Page 23 - 2011-12 Volleyball State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

BURRIS SWEEPS TO 14TH STRAIGHT CLASS 2A TITLE

The Muncie Burris volleyball dynasty continued as
the top-ranked Owls swept fourth-ranked Fairfield, 25-12,
25-12, 25-11, to win the Class 2A state championship at
Worthen Arena on Saturday. It was the sixth straight year
the Owls had swept in the state title match.
It was the Owls’ 14th consecutive 2A state title, their
95th consecutive state tournament victory and its second
straight undefeated season (39-0). Burris owns an
87-match winning streak that dates back to Oct. 13, 2008.
They finished 40-0 in 2009.
Taylor Morey led Burris with 15 kills and a .400 hitting
percentage while Chelsea Toth and Hannah Clemmons
finished with 8 and 7 kills, respectively. Setter Kelsey Carr,
who was named the winner of the mental attitude award
following the match, finished with 36 assists.
Haley Bechtel led Fairfield with five kills and tallied 10
digs on defense.
Thanh Harnish is in her first season as Burris coach
after taking over for the legendary Steve Shondell who
departed after 34 years.
It was the fifth straight year the Falcons had advanced
to the state finals and second time falling to Burris in the
final match (2006). Fairfield had entered the match on a 13
match win streak under coach Carla Herschberger.

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC CLAIMS FIRST VOLLEYBALL STATE TITLE

Lafayette Central Catholic (31-7) battled its way to the
school’s first ever Class A state championship Saturday
afternoon at Ball State’s Worthen Arena with a 25-9, 17-25,
25-18, 25-18 victory over Indianapolis Lutheran (27-12).
Central Catholic cruised through the first set (25-9), but
Lutheran picked up the second set win after enduring nine
ties and four lead changes. With a 14-13 lead and senior
Jordan Finke serving, the Saints rattled off five straight points
to take control of the second set before closing it out at 25-17.
Lutheran jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the third when
Central Catholic head coach Brad McCarter called a timeout.
After the break, Central Catholic rallied to score eight straight
points and would not relinquish the lead. Senior Olivia
Walker closed out the set with an ace, giving the Knights a
25-18 win and 2-1 lead.
Lutheran was able to keep it close in the early stages of
the fourth set before Central Catholic stretched their lead to
19-10. Down 14-24, the Saints narrowed the gap before a kill
by junior Morgan Hainje sealed it for Central Catholic. The
Knights were led by senior Olivia Walker’s game high 14 kills;
senior Molly King chipped in with 11 kills and nine digs, while
senior Claire Riehle added 10 kills and 12 digs of her own.
Lutheran, coached by Kathy Anderson, was led by senior
Jordan Finke’s seven kills and nine digs. Junior Hope Steel
had a team high 11 digs, while senior Julie Myers tallied six
kills and 10 digs. The Saints were making their third consecu-
tive visit to the state finals and were playing in the champion-
ship match for the first time.
IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. Pure INDIANA! 23