A look at the 'Top 10' sports stories for 2008

By Travis David

SPORTS WRITER

JASONVILLE -- The Class A state baseball champions, Shakamak Lakers, earned the top spot for sports stories in 2008.

After being the bridesmaid the previous two seasons, the Lakers finally were able to feel what it tasted like to be crowned state champions -- the first of any sport in school history.

The Lakers knocked off Cowan by a final of 6-2 in the championship game.

The path to Victory Field was definitely not an easy task for the Lakers. They entered postseason play having lost three of their final four regular-season games and overcame a pair of late-inning deficits to capture their seventh consecutive sectional crown.

They defeated White River Valley in the opening round 7-0, before rallying to win in their final at bat against Clay City 2-1 and North Central, 4-3.

In the regional championship, Shakamak overcame an early 1-0 deficit for another exciting one-run win, this time 2-1 over Vincennes Rivet. The championship was the fifth straight for the baseball powerhouse.

Their semistate competition proved to be no match for the Lakers, as they went on to defeat Bethesda Christian 6-1 before thumping Jac-Cen-Del 12-2 in five innings to make a third straight trip to Victory Field.

"I have never been around a more relaxed and laid-back team before," Lakers head coach Matt Fougerousse said. "This group has remained mentally strong throughout the season and now in the postseason and have never lost sight of their main goal, which was to get back to Victory Field."

With all the postseason magic the Lakers had displayed throughout their march to the state, going back to Jasonville without their main prize did not seem like an option.

Trailing Cowan 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lakers tied a state championship game record for most runs in an inning with a 6-spot. The Lakers would not relinquish the lead.

T.J. Hill also set a state championship game record by registering 10 strikeouts in the game, as the burly sophomore earned his ninth win of the season -- four of which came in the postseason.

"T.J. was just great like he has been all season for us," Fougerousse said of his ace. "They (Cowan) probably never faced anyone like T.J. this season. He proved to everyone today on the biggest stage why he had earned the right to be the ace of our pitching staff."

The two runs Hill surrendered were unearned.

"That lit a fire under us," Jaret May said. "Everyone was fired up and we were determined we were going to get those two runs back and some more."

May had the big hit in the bottom half of the inning as he had a bases-clearing 3-run double to account for the final runs of the game.

"We have been so close in years past," Fougerousse said. "We could not catch a break before but once we got our break today we capitalized on it and it paid off."

The break Fougerousse eluded to was when Ben Grissom hit a towering pop up at short with two outs in the fifth inning. The shortstop had the ball trickle off the end of his glove which allowed two runs to score and the flood gates to open.

"This team never gets down," Grissom said. "Everyone did their part to contribute to this win. I just thank God for being able to let us go out like this and also thanks for the fans for their support. They have stuck by us through all these years and its been just an amazing feeling to win this in our senior year."

No. 2 Linton Football Miners advance to semi-state

By Travis David

SPORTS WRITER

The Linton-Stockton High School football team advancing to the semistate was voted as the No. 2 sports story for 2008.

This season was not suppose to be a very magical season for the Miners according to some critics. With upcoming teams like North Knox and North Daviess, the Miners were not picked to win the Southwest Seven Conference or even the Class A sectional. But not only did the Miners prove their critics wrong by having an undefeated regular season, their success carried over to a sectional and regional crown before losing in the final minutes to eventual state champion Indianapolis Ritter in the semistate championship game.

Big plays and some timely takeaways led the Miners to their second straight sectional title and seventh overall. Linton-Stockton knocked off previously undefeated Tecumseh on the road in its opening round, then defeated a very tough West Washington team before defeating a determined North Daviess team for the sectional championship.

In their sectional championship the Miners rallied from a 14-7 fourth quarter deficit and then forced a fumble at the goal line in the final minutes to claim the title.

"This is just sweet," Miners head coach Steve Weber said. "There were five or six teams in this sectional that could have won and we are just fortunate to still be standing."

The go ahead score was a fumble by quarterback Keith Cunningham which was alertly recovered by Mickey Tosti at the goal line and advanced for the touchdown.

