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IHSAA volleyball state championship matches: How to watch, previews

brian haenchen, indianapolis star
·6 min read

The fall girls sports season will end Saturday night with the IHSAA state volleyball championships at Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State in Munice.

Here's viewing information, followed by capsule previews of each match.

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How to watch on IHSAAtv.org

IHSAAtv.org will be the exclusive viewing outlet for Saturday's championship matches as Bally Sports Indiana is no longer carrying title games.

IHSAAtv has apps available for iPad and iPhone, as well as Roku, Amazon Fire, Android TV and AppleTV devices. If you own one of these, search for IHSAAtv in the appropriate app store.

Matches are pay-per-view: $15 per game or $20 for an all-access pass.

Class A: Southwood (31-4) vs. Tecumseh (32-4)

WHEN: 11 a.m.

COACHES: Southwood - Tom Finicle (35th year, 889-385); Tecumseh - Katie Johnson (18th year, 422-155)

SERIES: 1st meeting (per MaxPreps)

STATE FINALS: Southwood - 5 (2004, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2023); Tecumseh - 5 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2016, 2022, 2023)

IPV RANKINGS: Southwood - 4th; Tecumseh - 1st

Tecumseh’s Jenna Donohoo (9) makes a pass during the Class A semi state volleyball game at Jasper High School in Jasper, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2022.
Tecumseh’s Jenna Donohoo (9) makes a pass during the Class A semi state volleyball game at Jasper High School in Jasper, Ind., Saturday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2022.

KEY PLAYERS: Southwood - OH Shania Rhamy (368 kills, 355 digs, 28 blocks), S/OPP Grace Drake (459 assists, 266 kills, 238 digs, 43 blocks), S Adi Deaton (393 assists, 145 digs), L Allie Haecker (355 digs, 93 assists, 50 kills); Tecumseh - OH Jenna Donohoo (364 kills, 49 assists, 322 digs, 40 blocks), S Emily Hall (556 assists, 184 digs), S Payge Johnson (548 assists, 319 kills, 330 digs, 18 blocks), L Lydia Wilson (346 digs).

What to know: This is a battle between two schools in search of their first state championship.  … Southwood is an experienced outfit with five starters returning from last year's regional championship squad. It took out No. 7 Faith Christian in the regional final and No. 3 FW Blackhawk Christian at semistate. … Tecumseh returns to Muncie looking to avenge last year's runner-up finish. The Braves, who also returned five starters from last year, opened the season with 18 straight wins before falling to fellow state finalist Castle.

Class 2A: Muncie Burris (30-4) vs. Brownstown Central (24-13)

WHEN: 1:30 p.m.

COACHES: Burris - Jim Craig (4th year, 95-27); Brownstown - Jennifer Shade (6th year, 689-250)

SERIES: Burris leads 8-0

STATE FINALS: Burris - 25 (1979, 1982*, 1983, 1985*, 1986*, 1989*, 1990*, 1992*, 1993*, 1994*, 1997*, 1998*, 1999*, 2000*, 2001*, 2002*, 2003*, 2004*, 2005*, 2006*, 2007*, 2008*, 2009*, 2010*, 2023); Brownstown - 13 (1983, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2019*, 2023)

IPV RANKINGS: Burris - 1st; Brownstown - NR

KEY PLAYERS: Burris - MH Lilly Howell (343 kills, 66 digs, 36 blocks), OH Aubrey Miller (260 kills, 296 digs), S Avery Seale (833 assists, 131 digs), L Layla Gonzales (373 digs); Brownstown - OH Sophie Wischmeier (447 kills, 404 digs, 21 blocks), MH Kinzee Dean (208 kills, 73 digs, 47 blocks), S Finley Wheeler (630 assists, 209 digs), L Jaydynn Yeadon (576 digs, 44 assists).

What to know: This is the eighth title match between Muncie Burris and Brownstown Central, who have a combined 38 state finals appearances (25th for Burris, which is 7-0 vs. the Braves in the finals). … The Owls, who are making their first finals appearance since 2010, have swept their six state tournament matches, including the regional championship match vs. Adams Central. They beat Class A finalist Southwood, 2-1, twice during the regular season. … Brownstown Central has six starters from last year's sectional champion team, and took out No. 2 Linton Stockton in the regional championship, before outlasting Scecina in five at semistate.

