11/9/2008
Indy Lutheran Gets Rude Welcoming From MQT
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Adam Parkhouse
The News-Dispatch

MUNCIE, Ind. - Marquette's volleyball team, certainly no stranger to the state finals, welcomed newcomer Indianapolis Lutheran to the annual festivities rather rudely.

Though scores eventually worked their way into being respectable, Marquette was dominant in its early-morning (8 a.m. CST start time) semifinal, cruising to a 25-18, 25-18, 25-12 win at Ball State University's Worthen Arena.

"We helped them out, and had a lot of unforced errors," Marquette coach Troy Campbell said. "That's all right, we're at state. If we didn't have nerves, we wouldn't be human."

If the Blazers were terribly nervous, it didn't show. They trailed just once, 1-0 in Game 2, and were never seriously threatened.

In Game 1, Marquette jumped out to a 15-4 lead as Ashley Edmond had four early kills and Amber Cerrillos notched a couple aces. The Saints got as close as 21-16, but a Katie Clancy kill gave the Blazers a 1-0 lead.

In the middle of Game 2, Marquette had eight consecutive points without the benefit of a kill or ace, just taking advantage of Lutheran miscues. A wicked, diving jump serve from Cerrillos ended the game, giving Marquette a commanding lead.

In Game 3, Marquette didn't need any Lutheran mistakes, racking up 19 combined kills and aces, including the match clincher from seldom-used senior Janie Welsh to catapult the Blazers into their 10th consecutive title match.

"Our ball control was great and so was our serving," Campbell said. "When we can rely on those things, it makes it easier to get away with mistakes we're making.

"It was a great way for us to start this championship."