"I would like to say that was planned that way, but it wasn't," Cunningham chuckled about the play.

"I was just in the right place at the right time," Tosti said of the eventual game-winning score.

Next for the Miners was the Rockville Rox who were also undefeated and had ended the season for the Miners a year ago.

A sloppy and rain-soaked field proved to be the Miners best friend in the regional title game, as they kept a high powered Rox offense grounded throughout most of the game, as they advanced to the semistate with a 28-14 title win.

"Our defense just played unbelievable tonight," Weber said. "I have never seen the guys play the way they came out tonight. They just played awesome."

The Miners rushing attack led the way in their 14-point win. Tosti rushed for a game-high 117 yards, while Evan Magni tallied 69 yards and Cameron Coleman had 62 yards with two scores.

"After last year this is just simply awesome," Coleman said. "They really dominated us last year and to come here tonight and return the favor feels great."

The dream season would come to an end for the Miners a week later in the semistate, as the Miners could not hold on to a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead. Indianapolis Ritter outscored the Miners 22-6 in the final 12 minutes of play including the game-winning score with just 65 seconds left in the game.

"Our boys hung in and played with one of the best teams in the state tonight," Weber said. "It was just a couple of things that did not go out way.

"I told the kids I understand their pain but there is no reason for them to hang their heads. They played their hearts out tonight and we could not have asked for more."

A week later Ritter would be crowned state champions at Lucas Oil Stadium.

No. 3 -- Eastern baseball squad wins first regional

By Travis David

SPORTS WRITER

EASTERN HEIGHTS -- The postseason run by the Eastern Greene's baseball team was voted as the No. 3 sports story for 2008.

The Thunderbirds captured their first sectional championship since 1991 and claimed their first ever regional crown.

Eastern Greene avenged a regular-season loss to Bloomfield to advance to the sectional title game and also avenged a loss to South Knox in the previous season's sectional semifinal. The Thunderbirds defeated Bloomfield 7-1 and the Spartans 11-5 to claim the sectional.

Senior Josh Avooske pitched the first three innings of the sectional championship and also belted a 3-run homer in the win.

"This is just an awesome feeling," Avooske said. "Since the first day of the season I have thought about this. We have just inched a little closer each day."

Avooske also mentioned having revenge on his mind.

"This was just a sectional filled with second chances. This turned out to be a revenge sectional for us," Avooske said. "It was great to get Bloomfield after the way we played to end the regular season. Then last year our season was ended by South Knox. It was really sweet to get this one. It almost makes up for losing to them last year."

The T-Birds would not settle for just a sectional crown. After being rained out twice and finally getting to play their regional championship game against Covenant Christian -- albeit at Art Nehf Field on the campus of Rose Hulman.

The game would belong to T-Bird Ryan Wilcoxen. The senior tossed a complete game shutout and also provided the only run of the game with a solo blast in the second inning.

For the game, Wilcoxen was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and scattered just five hits on the mound.

"Ryan is just the ultimate competitor," Eastern Greene Coach Brad Bates said. "When the game or the season is on the line he is the guy that you want at the plate or on the mound. He was just lights out tonight."

Orry Miller was Wilcoxen's batterymate for all four of the duos' season for the Thunderbirds.

"Tonight was just one of his best games," Miller said. "He is a great leader and he always seems to come through for us when we need him most."

Wilcoxen said the team could not have done it without great defense and Miller as well.

"Orry called a great game tonight," Wilcoxen said. "He has been back there every start for my four years and I could not have done it without him.

"My defense behind me tonight was just great as well. I think we showed tonight to everyone just how good of a team we can be. They always say defense wins championships and we proved that tonight."

Entering the season the Thunderbirds had not experienced much postseason success.

"I am just so proud of this group of seniors and everyone on this team," Bates said. "Before this season Eastern Greene had never won more than one game in a single postseason and now we are regional champions."

The record-breaking postseason run would come to an end in the semistate as South Ripley would end the season for the T-Birds, 5-0.

No. 4 Lady Lakers win second straight sectional title

By Travis David

SPORTS WRITER

JASONVILLE -- The Shakamak girls high school volleyball team winning its second consecutive sectional title was voted as the No. 4 top sports story of 2008.

