1998 STATE FINALS

November 7, 1998

Market Square Arena, Indianapolis

 

 

CLASS 4A

Muncie Central tops Mishawaka to repeat

Top-ranked Muncie Central stormed to early leads in both games on its way to a 16-14, 15-10 victory over No. 2-ranked Mishawaka and its second straight Class 4A state championship. 

In the first game, Muncie Central grabbed a 5-0 lead . But Mishawaka plugged away and eventually tied the game at 13. Muncie Central led 14-13, and after an exchange of eight sideouts, Mishawaka tied the score again at 14 before Muncie Central closed out the game. 

In the second game, Muncie Central took a quick 8-0 edge and ran the advantage to 11-1. Mishawaka closed the gap to 14-10 but couldn't hold off Muncie Central's championship repeat. 

Juniors Nicole Hill and Jennifer Richardson led Muncie Central with 10 kills apiece. Junior Meredith Fancher added 25 assists for the Bearcats. 

Senior Sara Stone topped Mishawaka with four kills while Danielle Francis had three service aces. 

Coached by Dave Shondell, Muncie Central finished 39-1. Its only blemish of the season came to Class 2A state champion Muncie Burris. Mishawaka, playing in the state finals for a state-best 14th time, finished 33-6. Each of Mishawaka's state finalist teams have been coached by Steve Anderson. Of Mishawaka's six losses during the 1998 campaign, two came to Muncie Central and another was to Class 3A state champion Roncalli.

Attendance for the two sessions was 7,106.

 

MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD TO KIZER

Cindy Kizer, a senior at Muncie Central High School, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1998 Class 4A recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Volleyball. 

Kizer is a three-sport athlete, also participating in basketball and track. In volleyball, she led the Bearcats in digs this season with 273 going into the state finals. She also had recorded 71 kills and 43 assists. She was named the most valuable player in the North Central Conference. 

She is active in Muncie Central's Multicultural Student Union and in her church. Kizer's college choice is undecided, but she plans to major in animal science. 

Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Kizer's name to Muncie Central High School.

 

 

CLASS 3A

Roncalli stops Delta 15-4, 17-15 for second state crown

Roncalli (33-5) won its first IHSAA Class 3A Volleyball state championship and second title overall with a 15-4, 17-15 victory over Delta.  

Sophomore outside hitter Christy Utnage of Roncalli converted nine of 14 kill opportunities to pace the Rebels, while junior Jackie Neely added six and Megan Crist scored five. Junior Alison Peckinpaugh topped Delta (31-7) with eight kills in 16 attempts. Junior Amber McGunegill of Delta recorded 12 digs to lead all players. 

The victory avenged a 15-8, 15-13 season defeat to Delta. Roncalli's other losses were to Class 2A state champion Muncie Burris, to Class 4A state champion Muncie Central (twice) and to 1997 Class 3A state champion Indianapolis Cathedral. 

Veteran coach Kathy Nalley-Schembra also directed Roncalli's state championship team in 1981 as the Rebels defeated Mishawaka. It was Delta's second straight runner-up finish. The Eagles were second to Indianapolis Cathedral in 1997. 

 

MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD TO KETTERER

Sarah Ketterer, a senior at Roncalli High School, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1998 Class 3A recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Volleyball. 

A two-year letterman for the Rebels, she served as a tri-captain for the 1998 team. She also has been a three-year participant in softball. Ketterer is active in a variety of extracurricular and volunteer activities, including the National Honor Society for two years and the school's student council for four years. She is a member of Roncalli's Service Learning Organization that will be recognized Nov. 12 in Washington, D.C. as one of the top five learning service programs in the U.S. 

Academically, Ketterer carries a 3.5 grade point average and plans to major in nursing or dietetics at Purdue University. 

Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Ketterer's name to Roncalli High School.

 

 

CLASS 2A

Muncie Burris claims 10th title 15-3, 15-6 over Brownstown Central

Muncie Burris stormed to its second straight IHSAA Class 2A Volleyball state championship and 10th overall with a dominating 15-3, 15-6 triumph over Brownstown Central. 

The Owls showed a balanced effort as senior Hillary Toivonen registered seven kills in eight attempts, while junior Cherelle Lampkins added six and senior Stephanie Ballard five. 

Brownstown Central (33-5), guided by first-year coach Jennifer Shade, was led by senior Nicole Crockett and sophomore Leah Wischmeier with four kills each.  

Muncie Burris (39-1) finished with a 26-match winning streak. Its only loss came at midseason to nationally ranked Louisville Assumption in its only three-game match of the year. Among the Owls' victims were Class 3A state champion Roncalli and Class 4A state champion Muncie Central. 

Guided in each of its championship years by coach Steve Shondell, Muncie Burris became the seventh school to win 10 or more IHSAA titles in one sport. The others were Gary Roosevelt in boys track (20), Bloomington/Bloomington South in wrestling (15), North Central (Indianapolis) in boys tennis (15), Carmel in girls swimming (13), Gary Froebel in boys track (12) and Carmel in boys cross country (10).

 

MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD TO KOESTER

Anne Koester, a senior at Muncie Burris High School, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1998 Class 2A recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Volleyball. 

Ranked No. 1 in her senior class of 54 students, Koester plans to attend the University of Illinois and will choose between biology, chemistry or pre-medicine as a major. She is involved in several extracurricular activities and also participated in basketball during his freshman year.

 Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Koester's name to Muncie Burris High School.

 

 

CLASS A

Clinton Prairie defeats Barr-Reeve 15-4, 15-11 for second title

Clinton Prairie claimed its second straight IHSAA Class A Volleyball state championship state finals by taking control early and then holding off a Barr-Reeve challenge to post a 15-4, 15-11 victory. 

Senior outside hitter Toni Smith led the Gophers (30-10) with 11 kills and senior middle hitter Kourtney Mennen came through with eight kills and seven digs. Junior setter Heather Allen recorded 20 assists.  

It was the third IHSAA volleyball state title overall for Clinton Prairie, all under the guidance of coach Connie Garrett. Clinton Prairie's other title came in 1984. 

Barr-Reeve (32-2), who only other loss was to Bloomington South, had never reached the state finals in volleyball before. The Vikings were led by seniors Lindsey Miller and Kristi Kavanaugh with six kills each.  

MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD TO KAVANAUGH

Kristi Kavanaugh, a senior at Barr-Reeve High School, was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the 1998 Class A recipient of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Volleyball. 

Ranked No. 1 in her senior class of 43 students, Kavanaugh is involved in a number of extracurricular activities. In athletics, she is a four-year varsity performer in volleyball and has been named the team's most valuable player three times. She is the school's career leader in digs, blocks and service aces. 

She also has participated in basketball and tennis throughout her high school career. Kavanaugh plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana and major in business administration. 

Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship in Kavanaugh's name to Barr-Reeve High School.