By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
KNIGHTSTOWN - With all due respect to the many teams
Muncie Burris has beaten in the Owls' march to what is now more consecutive
state titles than you count, the atmosphere at their Regional 11 semifinal
showdown with No. 2 Heritage Christian at Knightstown Oct. 27 was unique.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the air of
inevitability surrounding an Owls' tournament match was missing. In fact, many
if not most people in attendance thought this was the day the king might
finally fall.
In the immortal words of everybody's older brother,
"That's what you get for thinking!"
Burris dismantled the Eagles in workmanlike fashion,
25-18, 25-19, 25-22. So dominant was the performance that Burris never trailed
in the last half of any game.
If you are
a volleyball fan, there is no reason to read this script: You already have it memorized -
The Owls
don't beat themselves (they committed only one service error in the match).
They used their understanding of the game to keep Heritage Christian confused
throughout. They utilized multiple formations and strategies to defeat a team
with one major weapon that they rightfully centered their attack around all
day.
In other words,
the Owls did it the way they always do.
The
variations began right off the bat. Midway through Game 1, Burris began using
what can only be called an "oophus" serve. It succeeded in blunting HC's return
of service attack and limited the damage being done by the Eagles' Kelly Faris.
If that
name sounds familiar, it should. Faris is the most lethal weapon on the Eagles'
two-time defending girls basketball state champions. Turns out she can play
more than one kind of ball, as her spiking ability was the centerpiece of the Eagles'
attack.
But the opening-game
result was still a relatively easy 25-18 victory for Burris.
Heritage
Christian began Game 2 with its own change in style. The Eagles used the "dink"
a little more in jumping to an early lead. (This, in fact, may have been the
only real test of Burris' will the entire day, and they Owls passed with flying
colors.)
Burris
responded by using yet another new tactic: the short set. Again, it worked just enough to give
the Owls an edge they rode to the 25-19 win. They were aided by a large dose of
net violations by the Eagles - yet again, an example of the way Burris
pressures an opponent. The Owls simply don't give away points through
violations.
It looked
as though Burris would ride away into the early afternoon with Game 3, but
Heritage Christian took the opportunity to show a little character of its own.
After falling behind 6-1 early, the Eagles played their best volleyball of the
day in scratching their way back into the game.
It became
a battle of Faris power versus Burris creativity. But with the score 19-16 in
favor of the Owls, Andrea Thompson sent a Faris monster kill back into her
face, and the match was for all intents and purposes over. HC would mount one
last charge, but it fell short 25-22.
Burris
moves on to the championship match Saturday evening, when they will face either
No. 10 Shenandoah or Milan
for the regional crown.
The
interesting subplot to this match was the dichotomy in the way great players
can affect their teams. On one side you had Heritage Christian's Faris, who led
by displaying her tremendous athleticism. She was the primary offensive weapon,
and certainly dominated the stat book.
On the
other was Burris libero Bonnie Kaminsky. This young lady often went long
stretches without even touching the ball. It was, nonetheless, clear whom the
leader of these Owls is. Kaminski was always in the right position and was the
epitome of the attitude with which Burris plays: She isn't flashy, she is just
good.
Coach
Steve Shondell only left the Burris bench five times in the entire match, and
two of those were to speak to referees. There is no mystery why that was the
case: With Kaminski
on the floor, he does not need to.
So
what do you think? Share your thoughts on our Volleyball message board.