Indiana High School Athletic Association

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

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November 5, 2005

 

MICHIGAN CITY MARQUETTE REPEATS AS CLASS A CHAMPION

History repeated itself in the IHSAA Class A volleyball championship on Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as top-ranked Michigan City Marquette (34-3) earned its fifth state title in the past seven years with a 25-14, 25-18, 25-19 sweep of Loogootee (29-8).

 

Coach Troy Campbell’s Blazers broke open the first game after it was tied at 12, going on a 13-2 spurt to prevail.  Game two was nip and tuck throughout.  Marquette led 19-17 before going on a 6-1 run to take a two-game advantage.

 

Game three was tied at 10 when the Blazers reeled off five straight points to take the lead for good.

 

Marquette senior hitter Michelle Fletcher recorded a double-double in the match with 10 kills and 13 digs.  She recorded a .400 hitting percentage with 10 kills and two errors on 20 attempts.  Senior hitter Colleen Trainor paced the Blazers with 11 kills, finishing with a .310 attack percentage.  Senior setter Kalan Sebert handed out 33 assists, adding three service aces and two block assists.  Junior libero Rachel Konrady led the Marquette defense with 14 digs, while senior Sarah Denny had 13 along with a match-high six service aces.

 

Loogootee junior middle hitter Taylor Wittmer recorded a match-high 17 kills to pace coach Shelly Lengacher’s Lions.  Senior outside hitter Whitney Wagoner posted a match-high 15 digs, while senior setter Tracie LaMar joined her in double digits with 11 digs.

 

Marquette had advanced to its seventh consecutive championship match with a hard-fought, four-game triumph over second-ranked Cowan (32-6) in the first semifinal.  Loogootee reached its first-ever final with a five-game marathon win against Northeast Dubois (30-7).

 

MARQUETTE’S MICHELLE FLETCHER HONORED WITH MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD

Michigan City Marquette senior hitter Michelle Fletcher is the 2005 recipient of the IHSAA Class A Volleyball Mental Attitude Award presented following Saturday afternoon’s championship match by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.  Fletcher became the Blazers’ fourth Mental Attitude Award winner during their current streak of seven consecutive trips to the state finals.

 

Fletcher helped Marquette to a 34-3 record and a second straight state championship in 2005.  She is a three-time all-state selection.

 

Fletcher maintains a 4.05 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with no grades below “A-“ in her academic career.  She is a three-year member of the National Honor Society, serving as chapter president this year.

 

“Sincere, intelligent, and dedicated are words that come to mind when referring to Michelle,” said Marquette assistant principal Linda Milzarek.  “She exhibits the same intensity using her intellectual abilities as she convincingly demonstrates her athleticism.  She is one of the most genuine people that I have had the opportunity to know.”

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a scholarship check for $1,000.00 to Michigan City Marquette High School in the name of Michelle Fletcher.

 

VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site on Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Couldn’t be in there 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 (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).