Muncie Burris volleyball sweeps semistate, makes first state finals since 2010
FRANKFORT, Ind. — Muncie Burris volleyball made shirts entering the season with the mantra "23 in '23" printed on the back.
It seemed logical; what better time is there to win the program's 23rd state championship than in the 2023 season?
But a catchy slogan doesn't always translate to success between the lines. The Owls hadn't advanced to the IHSAA Class 2A state finals since 2010, long before current head coach Jim Craig or any of his players even considered donning blue and yellow.
Yet this year's group caught fire and, after its 3-0 sweep over No. 13 Pioneer (25-23, 25-17, 25-20) in Saturday's semistate championship at Frankfort High School, has a chance to make that rallying phrase come true.
"We've had '23 in 23' on the back of our shirts since Day 1," junior Lilly Howell said. "But I think this is still just a little bit of a shock for all of us seeing that we're now gonna go play at our home (town) in Worthen Arena."
Burris (30-4), according to IndianaPrepVolleyball.com's Z-ratings, has been ranked the top 2A team for much of the season, and enters the state championship at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, against No. 6 Brownstown Central (24-13) as the favorite after not having dropped any of its 18 postseason sets thus far.
Howell's dominance is a major reason why. Her 0.479 hitting percentage ranks 25th in the nation and second in the state, according to MaxPreps, and she leads the team in kills (353), aces (66) and total blocks (64) as a middle hitter, marks even more impressive than her Second Team All-State campaign in 2022.
At 6-foot-2, she towers over most 2A opponents and often gives Burris a significant advantage at the net. Craig said she plays out of position for the Owls, simply because he doesn't have anyone else to slot into the middle, but that her performance and determination to battle through knee and back pain uplifts the entire roster.
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Against the Panthers, Howell once again made her presence known with 10 kills, six aces and two blocks.
"I really just like to show out for (my teammates)," Howell said. "They're a group of girls where I just really want to be there for them and show them that I'm here for them, too. Just work hard all the time."
Burris is led, however, by its two senior captains: outside hitter Aubrey Miller and libero Layla Gonzales.
Miller led with 18 kills in the semistate final, and Gonzales put together another notable defensive effort with 20 digs and 15 receptions.
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While Miller has been a consistent player for three seasons, Gonzales didn't secure a regular spot in the rotation until last fall. She was immediately effective, yet she still carries the motivation to establish herself after sitting on the sidelines for so long.
"It's been a struggle, you could say, but I'm trying to pick up all the pieces that I've been missing," Gonzales said. "I think I'm proving a point and why I should be on the court."
She's also one of the Owls' best competitors, a trait that makes Gonzales even more valuable than just her on-court production.
"I'm a very loud girl," Gonzales said. "Practices are never quiet because I'm screaming, I'm yelling, I'm just trying to keep the team up."
Craig believes she's developed into an All-State-caliber player as well, and combined with Burris' up-and-comers, staunch defense and solid service game, the roster blended perfectly to advance deep into the postseason.
"Obviously, when you have Lilly, you've got a shot. And then Ja'Maria (Jackson) coming on, she does some neat things to watch. The libero's as good as anybody in the state. My outside hitters, once they get a good set and all that, they go," Craig said. "So all the bases are covered."
Jim Craig makes first trip to the volleyball state finals
Craig has coached in Indiana for a long time.
He was Wapahani's head coach from 1977 to 1994, winning 13 sectional titles, six regional titles and 11 Delaware County Championships, and in 1994 won Indiana Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Craig, who will be 74 in two weeks, is admittedly not from a similar background to the players he coaches. Sometimes, it's a challenge, but the two sides have connected and allowed the talent and team chemistry to blossom.
"I'm kind of a old guard, dirty-mouth talking coach, and a lot of kids wouldn't warm up to that," Craig said. "They kind of accepted that I'm old guard, that I'm not going to be warm and fuzzy. And I don't think they necessarily like it, but they understand that all together, the whole thing will work."
Despite his many accolades, the missing piece is a state title.
He joked that his Raider teams were deprived because they always ran into Burris. Now, he has a chance to join some of his longtime colleagues and mentors by achieving the coveted milestone.
It's the opportunity he came to Burris in 2020 for.
"It means everything to me because all my friends, all my buddies, all the guys that I've come up with — Dave Shondell, Steve Shondell and Wes Lyon — all those guys have state championships, and here I couldn't even show up," Craig said. "So from that standpoint, that's pretty good."
Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on X (platform formerly known as Twitter) @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Muncie Burris volleyball sweeps semistate 1st state finals since 2010
