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NO. 1 VS. NO. 2 MATCHUP IN 4A HEADLINES VOLLEYBALL STATE FINALS
Two top-ranked teams, one defending state champion and three others who are competing at this level for the first time are among the teams vying for championship honors at the 40th Annual IHSAA Volleyball State Finals this Saturday in Muncie.

All four state championship matches will be televised live from Ball State’s Worthen Arena to a state-wide audience on the IHSAA Champions Television Network which is made up of six affiliates thoughout Indiana. Each match also may be seen via webstream at IHSAAtv.org. First serve of the Class A state championship match will be at 11 am ET, with the Class 2A match at 1 pm, 3A at 3 pm and 4A at 5 pm. Though any match could run longer than three sets, no match will begin earlier than the time listed.

Top-ranked Avon (39-0) will meet No. 2 Penn (37-1) in Saturday’s finale in Class 4A. Avon has advanced to the state finals for the first time and the Orioles are attempting to win their first volleyball championship just as Penn did a year ago. With a victory, Avon would become the first 4A team to complete a perfect season since the tournament moved to multiple classes in 1997. Penn is the lone state finalist returning from the 2010 field. The defending champions have won 32 straight contests and have lost only two sets during that stretch and four all season. Their lone blemish was a 2-0 loss to perennial power Muncie Burrs back in August.

The Class 3A matchup features Yorktown (36-2), the other top-ranked team, facing unranked Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (21-17) for the second time this season. Yorktown is making its second trip to the finals in three years after its runner-up season of 2009. The Tigers, who swept Chatard back on Aug. 27, have turned away four ranked challengers in their last five tourney matches including a sweep of defending state champion and No. 3 Bellmont in the regional. Chatard hopes for the same result as its last visit to state in 2004 when it went on to capture the 3A crown. The Trojans swept No. 2 Brebeuf Jesuit in the sectional final and topped No. 4 Brownstown Central at the semi-state last Saturday.

No. 2 Wapahani (29-6) will meet No. 3 Eastern Greene (35-4) for the Class 2A championship early Saturday afternoon. Wapahani was responsible for the most talked-about match of the entire tournament to this point. The Warriors toppled No. 1 Muncie Burris on opening night of the sectional (Oct. 18) and have carried that momentum to the verge of their second volleyball title (2002 Class A). That victory ended Burris’ 14-year stranglehold on the 2A state championship and state record win streak of 95 consecutive tournament matches. Eastern Greene won its second straight regional this year and got by the semi-state hurdle which took them out of contention after a 35-2 season a year ago. After ousting a pair of ranked teams during Saturday’s semi-state, the Thunderbirds will be playing in the state finals for the first time in any team sport in school history.

Saturday’s opener for the Class A championship features No. 3 Wes-Del (31-7) taking on No. 6 Trinity Lutheran (32-5). Wes-Del, along with Wapahani and Yorktown as Delaware County representatives, is making its second visit to the state championship match in three years following its 2009 runner-up finish. The Warriors only other ranked challenger this tournament came in a four-set win over No. 5 Washington Township last Saturday. They’ll have to beat another to win the school’s first title. Each of the team’s seven losses this season were to schools in the larger enrollment classes. Trinity Lutheran, located in Seymour, won its second straight regional crown in volleyball last week and will play for the school’s first state championship of any kind. The Cougars swept unranked Clay City last Saturday morning and then avenged its regular season finale loss with an upset of No. 4 Loogootee on its home floor for its first semi-state championship.

Our Meet the Teams file contains rosters, statistics and season results for all eight state finalist teams.

The 40th Annual IHSAA Volleyball State Finals
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2011.
Site: Worthen Arena, Ball State University, 2000 W. University Avenue, Muncie. | Website
Admission: $9. Order Here thru Thurs, Nov. 4 | Tickets will be available at participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact those schools for distribution hours. Please note, tickets will not be available for purchase at Worthen Arena until the day of the event (Saturday, Nov. 5).
Television: All four state championship matches will air live on the IHSAA Champions Television Network.
Webstream: All four state championship matches will stream live at IHSAAtv.org. | Broadcasts

Scoreboard | Meet the Teams | Order Photos

Brackets: 4A | 3A | 2A | A

Class A | (3) Wes-Del (31-7) vs. (6) Trinity Lutheran (32-5) | 11 am ET
Class 2A | (2) Wapahani (29-6) vs. (3) Eastern Greene (35-4) | 1 pm ET
Class 3A | (1) Yorktown (36-2) vs. Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (21-17) | 3 pm ET
Class 4A | (2) Penn (37-1) vs. (1) Avon (39-0) | 5 pm ET

Media Information

Media Parking: There is no designated parking area for media at the venue. Please be aware that Ball State University does charge a $5 all-day parking fee in the Worthen Arena lots.

