11/8/2009
SIX-SHOOTERS!!!
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Adam Parkhouse
The News-Dispatch

MUNCIE, Ind. - Marquette's volleyball team proved that while winning state championships might get repetitive, it never gets boring.

Class A No. 2 Marquette got it all it could handle in its semifinal match then got an unexpected run from Wes-Del late in the championship match.

But nothing was going to deny this Blazers team, which captured its sixth consecutive state championship and ninth in 11 years, with a 25-18, 25-10, 23-25, 25-19 victory over Wes-Del in the Class A state championship match Saturday at Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State University.

In fact, Marquette's players and coaches seemed happy to be challenged for this title.

"I'd rather be challenged," Marquette coach Troy Campbell said. "Our schedule reflects how much we like to be challenged.

"It doesn't feel like you earned anything (if you don't get challenged), it feels like you just showed up and won."

Marquette did anything but just show up and claim a trophy. After a good push from Class A No. 1 Barr-Reeve in the morning semifinal, the Blazers appeared to be cruising toward an easy 3-0 win over Wes-Del after winning the first two games in routs.

But in Game 3, Wes-Del woke up. Or Marquette got a little sleepy, perhaps attributed to the short break the team got in between matches.

Whatever it was, Warriors found themselves in a position to extend the match late in Game 3. It was tight throughout, but Wes-Del opened a 21-18 lead, prompting Campbell to use a timeout, just his second of the entire postseason. The first came against Barr-Reeve.

After the timeout, Wes-Del scored again before Marquette got a sideout on a kill from junior Katie Clancy. Clancy then recorded an ace, followed by consecutive kills - one on a block - from senior standout Ashley Edmond.

The score was then tied 23-23 when Marquette was whistled for a rotation infraction, and Wes-Del finished off the game on the next point.

Despite looking overmatched in the first two games, Wes-Del had suddenly made this a match.

"It wasn't them," Edmond said. "We just weren't playing with any energy."

Indeed, Marquette would have to re-energize for Game 4, according to Campbell.

"After Game 3 we said let's refocus and get re-energized and use that energy in a positive way," Campbell said. "Our players are very resilient. They don't get down on themselves."

The Blazers raced out to an 8-4 lead, largely on the strength of errors from the Warriors. But Wes-Del hung around, cutting the score to 17-14 after trailing 17-10.

The Warriors got no closer, though, as Marquette pulled away, using three late kills from Katie Clancy to help seal the victory.

On the final point, an attack from Wes-Del landed well long, setting off yet another state championship celebration.

"After we won, I just thought, 'this is my last match,'" said Edmond, who will attend Eastern Kentucky on a volleyball scholarship. "It's hitting me now, but I look at this as a great experience we went through."

Edmond finished her final match with a team-high 22 kills and 20 digs to go with three aces. Another senior, setter Amber Cerrillos, had five aces and 12 digs to go with 40 assists. For the day, Cerrillos had eight kills while playing ultra-aggressive at the net.

"It feels so good because we've set these goals," Cerrillos said. "This is the last time I'll be able to be with these girls."

Another senior who's been a staple for the past four years is Brianna Gannon, who had 14 digs and an ace from the libero position. Senior Rachel Cox added seven kills.

Gannon, Edmond, Cox and Cerrillos came into the program in 2006 as a much-heralded class that had big expectations. Four seasons later, the group - along with Sarah Lutz, Rachel Hillmann and Morgan Bowen - have delivered four state championship trophies to the school.

"This year in particular there's some sadness (in saying goodbye to the seniors)," Campbell said. "They've been a big part of my life."

Contact Sports Editor Adam Parkhouse at aparkhouse@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 461.