Indiana State | Archive | October, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS ���?? Teamwork and emotion can
overcome tradition.

That was the lesson learned Oct. 27 in the Class 4A Regional 3
semifinal at Perry Meridian, where No. 3 Avon swept top-ranked defending state
champion Indianapolis Cathedral in three games.

â�?��?We played well,â�?� said Oriolesâ�?��?� coach Scott McQueen. â�?��?We knew we could
do it, and we believed we could do it. (We) did a great job of playing to the
scouting report, did exactly what we wanted the whole match.

���?Everyone played well, and that���?�s what you need in matches like that ���??
you need people to step up and execute, and the girls just did a great job.â�?�

Built up as a clash of the top remaining teams in the 4A tournament
following last week���?�s upset of second-ranked Muncie Central, the pair of 33-2
teams gave fans ���?? particularly those clad in black and gold ���?? plenty to enjoy
in Saturday���?�s morning match.

Using contributions from virtually all of their rotation of players,
the Orioles (34-2) took control early and forged ahead to a 25-20, 25-19, 28-26
win, arguably the biggest in the team���?�s history.

In the process, Avon ���?? winners of seven straight sectionals but never
a regional champion ���?? knocked out the most prestigious volleyball program in
the Indianapolis
area. Five-time state champion Cathedral (33-3) had won its regional 16 of the
past 18 years and hadn���?�t missed the state finals since 1998.

���?In my six years here and three years at Franklin, we���?�ve had a lot of matchups with them
(Cathedral), whether it was state finals or regionals,â�?� McQueen said. â�?��?And
they���?�re a great program. Jean (Kesterson) does a great job.

â�?��?Their kids are unbelievable athletes and players.â�?�

But togetherness and emotion showed through as Avon
surprised many on hand by rolling through the opening two games and continuing
for the three-game sweep.

The Orioles stole the early momentum with an 8-4 lead in Game 1, but they
had to battle 6â�?��?�5â�?� Cathedral junior Christiana Grayâ�?��?�s constant frontline
presence to hold on for the win.

After Cathedral came back to tie the game at 13-13, Avon ran off seven
of the next eight points to reach 20-14, aided by a **** and service points by
6â�?��?�2â�?� junior Katie Griffin.
The Irish got back within three at 22-19 before Avon
finished off the game by scoring three of the last four points.

In Game 2, Cathedral jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But after two Irish
errors and a trio of Griffin kills, Avon moved in front 5-3 and would never relinquish the
lead. The Irish struggled with errors in the second game while Avon got
aggressive with a number of kills by Griffin and senior Paige Dossey, which took
away **** opportunities from Gray.

The Fighting Irish were able to muster a better effort in Game 3, but they
had to weather an early storm from Griffin.
The Purdue commit scored four straight points early and Avon���?�s
first six points of the game, but Cathedral still clung to a 10-6 lead.

The Irish lead started to slip away, however, as Avon
senior outside hitter Amanda Bradley came through with three big points,
getting it to 13-12. From there, it was back and forth.

Avon was able to regain the lead and
extend it to 22-19, but Cathedral rallied after a timeout to tie it up at
23-23. The teams split the next six points before Cathedral hit the ball long,
followed by a Griffin
**** to finish off the match.

���?As a team, we all played with a lot of emotion ���?? we were all really
excited,â�?� Griffin
said after her 17-**** performance. ���?I can���?�t say anything for myself ���?? my team
was what did it for me.

���?My passer and my setter did a great job, and then our defense pulled
through.â�?�

â�?��?Weâ�?��?�ve been looking forward to Cathedral,â�?� added McQueen. â�?��?We saw that
that might happen if we could make it through sectionals. But (our players) did
a good job of being excited about it.

���?They were confident going in, which is a little different, I think,
from other years.â�?�

McQueen recalls an instance a week ago that showed his team was ready
for the task.

���?We got on the bus after sectionals and I asked if they thought they
could beat Cathedral, and they all raised their hand,â�?� McQueen said. â�?��?I asked,
���?How about in previous years?���?� and all their hands went down.

���?I think the attitude started this summer, when the seniors stepped up
and said, â�?��?You know what? This is going to be a group effort.â�?��?� â�?�

Also key for the Orioles was junior setter Holly Wasmund, who racked
up 36 assists.