State Finals Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Nov. 3, 4 pm ET. The 2011-12 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this fall is good for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the volleyball state finals, please apply by e-mailing your request (with name of individual applying) to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille (jwille@ihsaa.org). E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests will be available for pickup on Saturday at the ticket windows at Lower Level, Gate 1 of Worthen Arena.

Media Services: Members of the IHSAA staff will be on hand to assist in your coverage. Official programs will be available along with computer-generated box scores. Interviews may be conducted with coaches and players following their matches though we request your cooperation in holding your interviews until after the award ceremonies have concluded. The facility also is equipped for wireless internet access. See Sports Information Director Jason Wille on site for further information about this service.

Worthen Arena Media Work Room: Worthen Arena’s Media Work Room is located at Room 203 on the Main Level. Electrical power and phone lines will be available for use.

Media Seating: Except where seating is marked for specific media outlets with reserved phone lines, an open seating policy will be used along press row on Saturday.

Notables

Defending State Champions in the Field (1): Penn.

2010 State Runners-Up in the Field: None.

Returning State Finalists (1): Penn.

Former State Champions in the Field (4): Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Penn, Wapahani, Yorktown.

First Time Participants (3): Avon, Eastern Greene, Trinity Lutheran.

Consecutive State Finals Appearances
2: Penn.

Consecutive Victories
39: Avon.
32: Penn.
17: Yorktown.
12: Eastern Greene.

Consecutive State Tournament Victories
12: Penn (dates to 2010).
6: Eastern Greene, Penn, Wapahani, Wes-Del, Yorktown.
5: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Penn, Trinity Lutheran.

 

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TERRE HAUTE’S MICHAEL STOFFERS NAMED OUTSTANDING VOLLEYBALL OFFICIAL
Michael Stoffers of Terre Haute is the recipient of the 2011 Interscholastic Athletic Officials Association Award for excellence in the sport of volleyball.  Stoffers will be honored in a special ceremony at today’s state final tournament. 

Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the school year.

During his career, Stoffers has worked 13 sectionals, 10 regionals, three semi-states, and two state finals.

Stoffers was selected for this honor by a committee representing the officials associations.  In Indiana there are 24 associations made up of men and women who assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile, and healthy activities for the student athletes in our state.  Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports. 

A licensed referee for 16 years, Stoffers is a member of the Wabash Valley Officials Association for whom he has served as a clinician for several years. He served on the Board of Directors and served as President for 12 years.  He is also a licensed football, track, and basketball official.

Stoffers is a 1977 graduate of Terre Haute South High School and a 1979 graduate of Vincennes University where he earned a degree in Horticulture.  He currently is the co-owner of Vigo Landscaping.

 

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FOOTBALL SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TOMORROW
All 40 sectional championship games in the 39th Annual IHSAA Football State Tournament presented by the Indianapolis Colts are scheduled for this Friday night.

The winners at each site will advance to a regional championship game the following weekend.  Scores from each game will be posted to the IHSAA website on Friday night along with regional matchups.

The 5A game between No 5 Ben Davis (9-2) and No. 9 Avon (10-1) will be televised live nationally by Fox Sports Indiana. The cable network will also air a regional and semi-state championship game to be determined in ensuing weeks. News Release

Sectional Championships
Friday, Nov. 4, 2011.
7 pm local time or as determined by host school.
$6.00 per person.

Sectional Brackets: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | A
Regional, Semi-State, State Finals Brackets: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | A

Notables

Active Consecutive Tournament Win Streaks
14: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Lafayette Central Catholic.
8: Fishers, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Cathedral.