Class 3A: Bellmont (34-2) vs. Providence (30-5)

WHEN: 4:30 p.m.

COACHES: Bellmont - Craig Krull (19th year, 549-141); Providence - Terri Purichia (25th year, 698-206)

SERIES: Tied 1-1 (per MaxPreps)

STATE FINALS: Bellmont - 9 (1978, 1984, 2005, 2007*, 2010*, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023); Providence - 12 (1975, 1986, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2016, 2022*, 2023)

IPV RANKINGS: Bellmont - 1st; Providence 2nd

Bellmont's Delaney Lawson (9) spikes the ball against Brebeuf's Maeve Perry (15) and Brebeuf's Delaney Seaman (11) during the second set of the IHSAA Class 3A volleyball state finals, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 at Ball State University's Worthen Arena in Muncie.
Bellmont's Delaney Lawson (9) spikes the ball against Brebeuf's Maeve Perry (15) and Brebeuf's Delaney Seaman (11) during the second set of the IHSAA Class 3A volleyball state finals, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 at Ball State University's Worthen Arena in Muncie.

KEY PLAYERS: Bellmont - OH MaryKate Scheumann (439 kills, 301 digs), OH Delaney Lawson (412 kills, 100 digs, 28.5 blocks), S Hailey Cole (1,094 assists, 335 digs, 51.5 blocks, 133 kills), L Sami Christen (559 digs, 122 assists); Providence - OH Lilly Tappel (257 kills, 288 digs, 23 blocks), MB Lilly Kaiser (98 blocks, 126 kills, 53 digs), S Reese Carver (586 assists, 146 digs), L Camila Adams (387 digs).

What to know: A rematch of last year's 3A final pits a pair of experienced, battle-tested teams against one another. … Bellmont, making its third consecutive state finals appearance, played one of the toughest schedules in the state. It boasts wins over 4A opponents Yorktown, Roncalli and Homestead. The 19-time defending sectional champions' road to state has included No. 3 Angola, No. 4 Benton Central and No. 5 NorthWood — all over the past three matches. … The Pioneers tested themselves against state finalists Castle, Brownstown Central and Hamilton Southeastern during the regular season, and picked off No. 6 Silver Creek and No. 7 Evansville Memorial during the tournament.

Class 4A: Hamilton Southeastern (32-0) vs. Castle (34-3)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

COACHES: HSE - Jason Young (12th year, 327-67); Castle - Daniel Watson (14th year, 389-109)

SERIES: First meeting (per MaxPreps)

STATE FINALS: HSE - 3 (2019, 2022*, 2023); Castle - 7 (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 2021, 2023)

IPV RANKINGS: HSE - 1st; Castle - 5th

KEY PLAYERS: HSE - OH Lauren Harden (358 kills, 140 digs, 36 blocks), OH Lindsey Mangelson (339 kills, 122 digs, 39 blocks), S Macy Hinshaw (595 assists, 174 digs), S Ava Hunter (495 assists, 147 digs), L Sophie Ledbetter (416 digs, 106 assists), MH Breonna Goss (86 blocks, 148 kills), MH Tiffany Snook (63 blocks, 199 kills); Castle - OH Katie Kopshever (413 kills, 278 digs, 52 blocks), MH Addisen Gallentine (166 blocks, 153 kills), MH Emma Watson (121 blocks, 73 kills), S/OPP Megan Harpenau (535 assists, 175 kills, 241 digs, 87 blocks), S/OPP Maya Joska (524 assists, 193 digs, 138 kills, 68 blocks).

What to know: Castle is the last team standing between nationally ranked Hamilton Southeastern and an undefeated 4A state championship. In search of their first state title, the Knights are making their second title appearance in three years, and returned just two starters from last year's sectional championship team. They bested No. 8 Center Grove and No. 3 Roncalli in the past two rounds, and are very good at the net with the 6-2 Gallentine and 6-0 Watson on the block. … HSE is looking to become the fourth 4A team to run the table, joining Cathedral (2015) and Yorktown (2018, 2020). The Royals have won 66 straight matches dating back to last season, and have lost just four sets this season. Two of those sets came in the regional championship vs. Homestead, which HSE pulled out in five a couple weeks ago.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA volleyball: How to watch championship matches, preview