Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
Blake Ress, Commissioner
_________________________________________________________________________
November 8, 2008
CATHEDRAL RETURNS TO TOP
SPOT IN CLASS 4A
Indianapolis Cathedral (36-2) used
height to its advantage and returned to the top spot in Class 4A volleyball
with a 21-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-20 victory over Muncie Central at Worthen Arena in Muncie.
Senior Christiana Gray at 6-5 and
classmate Mary Ording at 6-3 provided an intimidating
presence at the net both offensively and defensively for Cathedral and helped
the Irish to its second 4A title in three seasons and sixth championship overall.
It also was the rubber match between
the two powerhouses as the Bearcats took a 2-0 decision on Aug. 30, while the
Irish returned the favor with a 3-0 victory on Oct. 2. It was the fourth time
to two teams met with the state championship on the line with the Irish taking it
all in 2003 and 2006 and the Bearcats winning in 2004.
Gray was good for 22 kills and a
.421 hitting percentage along with three block solos and three more block
assists. Ording added 14 kills and a .379 clip to go
along with three solo blocks and four assists. Another senior, Kaleigh Rougraff, added eight
kills and led the team with 15 digs. Christina Barra
chipped in 11 digs.
For Muncie Central, it was their
fourth state runner-up finish in their 11th appearance in the state
finals. The Bearcats were led offensively by senior Katelyn Bergdoll
with 12 kills while Kristina Kerrigan, also a senior, added 11. Senior Tessa
McGill led with 10 digs, while three others, Emmy Jackson, Michelle Schmaltz
and Ashlin Stassen, recorded nine each.
Muncie Central, coached by Wes Lyon,
had rallied for a 14-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-21 semifinal victory over Floyd
Central in the morning round. Cathedral, guided by coach
Jean Kesterson, also came back from a game down to
beat 2007 runner-up Elkhart Memorial, 24-26, 25-20, 25-20, 25-18, to earn its
spot in the championship match.
CATHEDRAL’S
CHRISTIANA GRAY NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
Christiana
Gray of
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.
Christiana
is a four-year letterwinner for the Fighting
Irish. In 2007, she earned a Prep
Volleyball All-American high honorable mention, received First Team All-State,
All-North, and All-Metro Super Star accolades, and was named as the MVP of the
All-City Team.
Christiana
is ranked 29th out of a class of 336 and carries a 4.27 GPA on a 4.0
scale. She is a National Honor Society
member and has maintained three years of high honor roll. She was chosen to the IHSAA Role Model and
Student Ambassadors programs and speaks to local grade schools about staying
drug and tobacco free.
Christiana’s volunteer work includes tutoring, working at
volleyball camps, and participating in canned food drives.
She plans
to attend Duke University and study medicine.
She is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Gray of Carmel.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate
partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Cathedral High School in the name of
Christiana Gray.
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