Active Sectional Championship Streaks (among teams still alive)
10: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.
5: Indianapolis Cathedral.
4: Fort Wayne Snider.

Most Consecutive Sectional Championships
19 by Hobart, 1979-97.

Top 10 All-Time Sectional Championships
23: Carmel.
21: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard.
20: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger.
19: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Fort Wayne Snider, Hobart, Jimtown.
18: Ben Davis, Penn.
17: Sheridan.

Sectional Championship Games involving A Ranked Team (Coaches Association poll)

Class 5A
1 Warren Central (11-0) at 2 Carmel (10-1).  Sectional 5
3 Penn (11-0) at Carroll (Fort Wayne) (8-3). Sectional 2
5 Ben Davis (9-2) at 9 Avon (10-1). Sectional 6
Fishers (8-3) at 6 Hamilton Southeastern (10-1). Sectional 4
7 Castle (11-0) at Bedford North Lawrence (8-3). Sectional 8

Class 4A
Greenwood (8-3) at 1 Indianapolis Cathedral (8-3). Sectional 14
6 Pendleton Heights (10-1) at 2 New Palestine (11-0). Sectional 13
Franklin County (9-2) at 3 Columbus East (10-1). Sectional 15
9 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (7-4) at 4 Leo (11-0). Sectional 12
Griffith (8-3) at 5 Hammond Morton (10-1). Sectional 9

Class 3A
1 Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (9-2) at Brebeuf Jesuit (6-5). Sectional 21
3 West Lafayette (10-1) at Hamilton Heights (9-2). Sectional 20
5 Mishawaka Marian (9-2) at 4 South Bend St. Joseph’s (9-2). Sectional 17
Garrett (9-2) at 8 Jimtown (9-2). Sectional 18
10 Heritage Hills (9-2) at Corydon Central (9-2). Sectional 23

Class 2A
6 Churubusco (11-0) at 1 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (9-1). Sectional 27
South Putnam (9-2) at 3 North Putnam (11-0). Sectional 30
Cass (5-6) at 4 Bremen (11-0). Sectional 26
5 Evansville Mater Dei (10-1) at Southridge (9-2). Sectional 32
Tipton (7-4) at 7 Northwestern (10-1). Sectional 28

Class A
Caston (8-3) at 1 Lafayette Central Catholic (11-0). Sectional 34
3 Linton-Stockton (11-0) at North Daviess (7-4). Sectional 40
6 Sheridan (8-3) at 4 South Adams (10-1). Sectional 36
5 Milan (10-1) at North Decatur (4-6). Sectional 39
Northwestern (6-5) at 7 Indianapolis Scecina (8-3). Sectional 37
8 South Newton (10-1) at Culver Community (7-4). Sectional 33
North Vermillion (6-5) at 10 Rockville (9-2). Sectional 38

 

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STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
The following lists of statistical leaders are compiled by VarVee.com, the IHSAA’s official statistics gathering partner. The IHSAA encourages each of its member schools to participate by registering at www.varvee.com and updating statistics by each Monday through the end of the season.

Football: State Statistical Leaders
Volleyball: State Statistical Leaders
Boys Soccer: State Statistical Leaders
Girls Soccer: State Statistical Leaders
Boys Tennis: State Statistical Leaders
Girls Golf: State Statistical Leaders

 

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NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE STATE
Have an interesting note? A conference or school record, coaching milestone or something else of interest? Please e-mail IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org for consideration.

Crown Point’s Brett Bayer had quite a 24 hours last weekend. After booting the game-winning field goal in the Bulldogs’ 12-10 win over Valparaiso on Friday night in the Class 4A football sectional semifinals, Bayer joined his soccer teammates for their trip to Indianapolis where they captured the Class 2A soccer state title with a 1-0 win over Columbus North on Saturday night. Bayer was a sub in the match and tallied one shot on goal as Crown Point won its first soccer state title in the penalty kick shootout.

Roncalli Football Coach Bruce Scifres won his 200th game on Friday, Oct. 21 with the Rebels' 35-7 victory over Plainfield, his alma mater. Scifres's overall career coaching record over 22 seasons, all at Roncalli, is 200 wins and 70 losses for a winning percentage of 74%. He has guided Roncalli to six state championships.