Motivations for Yorktown, Wapahani heading into IHSAA volleyball state finals

MUNCIE, Ind. — Last season, for the first time since 2013, an East Central Indiana volleyball team didn't make the state finals.

Delaware County, specifically, was represented in all but one year during that period. But Yorktown and Wapahani, as they did together in 2020, both return to Ball State University's Worthen Arena on Saturday in search of another trophy.

The Class 2A No. 2 Raiders (31-5) face No. 8 Linton-Stockton (28-5) at 1:30 p.m., and the 4A No. 2 Tigers (34-2) play No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern (33-1) at 7 p.m.

All four championship games can be watched on Bally Sports Indiana and IHSAAtv.org. Tickets can only be purchased through GoFan and are $15 per person. Children who are 5 years old and younger will be admitted free.

ECI's representatives have mirroring motivations entering the competition. Here's a breakdown of each match:

4A: Yorktown v. Hamilton Southeastern

Not only does Yorktown have a chance to win its third 4A state title in five years, the Tigers can also get revenge.

The Royals came into Yorktown's gymnasium on Sept. 6 and convincingly won the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-17, before the Tigers battled back to force a fifth frame. They fell 15-10, but Yorktown has won 22 consecutive matches since, including a statement 3-1 victory in the regional semifinals over No. 4 Brebreuf, which handed the Tigers their only other loss.

HSE, though, has won 33 straight matches since losing its season opener. In so many ways, this is rightfully the conclusion of Saturday's state championship slate.

"I think it's rare to have a No. 1 versus No. 2 in the final game. We're super excited. HSE is a great team," Yorktown head coach Stephanie Bloom said. "We're both going to be different teams from when we first saw each other, but our kids are pumped and ready and glad to have another shot at them."

Semistate:Defense carries Yorktown volleyball to third 4A state final in five years

The teams have clashing strengths. The Royals sport a 0.317 team hitting percentage and are led by seniors Avery Hobson (429 kills, eighth in 4A) and Breonna Gross (121 blocks, fifth in 4A). Junior libero Sophie Ledbetter ranks third in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference in both aces (51) and digs (457), adding another dimension to the squad.

The Tigers' offense statistically matches up well, but they've played a slightly easier schedule, according to MaxPreps. Yorktown generally isn't as efficient in its attacks, with its biggest weapon being sophomore Charlotte Vinson (451 kills, sixth in 4A).

But she, sophomore Addi Applegate, senior Emilee Hill and junior Addisen Rains have combined for 198 more total digs than HSE's top-4 performers in that category, and Yorktown collectively has 350 more digs on the season than the Royals.

The Tigers, whether their offense is clicking or not, can typically keep points alive with defense and eventually prevail. They will need to do so at the highest level against HSE.

"I think they want win at the front-10 and we're trying to win the back-20," Bloom said. "It's a great matchup. We'll see if defense really does win championships and see what we're made of."

Having been in this situation so many times before, Bloom has a good sense of how to prepare her girls for the unique factors of playing in the state finals.

For starters, because the match is televised, timeouts are longer than normal (90 seconds), so she accounts for that rhythmic change during practice. Bloom notes that depth perception in an arena like Worthen is different than most high school gymnasiums, so her girls have to keep that in mind as well.

Although several Tigers were around for the program's state finals run in 2020, there's little to compare between that experience and this one. Many restrictions were enforced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the state finals banquet being held virtually and few people allowed to watch the match in person.

"They didn't even have the bleachers out," Bloom said, "So you were really separated."

But Yorktown has enjoyed more typical celebrations this time. They gathered for a team meal earlier this week, had a parade on Friday at one of the elementary schools and will attend a normal state banquet.

The atypical aspect of this week, however, is that Yorktown is the underdog. It's a position the program hasn't usually found itself in, but one that fuels Bloom and the Tigers.

"For me, it's never about who's the most talented," Bloom said. "I'm not trying to look at where we match in each position because what things are on paper and what things are on match night can be totally different depending on your mentality. So we'll see."

2A: Wapahani v. Linton-Stockton

Wapahani is in an equally motivating, but different, situation than its fellow Delaware County representative.

The Raiders, and especially their senior class, are desperate for a state championship. They lost in the finals in both 2019 and 2020, and endured heartbreak last year when, after moving up to 3A because of the success factor, lost to Bellmont in the sectional finals after winning the first two sets.

Wapahani faced the same elimination circumstances in the semistate final, losing the third and fourth sets to No. 1 Andrean after building a 2-0 lead, but this time overcame the momentum shift to prevail 15-10.

"I can't say that that image (of losing to Bellmont) didn't pass through my head in that moment," head coach Kati Weir said. "I think the fact that they have been in that situation and know what it takes to come out on the winning side of that, and know the discipline and what needs to be taken care of as far as ball control and just playing more as a team rather than being worried about your role, it was a huge growth moment for us. I do think there was a bit of relief after that."

Semistate:With thrilling semistate win, Wapahani volleyball earns another chance at a state championship

Such emotional triumph can sometimes lead to a letdown, though, so the team's mindset this week in practice has been to refocus on the last challenge.

Weir said Linton-Stockton, which will play in the program's first ever state championship, poses a much different threat than Andrean. The Miners have four girls 6-feet or taller, unusual for a 2A school, so Weir has tried to prepare her girls for defending bigger attacks and going against taller blockers.

Linton-Stockton also features a balanced offense. Six players have over 130 kills on the season, and the Miners hold a slight statistical edge in total blocks and aces.

Wapahani's offense, on paper, is superior with one of the state's best statistical setters in senior Macie Bowden (1,095 assists this season, third in Indiana), and a dynamic duo of top attackers in seniors Chloe Cook and Camryn Wise, each with over 350 kills this year.

The Raiders do have a tendency to start sets slowly, however, so making sure all of the team's parts are clicking from the beginning will be key.

"I don't think there was any thought that (the finals) would be easy, but there was a bit of relief coming off of that huge match (against Andrean), having to refocus and put our mind back like, 'We're going to be battling again this weekend,'" Weir said. "We celebrated and we were excited and we know Andrean was a great team to beat, but (we are) very aware going into this match that Linton-Stockton is going to be really good and they're going to be ready to play and we have to bring that same grit in this match."

Weir, like Bloom, played collegiately at Ball State, so she also knows how different it can feel playing in Worthen than a gym. But she hopes that Wapahani's semistate match at Frankfort, home to one of the more unique domed high school courts, made the Raiders more prepared for playing in an unusual setting.

Regardless, Weir is confident that her girls will come ready to win it all. Losing three state championship matches in four years is not how this group wants to be remembered, and they'll likely play like it.

"They're excited. They're ready ... If they can play as a team and carry each other through those hard moments in Worthen, they'll go rise to the occasion."

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on Twitter @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: IHSAA volleyball: Motivations for Yorktown, Wapahani in state finals