November 5, 2016
Cathedral Repeats as Class 4A State Champ
Fourth-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral repeated as Class 4A state champion taking a 25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20 decision from top-ranked Crown Point at Worthen Arena in Muncie.
Cathedral (31-4) returned five starters from last year's 36-0 titleist team and that experience paid off.
Senior Nia Robinson drilled the final two kills of the match and set the four-set state championship record with 27 eclipsing the 25 set by Cathedral alum Danita Merlau in 2004. Mattison Norris tallied 17 kills and Emily Kleck 13 for the Irish. Maria Schorr accounted for 57 assists and Payton White dug out 20 on defense.
The win over the Bulldogs (36-4) was the third regular season loss avenged by Cathedral (31-4) during the state tournament. The Irish had surrendered a five-set home loss to Crown Point back on Aug. 27 and had also taken out ninth-ranked Lawrence North in the sectional and second-ranked Avon at semi-state to earn the trip to Muncie.
It was school's eighth volleyball crown, third-most in state history and all have come under the leadership of 27th year coach Jean Kesterson.
Crown Point (36-4) was led on offense by Alaina and Morgan Chacon with 19 and 16 kills, respectively. Alyssa Hill chalked up 17 digs on defense. The Bulldogs were making their first appearance in a volleyball state championship match under fifth-year coach Alison Duncan.
Indianapolis Cathedral’s Nia Robinson Earns Mental Attitude Award
At the conclusion of the state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, named Nia Robinson of Indianapolis Cathedral as the winner of the Class 4A Mental Attitude Award.
A 2016 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year nominee, Nia Robinson has had an impressive individual career while leading the Fighting Irish to three consecutive State Finals appearances. In addition to being named Indiana 4A 1st Team All-State this year, Nia earned a spot on the AVCA/Under Armour All-America 2nd Team. Last season, she was named a PrepVolleyball High School All-American, a MaxPreps Underclass All-American, and earned a place on the AVCA Phenom Watch List. Nia finished her career at Cathedral as the school record holder in career kills and kill attempts.
Off of the court, Nia’s accomplishments and service records are equally impressive. She is a Minority Engineering Program Speaker in Indiana, a member of the Girl Scouts, and also serves at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry and Habitat for Humanity. At school, she is a member of the National Honors Society, is a Peer Mentor, volunteers with Best Buddies, and also helps with Cathedral’s Riley Dance Marathon.
The daughter of Cynthia Robinson and Howard Robinson, Nia will attend Northwestern University in the fall and plans on studying medicine while playing volleyball for the Wildcats.
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 4A Volleyball, will donate $1,000 to Indianapolis Cathedral High School's general scholarship fund in the name of Nia Robinson.