â�?��?Itâ�?��?�s absolutely exciting,â�?� Wasmund said. â�?��?I didnâ�?��?�t even know what to
do with myself after the game. I just cried because I was so happy.â�?�

Senior Amanda Bradley had eight kills and 12 digs, while junior Perrie
Morgan also had 12 digs for the Orioles, who will face either Carmel or Perry Meridian in the regional
championship match Saturday evening.

â�?��?Everybody worked for each other,â�?� said Morgan. â�?��?I canâ�?��?�t explain â�?��?? itâ�?��?�s
just unbelievable.â�?�

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By Mike McGraw
Executive Director

KNIGHTSTOWN ���?? With all due respect to the many teams
Muncie Burris has beaten in the Owls���?� march to what is now more consecutive
state titles than you count, the atmosphere at their Regional 11 semifinal
showdown with No. 2 Heritage Christian at Knightstown Oct. 27 was unique.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the air of
inevitability surrounding an Owls���?� tournament match was missing. In fact, many
if not most people in attendance thought this was the day the king might
finally fall.

In the immortal words of everybody���?�s older brother,
â�?��?Thatâ�?��?�s what you get for thinking!â�?�

Burris dismantled the Eagles in workmanlike fashion,
25-18, 25-19, 25-22. So dominant was the performance that Burris never trailed
in the last half of any game.

If you are
a volleyball fan, there is no reason to read this script: You already have it memorized â�?�¦

The Owls
don���?�t beat themselves (they committed only one service error in the match).
They used their understanding of the game to keep Heritage Christian confused
throughout. They utilized multiple formations and strategies to defeat a team
with one major weapon that they rightfully centered their attack around all
day.

In other words,
the Owls did it the way they always do.

The
variations began right off the bat. Midway through Game 1, Burris began using
what can only be called an â�?��?oophusâ�?� serve. It succeeded in blunting HCâ�?��?�s return
of service attack and limited the damage being done by the Eagles���?� Kelly Faris.

If that
name sounds familiar, it should. Faris is the most lethal weapon on the Eagles���?�
two-time defending girls basketball state champions. Turns out she can play
more than one kind of ball, as her spiking ability was the centerpiece of the Eagles���?�
attack.

But the opening-game
result was still a relatively easy 25-18 victory for Burris.

Heritage
Christian began Game 2 with its own change in style. The Eagles used the â�?��?dinkâ�?�
a little more in jumping to an early lead. (This, in fact, may have been the
only real test of Burris���?� will the entire day, and they Owls passed with flying
colors.)

Burris
responded by using yet another new tactic: the short set. Again, it worked just enough to give
the Owls an edge they rode to the 25-19 win. They were aided by a large dose of
net violations by the Eagles ���?? yet again, an example of the way Burris
pressures an opponent. The Owls simply don���?�t give away points through
violations.

It looked
as though Burris would ride away into the early afternoon with Game 3, but
Heritage Christian took the opportunity to show a little character of its own.
After falling behind 6-1 early, the Eagles played their best volleyball of the
day in scratching their way back into the game.

It became
a battle of Faris power versus Burris creativity. But with the score 19-16 in
favor of the Owls, Andrea Thompson sent a Faris monster **** back into her
face, and the match was for all intents and purposes over. HC would mount one
last charge, but it fell short 25-22.

Burris
moves on to the championship match Saturday evening, when they will face either
No. 10 Shenandoah or Milan
for the regional crown.

The
interesting subplot to this match was the dichotomy in the way great players
can affect their teams. On one side you had Heritage Christian���?�s Faris, who led
by displaying her tremendous athleticism. She was the primary offensive weapon,
and certainly dominated the stat book.

On the
other was Burris libero Bonnie Kaminsky. This young lady often went long
stretches without even touching the ball. It was, nonetheless, clear whom the
leader of these Owls is. Kaminski was always in the right position and was the
epitome of the attitude with which Burris plays: She isn���?�t flashy, she is just
good.

Coach
Steve Shondell only left the Burris bench five times in the entire match, and
two of those were to speak to referees. There is no mystery why that was the
case: With Kaminski
on the floor, he does not need to.

So
what do you think? Share your thoughts on our Volleyball message board.

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