November 7, 2015
Van Note Powers Wapahani to Class 2A State Title
Wapahani received a match-high 28 kills from Skyler Van Note to power the Raiders to a 3-1 victory over Speedway for the IHSAA Class 2A volleyball state championship at Worthen Arena in Muncie.
With the 25-17, 21-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory, the Raiders carted off their third volleyball state championship in five years and fourth overall.
The Raiders (27-11) of third year coach Jared Richardson became the fourth state champion with double-digit losses during the regular season.
Besides Van Note, Estella Davis contributed 12 kills to the Wapahani cause. Teammates Hannah Smith and Havyn Gates led the team defensively with 19 and 13 digs, respectively. Van Note and Smith also provided three service aces a piece and Lexi Spence added 46 assists.
Melanie McHenry was Speedway's go-to hitter with 26 kills in the match proving her worth as one of the top hitters in Indiana. Ristoria Perry led the Sparkplugs (27-10) defensively with 27 digs with McHenry adding 11 and Billie Jarrett 10.
This was Speedway's third appearance in a state championship game and the first by a girls team. Under the leadership of coach Sadie Dizney, the Sparkplugs made it all the way to the final match after winning the school's first sectional just three years ago.
Caitlynn Long named Mental Attitude Award Winner
At the conclusion of the state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, named Caitlynn Long of Speedway High School as the winner of the Class 2A Mental Attitude Award.
Caitlynn is a three-year volleyball letter winner at Speedway and has helped lead her team to three sectional titles, two regional crowns, and one semi-state championship. As a 2015 Academic All-State Honorable Mention selection, Caitlynn serves as the Student Council President at Speedway and is also a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, and Spanish Club. In addition to excelling on the volleyball court and in the classroom, Caitlynn is also a varsity letter winner on the track and field team as well.
Caitlynn is the daughter of Chris and Rita Long of Speedway, IN. Next fall, she plans on attending Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis to study Pediatric Nursing.
Each year the IHSAA Executive Committee selects a senior player who was nominated by her principal and coach and was determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Volleyball, will donate $1,000 to Speedway High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Caitlynn Long.