Sam
King
Lafayette
Journal and Courier
MUNCIE - Looking for a spark, Central Catholic coach Brad McCarter switched his lineup
for the third game of the IHSAA Class A volleyball semifinal with Barr-Reeve.
Molly
King didn't start the game on the floor and Natalee Gruse led off the service
rotation, usually reserved for Kaitlin Hainje.
Brittney
Adams started at middle hitter, which caught the senior by surprise.
"He
(McCarter) told me I was playing middle and I got scared a little bit,"
said Adams, who plays opposite. "I haven't played middle in a long time. I
wasn't worried, but I was kind of shocked though."
The
result was the Knights' best effort against Barr-Reeve.
CC
trailed 17-11, then rallied, eventually closing the gap to 24-22.
The
Knights, however, could never get closer than two points as Vikings junior
Hilliary Fox tipped the match point over the net.
"We've
done that before, where we have had a switch, both our middles and our
opposites," McCarter said. "Everybody being able to play that
position, it is an easy switch for us.
"We
were just looking for a lightning bolt, catch lightning in a bottle. We didn't
get the lid on tight enough."
Quiet
leader
McCarter
applauded the efforts of senior Sarah Burks for not giving up when it became
apparent the Knights were down and out.
Burks
had seven digs and 14 assists in her final match, but it was her positive
demeanor that earned plaudits.
"She
doesn't say a whole lot, but when she does, it speaks volumes," McCarter
said. "Today, I thought she did an excellent job of trying to lead the team
and be positive and believing we could still win."
Tall
task
The
Knights struggled with Barr-Reeve's size.
King,
Adams and Kaitlin Hainje -- all listed at 5-foot-10 -- are the tallest players
on CC's roster.
Barr-Reeve
boasts three players above six feet, who combined for 236 blocks entering
Saturday's semifinal match.
"They
came out and put a big block on us that we thought we were prepared for, but we
ran into a buzzsaw," McCarter said.
No
talent shortage
Barr-Reeve
freshman Tya Harmon, all of 5-3, proved unfazed by the bright lights of Worthen
Arena.
The
outside hitter delivered some crushing slams en route to six kills against the
Knights. She added seven kills in the state finals against Marquette Catholic.
Harmon
ended her freshman season with 191 kills.
"For
a 5-3 outside hitter, she can get up," Barr-Reeve coach Amber DeCoursey
said.
