MUNCIE, Ind – Eight volleyball teams entered Ball State University’s Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 9 to see which schools would leave the building with an IHSAA State Championship title.
After four games that saw tears of joy and sorrow following the final points, Trinity Lutheran, Western Boone, Roncali and Carroll all left the court as state champions as each team swept its opponent.
Here is how the games went down.
1A: Trinity Lutheran (30-8) 3 - Faith Christian (28-5) 0
The day’s first match opened with competitiveness until the Trinity Lutheran Cougars ended the first set with a huge scoring run, taking the opening set 25-12. After winning the second set 25-10, Faith Christian showed some fight and led 13-10 early.
However, Trinity Lutheran came from behind to win the final set 25-19, giving the blue and yellow the 3-0 sweep and the 1A State Title.
“I think the kids knew they couldn't let the fans down,” Cougars’ head coach Janet VenLiew said.
The win gives the Cougars their first state title in any sport in school history. It’s something the players and coaches have been eyeing for a long time. To VenLiew, it was the player’s attitudes that got the job done.
“We were just in a groove,” she said. “...The things that they've done to get where they're at and to be as athletic and the strong volleyball players that they are, they've given up a lot and sacrificed a lot.”
Senior Madison Keith and freshman Rachel Bonde led the Cougars with seven kills apiece. Senior Carson Bowling followed with six and senior Laura Roeder was named the Mental Attitude Award Winner after the contest.
2A: Brownstown Central (33-4) 0 - Western Boone (26-5) 3
Coming into the contest, the Western Boone Stars were looking for their first volleyball state title in program history. After three sets against the Brownstown Central Braves, they are no longer searching as they won the IHSAA 2A State Finals title with a 3-0 sweep.
“When I was in high school, I just wanted to win a sectional,” Western Boone head coach Laura Bragg said. “And once I started coaching with the players that I was so blessed to have, straight up off the bat, we lost in a regional that was kind of like the state championship. So that just made me so hungry.
“It's really our youth program that we start at a young age…. You have to start it at a young age, and all of these younger girls in the stands, they watch. Now the next generation is ready to go to be a Webo volleyball player.”
Throughout the game, it was the Stars’ offense that looked nothing short of dominant (25-14, 25-13, 25-18). But it was also their blocking and performance at the net that held the Braves down.
“We knew that we had to out-block them and out-serve them,” Bragg said. “I didn't even realize until one of my assistant coaches told me that that was the best blocking [statistically] we've ever had. We focused on blocking every single day, and to do that in the state championship. I mean, that just goes to credit how determined my players were.”
Senior Raegan Durbin led the Stars with 24 kills and senior Sadie Poeck added 10. Brownstown Central senior Kinzee Dean was awarded the Mental Attitude Award.
3A: Roncalli (35-0) 3 - Angola (32-5) 0
Trying to be the first 3A undefeated state champion, the Roncali Royals were chasing history when they arrived at Worthen Arena. After three sets, the end goal became a reality as the red and blue defeated Angola 3-0 in the title game.
“It feels incredible,” Roncali head coach Christina Erazmus said. “We have worked so hard for this. My assistant coach is amazing and we put in a lot of time and effort. These girls have worked so hard. It's just incredible.”
While Angola made it interesting in the third and final set – Roncali took the set 25-21 – the Royals’ performance in the first two sets (25-16, 25-18) proved to them that they had something special going.
“In volleyball, you want to take the momentum and you want to stay in control,” Erasmus said. “And I felt like we did that. We told the girls that they need to make sure that we stay the course because they're gonna keep fighting. It's a state championship, and nobody's gonna let up.”
Leading the way for the Royals was Logan Bell with 14 kills and Lydia Stahley had 11. Angola senior Ava Harris was given the Mental Attitude Award.
4A: Yorktown (33-3) 0 - Fort Wayne Carroll (33-3) 3
The home county Yorktown Tigers looked for their first title since 2020 and sixth since 2000. But the 33-3 season ended when Fort Wayne Carroll defeated the black and green 3-0 in three competitive sets.
“I think we played a little tight, and I think we made some errors that we haven't really made all year,” Yorktown head coach Stephanie Bloom said. “It's a big stage, and you hope your kids show up and do the things they've done all year. And sometimes that happens, and sometimes it doesn't.”
Junior Bailey Sinish led the Chargers with xx kills and senior Charlotte Vinson led the Tigers with 18. Yorktown senior Claire Hazen won the Mental Attitude Award.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.
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