Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
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MEDIA ADVISORY
MUNCIE CENTRAL EARNS 4A CROWN
The much-anticipated
rematch of last year’s 4A championship duel between Muncie Central and
defending state champion Indianapolis Cathedral lived up to the hype.
Fans in
attendance were treated to a marvelous display of athleticism, big hits and tenacious
defense between two of the state’s premier programs.
In the end,
it was Muncie Central taking a 25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 27-25 decision.
For the
Bearcats (38-2), it avenged last year’s 3-0 championship match loss to
Cathedral and a 3-1 regular season setback and earned the school its fifth 4A
state championship. Muncie Central had won 4A crowns in 1997, 1998, 1999 and
2002 but it was the first for coach Wes Lyon.
The
Bearcats faced a tall order literally as Cathedral played four players at 6-1
or better most of the match. Central, meanwhile didn’t have a player on the
roster taller than 5-9, but the Bearcats came up with the big plays when it
mattered.
With Muncie
Central leading 2-1 overall and 19-10 in the fourth game, Cathedral went on an 11-2
run behind their big gun, 6-4 senior hitter Danita Merlau, to tie the score at
21-21. From there, the Bearcats ran off three straight to force match point
before the Irish rallied again for three more to knot the score at 24-24. The
two teams traded points before a pair of Bearcats blocked down a Cathedral
attack and the Irish hit into the net to end the match.
Merlau led
all players with 25 kills in 66 attempts but the Irish’s 14 service errors
played a big part in the match.
Senior Kelli
Miller led Central with 19 kills in 65 attempts and junior Kamille King added
14 kills. Sophomore Kim Kuzna tallied 21 digs on defense and senior Laura
Anderson assisted on 41 scores for
Coached by
Jean Kesterson, Cathedral finished the year at 35-5. The Irish were playing in
their third championship match in four years.
In the
morning’s semifinal round, the Irish swept
Cathedral’s
Danita Merlau Garners Mental Attitude Award
Danita
Merlau of
Danita
was a four-year starter for the Irish volleyball squad and was named 8th
best high school player in the country by Prep
Volleyball Magazine. She was also a
member of the school basketball team.
Scholastically,
Danita ranks 49th in her class of 276 and is
a member of the National Honor Society.
She will attend
She
holds membership in the Latin Club, Math League, A Promise to Keep, 4-H and
Habitat for Humanity. She was also
active as a summer volleyball and basketball camps volunteer.
Danita
is the daughter of Catherine and John Merlau of New Palestine.
Farm
Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000.00 scholarship
check to
Team Posters And
Individual Action Photographs Available
Visit 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s
photographer and the
For
t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any
of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
State Finals Programs Available
Couldn’t be
in Indy for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official
souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in
person at the IHSAA Office (