Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

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

_________________________________________________________________________

November 3, 2007

 

BELLMONT CLAIMS FIRST VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Bellmont won its first state volleyball championship, the school’s first in any sport other than wrestling, by defeating Mishawaka Marian, 3-0, in the 3A championship match.

 

Coach Craig Krull’s Squaws battled past Mishawaka Marian (35-5) by a 25-16, 27-25, 25-23 score.   After advancing to the state finals three previous years (1978, 1984, 2005), Bellmont (33-5) moved past the semifinals for the first time, earning the right to compete for a state championship. 

 

Bellmont senior middle hitter Cindi Miller led the Squaws with a team-high 15 kills, with a .333 hitting percentage.  Senior outside attacker Kylee Lehrman added eight kills, along with four assists, and 10 digs.  Senior setter Christina Baker handed out 28 assists to go along with her 18 digs and three kills.  Freshman libero Chelsea Colclasure chipped in 11 digs and an assist. 

 

Senior middle hitter Katie Britton paced Mishawaka Marian with a game-high 17 kills.  Senior middle hitter Stephanie Kreager added 11.  Junior outside attacker Claire Farkas recorded eight and 13 digs, while sophomore setter Katie Mischler recorded a match-high 34 assists.

 

In game one, Bellmont took an early lead and did not look back, winning 25-16.  After trailing for much of the second game, Bellmont fought back tying the match at 21-21.  The Squaws would eventually win the game 27-25 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.  A tightly contested third game saw more of the same as Bellmont finished off the match winning by a score of 25-23.

 

Bellmont advanced to its first championship match by defeating Brebeuf Jesuit (26-10), with a 3-1 victory.  Mishawaka Marian reached the final for the second straight year with a 3-0 victory over Jasper (26-11).

 

 

JASPER’S NIXON NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER

Kaisi Nixon was named the winner of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A following the state championship match by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.

 

The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated by her principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

 

Nixon is a three-time All-Big 8 Conference selection and was named to the All-State team as a senior.  She was named Academic All-State Honorable Mention and is an All-Star candidate.  As a sophomore she won the Purdue Team Camp Setter Award and as a Senior, the Purdue Elite Camp Blocker Award.  Nixon also participates in track and basketball at Jasper.

 

Nixon maintains a 3.55 GPA on a 4.0 scale.  She is a member of the National Honor Society, SADD, and is a peer mentor. She also serves as the Secretary of the IHSAA Student Advisory Board.  Nixon spends much of her time volunteering, including assisting the handicap with horse riding. Nixon plans to attend the University of Evansville on a volleyball scholarship and possibly study physical therapy.

 

She is the daughter of Becky and David Nixon of Jasper. Kaisi’s mother, the former Becky Winsett, was the mental attitude award winner from Boonville High School in the 1980 volleyball state finals.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Jasper High School in the name of Kaisi Nixon.

 

 

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 Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE

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 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).