10/25/2009
BLAZERS GLORY
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Nick Dettmann
The News-Dispatch

BOURBON, Ind. - First the problem was wall space for the state championship banners. Now it's finding a place to put the trophies. But as Marquette coach Troy Campbell clutched the school's 13th consecutive sectional championship trophy in his left hand following a 25-13, 25-8, 25-8 victory over Triton on Saturday afternoon at Triton High School, he said there's always a space for the trophies.

"I'll take them and put them wherever," Campbell said. "We'll definitely find a place for them."

The state championship, regional and sectional trophies from last year sat in Campbell's office until they could find a place for them. Six months later, a home was located.

Campbell found an old trophy case inside the school and was brought across the street inside the Scholl Center. The case is now already half spoken for.

"As long as they're there, I couldn't care less," Campbell said.

With the Triton Sectional title, the Blazers also won their 30th match of the season for the third straight season and for the sixth time in Campbell's seven years at the helm. The Blazers are 30-6 on the season.

"It's really special," Campbell said. "Each sectional championship that we've had - the seven that I've had as the coach - have all been really special. It's extremely satisfying to come into an atmosphere like this against Triton, which is always a hostile environment for us and persevere and play well.

"It's important for us to experience that. For us to be in a hostile environment really helps us in the rounds after this."

Just like Thursday night against South Central, the Blazers made quick and easy work of Westville in the semifinals - 25-7, 25-9, 25-16 - and of the host Trojans.

Triton defeated Argos, 25-15, 25-19, 25-17, to reach the Saturday night championship. Westville finished its season 11-19.

In the morning match, the Blazers got a dynamite match from Ashley Edmond.

The Eastern Kentucky-bound senior had a triple-double with 16 kills, 16 digs and 10 aces. Katie Clancy added a double-double with 14 digs and 11 kills. Brianna Gannon also had 16 digs and nine aces, and Amber Cerrillos had 28 assists, but surprisingly for Cerrillos, no aces.

In the night cap, Edmond had 19 kills and four aces. Clancy had nine kills and three aces, Gannon had 11 digs and six aces, Rachel Cox had five kills, and Cerrillos had 29 assists, five aces and four kills.

Gannon broke open a close match in Game 1 when she stood on the service line for nine straight Blazers points to take an 18-6 lead.

Edmond blasted a kill right in to the face of Trojans libero Hannah Downing for a 22-11 lead. That wasn't by accident. It was more of a symbol of the punch-'em-in-the-face play the Blazers had this weekend.

"It's designed to do that," Campbell said. "That's part of the game plan is to put the defenders off-guard. When you see her hitting people, it's a really good thing for us."

In Game 2, the Blazers were in a rare spot - trailing 3-0.

But Gannon, once again, stepped up to the service line and helped lead the Blazers to eight straight points. The Blazers won 25 of the final 30 points of Game 2.

In Game 3, Cerrillos picked up three straight aces to give Marquette a 5-1 lead, and it was smooth sailing from there.

"We got out a little bit of a slow start," Campbell said. "But they came back.

"It's a little bit of energy that has to come from somebody."

The Blazers advance to Saturday's Caston Regional in Fulton. They will go for a 13th straight regional championship with a state berth on the line.

Contact sports writer Nick Dettmann at ndettmann@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 447.