 18-23 comeback, as Carmel closed the set on a 7-0 run to win 25-23, showcasing resilience and composure in a key moment. On Saturday, Carmel advanced into Gold bracket play and faced Trinity (KY), the second-ranked team in Kentucky. The Greyhounds delivered one of their most efficient performances of the season, sweeping Trinity 25-20, 25-19. Jack Kovac led the way with an outstanding performance, recording 8 kills on 10 swings in the match, capping off a 31 kill match and helping fuel one of the most efficient offensive outings of the season for Carmel. In the semifinals, the Greyhounds faced nationally ranked St. Xavier (KY). The opening set was a physical, back-and-forth battle before St. Xavier pulled away late to win 25-20. The second set saw St. Xavier take control early, as Carmel fell in straight sets. In the third-place match, Carmel met Hamilton Southeastern in a rematch of their earlier five-set thriller from March. The Greyhounds competed in two tight sets but ultimately fell, showing signs of fatigue after a long and demanding weekend. Despite the final results, Carmel showed its ability to compete at a high level against top regional and national competition, continuing to grow as the postseason approaches. The Greyhounds now enter a busy week. Carmel will travel to Fishers on Monday, return home to face Lawrence North on Tuesday, and close out the week on the road at Monrovia on Thursday. With just eight matches remaining before sectionals, Carmel looks to build on its 16-5 record and continue refining its play heading into the postseason.