By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
NEW CASTLE – When you are Muncie Central, the bar is set very, very high. The Bearcats, who are rated No. 1 or real close to it in Class volleyball 4A most seasons, began sectional play Oct. 20 by defeating Connersville at the New Castle Sectional.
There are three things you need to know about the match.
First, Connersville is a good volleyball team in its own right. The Spartans boasted more than 20 wins this season. Second, Muncie Central won the match in three sets, 25-17, 25-7, 25-14. Finally, as the scores indicate, the No. 2 Bearcats were never seriously challenged on this night.
Nonetheless, many of the faithful would say this was no better than an average performance by the girls from Muncie.
Central started sluggishly, riding the powerful play of junior Marquita Marshall. Marshall’s six kills in the game helped overcome numerous unforced errors by the Bearcats that left Connersville within striking distance throughout.
The final margin was the widest spread of the game.
In the second game, the rest of Muncie Central’s talented front line hit its stride. The result was a net attack that can only be described as devastating. The Spartans displayed a gallant defensive effort, but they were often faced with a hail of bullets and nowhere to hide.
The 25-7 final does not do justice to the Bearcats’ Game 2 domination.
To its credit, Connersville opened the third game with some aggressive play of its own. The attack reaped dividends as Muncie Central’s defense had several lapses through the early points of the contest.
The surge, however, was short-lived. Muncie Central broke from a 6-6 tie to take a commanding 18-10 lead and cruised to the finish.
The Bearcats now will face a Greenfield-Central squad that was very attack-minded in downing Pendleton Heights in straight sets in the evening’s other opening-round contest.
There is an old saying in sports that defense wins games. That is true … but defense does not score points, and that is a lesson Pendleton Heights learned in the first match of the evening.
The Arabians put forth a sterling defensive effort, causing one long rally after another against Greenfield. The difference in this match was simply that Greenfield had far more offensive power.
That fact showed early as the Cougars swept to a 25-13 victory in Game 1. Pendleton Heights rebounded by starting the second game taking an early 6-4 lead.
But the advantage – and the match – quickly vanished for the Arabians.
Greenfield’s Taylor Carlton produced a seven-point service run that made the score 11-6. After Pendleton broke the string with a single point, the Cougars launched another seven-point barrage to increase the margin to 18-7.
That surge ended any suspense as to the outcome of this contest. Greenfield-Central went on to win the second game and coasted to a 25-11 verdict in the third set.
The Cougars displayed a strong attack at the net all evening. It was led by senior Megan Valentine, who repeatedly ended rallies with strong kills from the outside. She was joined in the assault by junior frontcourt mate Megen Ruff.
After the contest, Greenfield-Central coach Kelli Marchello talked about the victory and her approach to playing Muncie Central in the Sectional 8 semifinals.
8. New Castle Sectional
Match 1 – Greenfield-Central def. Pendleton Heights 25-13, 25-11, 25-13
Match 2 – Muncie Central def. Connersville 25-17, 25-7, 25-14
Match 3 – Anderson Highland vs. Anderson. Thur 6p
Match 4 – Richmond vs. New Castle. Thur to follow
Match 5 – Greenfield-Central vs. Muncie Central. Sat 11a
Match 6 – Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4. Sat to follow
Championship – Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6. Sat 7p
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