News

The pairings for the 38th Annual IHSAA Volleyball State Tournament Series were drawn this morning by Commissioner Blake Ress at the IHSAA Office in Indianapolis.

Three hundred ninety-six schools (396) have entered this year’s tournament with sectional play beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and running through Saturday, Oct. 24, at 64 sites across four classifications.

Regional matches will be played Saturday, Oct. 31, at 16 sites with the winners advancing to the state finals in and around Muncie on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Muncie Burris, the 12-time defending 2A state champion is the lone winner from 2008 currently sitting atop its respective state coaches poll. The Owls will host this year’s sectional and begin their defense against Lapel in Sectional 41. Burris has won 82 consecutive tournament matches over the last 12 years.

Last year’s state runner-up in Class A, Barr-Reeve is currently ranked No. 1 in that poll. The Vikings open up hosting Shoals in the bye match in Sectional 63. Class 3A No. 1 Yorktown is paired against Blackford in the Sectional 24 opener at Muncie Southside. A matchup against defending state champion and 10th-ranked Delta could occur in the championship match if both advance. The Eagles meet Eastbrook in the bye match. Top-ranked in Class 4A, Elkhart Memorial will meet Northridge in Sectional 4 at Goshen.

Other defending state champions hoping to advance back to Muncie include Indianapolis Cathedral in 4A and Marquette Catholic in 1A. Unranked Cathedral drew host Warren Central in Sectional 10 while No. 2 Marquette Catholic takes on South Central (Union Mills) in the Sectional 50 opener at Triton.

Tournament Pairings

State Coaches Poll

Sectionals
Dates: Oct. 20, 22, 24.
Admission: $5 per session; $8 all sessions.

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Notables

Defending Sectional Champions
4A: Avon, Castle, Center Grove, Columbus East, Elkhart Memorial, Floyd Central, Fort Wayne Northrop, Hamilton Southeastern, Harrison (West Lafayette), Huntington North, Indianapolis Cathedral, LaPorte, Muncie Central, Munster, Penn, Terre Haute South.
3A: Andrean, Batesville, Bellmont, Boonville, Brebeuf Jesuit, Delta, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Frankfort, Hamilton Heights, Hammond Clark, Mishawaka Marian, North Montgomery, NorthWood, Owen Valley, Silver Creek, Southridge.
2A: Adams Central, Brownstown Central, Clinton Central, Fairfield, Forest Park, Hauser, Muncie Burris, Oak Hill, Park Tudor, Prairie Heights, Shenandoah, South Knox, Southwood, Tri-West Hendricks, Wheeler, Winamac.
A: Barr-Reeve, Elkhart Christian Academy, Indianapolis Lutheran, Lafayette Central Catholic, Marquette Catholic, Morristown, New Washington, Pioneer, Randolph Southern, Rising Sun, Rockville, Shakamak, Springs Valley, Tecumseh, Washington Township, Wes-Del.

Active Sectional Championship Streaks (Three or more years)
15: Castle.
12: Brownstown Central, Marquette Catholic, Morristown, Muncie Burris.
10: Indianapolis Cathedral.
8: Avon.
7: Tecumseh.
6: Brebeuf Jesuit, Indianapolis Lutheran, Wes-Del.
5: Delta, Fairfield.
4: Andrean, Batesville, Bellmont, Lafayette Central Catholic, LaPorte, Prairie Heights.
3: Fort Wayne Northrop, Mishawaka Marian, Pioneer.

Most Consecutive Sectional Championships
20 by Evansville Mater Dei (1978-1997).

Top 10 All-Time Sectional Championships
31: Jasper
27: Carmel, Castle, Evansville Mater Dei.
25: Bellmont, Muncie Burris, Providence.
24: Clinton Prairie.
23: Center Grove, Roncalli.