10/31/2008
Blazers Still On Track For No. 5
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Adam Parkhouse
The News-Dispatch

In sports like basketball and football, ball control - or the ability to maintain possession competently - is crucial.

Ball control is just as important in volleyball, and no team in Class A has done it better over the years than No. 1 Marquette, the four-time defending state champions.

It's no surprise then that Blazers coach Troy Campbell describes that as the key to his team's fifth consecutive title chase, which resumes at Saturday's Caston Regional.

"Offensively, this is the best I've been able to put together," Campbell said. "When our ball control is solid we can execute our offense at a high level."

Marquette will open regional play against No. 6 Pioneer in Saturday's second semifinal. Washington Township will take on Elkhart Christian Academy in the first semifinal at 9:30 a.m. CDT. The championship match will be at 3 p.m.

Pioneer may be the only other ranked team in the field, but Campbell isn't convinced that's the team that poses the biggest threat to the Blazers' hopes of yet another state title. But Washington and Elkhart feature taller front lines, which Campbell said is something he looks for in an opponent that has a chance to upset his Blazers.

"One of the keys to be successful against us is you have to put up a big block," Campbell said. "If you can't do that we'll be able to attack anywhere we want."

The potential for an all-Campbell final is very real. Troy's brother, Scott, is the head coach at Washington Township. The two have been on opposite sidelines before as the Senators were on the Blazers schedule prior to this season.

If that were to happen, Troy Campbell, who regularly coaches against good friends he knows from club, said it won't be a distraction.

"I know a lot of people within the volleyball community," Campbell said. "I just think of it as another coach or another team. There's no extra motivation or anything like that."

Another "obstacle" that Campbell isn't concerned about is his team's occasional trouble in early-morning matches.

"I don't think I equate any of our problems to being in early matches," Campbell said. "It's a lack of focus or energy for another reason. The girls have just gotta get their mind right, get focused and get motivated."

During last week's Triton Sectional, the Blazers' ball control was exquisite. Campbell says that shouldn't be a surprise, based on the team having, in effect, three liberos on the team. Jenna Fumo currently plays that position, Katie Clancy played it last season and Briann Gannon could very well find herself playing there at the next level. All three pass at a better than 90 percent clip, the standard for determining a passer's value.

So the biggest key this weekend for the Blazers is not beating themselves.

"I'm worried about us," Campbell said. "I know if we play at the highest level we're gonna be fine."