This year's team did not come close to putting up the school record breaking 29 wins as the previous year's team did, but it was able to overcome injuries and adversity for its second straight championship.

The Lady Lakers claimed their sectional hardware in a most thrilling fashion -- overcoming a two games to none deficit against North Central. After dropping the first two games 18-25, 12-25, the Lakers came back with an impressive game three win 25-11 before exciting 26-24 and 15-12 wins for the title.

"Wow!" was the first words Lakers Coach Jeri Morin said after the improbable comeback. "I never stopped believing in the girls, but this was just an amazing win after losing the first two games the way we did."

Shakamak jumped out to an early 10-1 lead in game three and never looked back as they quickly grabbed the momentum which had been on the Thunderbirds side throughout the first two games.

"This is a game of momentum and once we grabbed it we just ran with it," Morin said.

Game four was the most pivotal game. The Lakers won one of the most exciting games with a nail-biting 26-24 score. Outside hitters Jess Gilbert of Shakamak and Megan Stone of North Central matched each other kill for kill during the game but it was a hitting error by the Ladybirds which ended the game.

"How exciting was that game," Morin said. "It could have went either way, you couldn't fault the effort of either team, it was just an intense battle. That is what a sectional championship match is suppose to be like."

Gilbert, who played the entire post-season with a bummed ankle, carried the Lakers on her back throughout the match, especially in the fifth game.

The senior tallied eight of her match-high 24 kills in the fifth game, including six of the Lakers first seven points.

"I think she was a senior and did not want this to end," Morin said of Gilbert. "She gave it her all and everyone else stepped up their play and just dominated."

Gilbert said it was in the third game that they realized they could comeback and win their second straight championship.

"We wasn't really ready to play in those first two games," Gilbert said. "But things just started to click there in the third game and we knew we could win it."

She said it was an amazing feeling completing the comeback.

"I am just extremely happy," Gilbert said. "We were thinking 'oh no' after the second game. But we knew that we had worked too hard all season to go out like this and coach never stopped believing in us."

Also for the second straight season the Lakers season would be ended in the regional by Indianapolis Lutheran.

No. 5 Shakamak basketball squad has memorable season

By Travis David

SPORTS WRITER

JASONVILLE -- The Shakamak High School boys basketball team was voted the No. 5 sports story of the year for 2008 for their accomplishments on the court.

The team, which was led by Ernie Maesch, captured its first Greene County Invitational championship since 1982, and won its second Class A sectional title in three years.

The team may have been one of the youngest teams in the state as it started four sophomores and one senior, but it played as one and conquered every obstacle that was thrown in its path until faced against a much older and physically mature team in Indianapolis Lutheran at the regional.

The Lakers defeated Vincennes Rivet 87-78 to capture the Greene County title. The Patriots may have been the hottest team in the tournament leading up to the championship tilt, but it was the Lakers who started with the hot hand from the beginning. Shakamak came out of the gates firing on all cylinders hitting their first seven shots and 12 of 14 in the first quarter as they jumped out to 28-12 lead after the first eight minutes of play.

The Lakers would finish the game shooting 64 percent from the floor as they staved off a late rally by the Patriots.

"That is probably as well as we have played all season, especially in the first quarter," Maesch said. "We have really struggled with our shooting but the kids were knocking down shots tonight."

Billy Newton and Ethan Stanifer led the way for the Lakers with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Newton would be named as the tournament MVP but would later share the honor with Stanifer.

"I really did not think that I did that good of a job tonight," Newton said about winning the MVP. "Mainly our other guys stepped up and started knocking down shots in the first half."

The sectional title would not be near as easy for the Lakers. After surviving a scare from Clay City in the opening round, Shakamak would overcome a slow start against North Central in the title game.

The Lakers fell behind 7-0 early on before rallying for a 50-44 win over the defending sectional champions.

"Sometimes that happens, we have had it happen a couple other times this season," Stanifer said of the Lakers slow start in the sectional title game. "But usually once someone on the team gets it going, it sparks the rest of the team and we get going."

