3A State Finals Preview
The end of the line, the last stop on the tour, or whatever you call it, we’ve arrived at the state championship, to be played this Saturday at Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State University. In previous seasons,…
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Continue ReadingThe end of the line, the last stop on the tour, or whatever you call it, we’ve arrived at the state championship, to be played this Saturday at Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State University. In previous seasons, there have always been teams from the Muncie area participating in this year-end celebration of volleyball talent. In one season, only teams from Delaware County (Muncie’s home) won each of the four state championships. This season? No teams from Delaware County have made it this far, proving once again that volleyball levels around the state are growing and maturing rapidly. Here are the teams and key players competing in the 3A title match.
Bellmont (30-5)
The Braves have been here before. You schedule as tough as they do because their sectional is, by far, the toughest in 3A to emerge from. To get here, they had to get past 3A top-ten members Muncie Burris and Wapahani, both Delaware County stalwarts in volleyball. To know that the team with the least amount of wins in their playoff run was Burris (24) is a testament to the preparation that this program is accustomed to. None are more prepared for this moment than Paige Busick Paige Busick 5'4" | DS/L Bellmont | 2022 State IN (’22, 5-4 DS/L, Ball State commit) and Megan Saalfrank Megan Saalfrank 5'11" | MB Bellmont | 2022 State IN (’22, 5-11 MB, IU-Kokomo commit). Each make their mark in club with Team Pineapple , and each have been major contributors to this season’s success. Look for Paige to anchor an already solid serve receive and defense, while Meg has the size and position flexibility to put balls away from anywhere.
Brebeuf (31-3)
This band of Braves has seen this movie play out. On this stage about a year ago, they had Dwenger beat, only to lose in five sets in the title match. I have a feeling this group will take that personally, as Silver Creek did this past Saturday at the semi-state. Their three losses are to 4A teams (HSE, Carmel, Mt. Vernon), and they schedule like they’re aiming for a state title every year. The offense usually centers around Sydney Robinson Sydney Robinson 5'8" | OH Brebeuf | 2023 State IN (’23, 5-9 OH), but the Dragons shut her down. Every title run has to have a supporting cast worthy of taking over at any time, and Delaney Seaman Delaney Seaman 5'8" | S Brebeuf | 2023 State IN (’23, 5-10 S/RS) stepped up in a big way, filling the stat sheet with 18 kills, hitting over .500, 29 assists, 8 digs, 3 blocks and 3 aces. There are others, like Elizabeth Phillips Elizabeth Phillips 5'10" | OH Heritage Christian | 2021 State IN (’23, 6-1 MB), who added 14 kills on .500 hitting with a career-high 9 blocks. Don’t forget my favorite class-of-’24 libero, Lola Schumacher Lola Schumacher 5'4" | DS/L Brebeuf Jesuit | 2024 State #60 Nation IN (’24, 5-4 DS/L), who just passed 600 digs on the season.