Newton and Stanifer would once again pave the way for the Lakers. Newton scored a game-high 19 points while Stanifer posted 14.

Maesch, who earned his second sectional title with the Lakers, said this one was more for the kids to savor.

"The first one I was just unbelievably excited and felt like doing back-flips," Maesch said. "This one is more for the kids to enjoy and savor and I love to see them do this."

Shakamak would see their season end at the Martinsville Regional against eventual state runners-up Indianapolis Lutheran. A few weeks later Maesch would resign as the Lakers head man to take over at Northview.

No. 6 -- Eastern Greene girls sectional title run

By B.J. Hargis

Sports Editor

Eastern Greene seemed like an unlikely team to win a girls basketball sectional when the Class 2A Bloomfield Sectional began.

The Lady Thunderbirds had won just eight of 22 games, but caught fire at the right time beating Linton-Stockton, North Knox and the host and defending champion Lady Cardinals 33-27 in the title game, earning its first sectional championship in 23 years.

Eastern Greene used a 9-1 spurt over the final three minutes and 50 seconds of the third quarter to take the lead for good.

The Lady Thunderbirds outscored Bloomfield 22-14 over the final 16 minutes to claim its first girls basketball sectional title since 1985 and third in school history.

Eastern Greene trailed 13-11 at intermission after missing 9 of 13 shots and committing eight turnovers in the opening two quarters.

"Our girls just never gave up," said Eastern Greene Coach Dan Fidago. "I was a little worried at halftime. I felt like Bloomfield did a great job of coming out and exploiting us.

"And we just decided at the half that we have got to guard them. We have to stop penetration and have to box out. Bloomfield did a heck of a job. They played great defense all night. ... But we were just not going to be denied tonight."

Eastern Greene still trailed 18-15 before freshman Allyson Nicholson hit a 3-pointer in front of the Lady Thunderbird bench with 2:45 to play in the third quarter. Her only basket of the game came in the middle of the 9-1 outburst.

"I think it got us going," Nicholson said of the shot. "We were down a little before I sank that three.

"After that, we starting making more baskets, which brought us back up. I think getting the lead really boosted our confidence. After that, we got it going."

Eastern Greene senior forward Lindsey Stevens said they had some jitters.

"We just wanted to finish it out," she said. "Being able to come to our rival's school, playing them and cutting down their nets, it's just an amazing feeling."

Eastern Greene scored five of the first seven points of the fourth quarter, taking its largest lead at 27-20 after a steal by Erwin led to two free throws by Allyson Nicholson at the 4:24 mark.

"We stopped panicking," said center Kaci Helms, who led the Lady Thunderbirds with 10 points and eight rebounds. "In the first half we were throwing up a lot of wild shots.

"We realized we can win this thing if we settle down and get our heads on right. We did it."

Eastern Greene made history at the Class 2A Forest Park Regional a week later by defeating Covenant Christian 49-44, the first time the Lady T-Birds had ever won a regional game.

Eastern Greene's unprecedented tournament run came to an end with a 67-62 setback at the hands of Class 2A No. 3 Austin in the title game Saturday night.

"This was a historic day for Eastern Greene girls basketball," said Fidago. "No team in the history of Eastern Greene had ever won a girls regional game before today.

"We really competed against Austin, but I think we just ran out of gas."

No. 7 -- Lady Wolverines wins first sectional since 2004

By B.J. Hargis

Sports Editor

The success of the White River Valley girls basketball team in 2008 was rated as the No. 7 sports stories for the year.

It was a season of highs, lows, injuries and sickness for WRV.

The Wolverines claimed their first Class A sectional title since 2004 when they defeated North Central 54-42 in the finale at Clay City in February.

"I was thinking about this all day today and this would have been the first senior class that I have had come through here to not win a sectional title if we would not have won tonight," WRV Coach Joe Pigg said. "So I'm really happy that Carly (Johnson) and Tasha (Borter) got to experience this. I didn't want them to leave this program without one of these trophies."

Through the first two games of the sectional, the Lady Wolverines never really experienced any kind of threat of defeat as they coasted to 18- and 24-point victories over Clay City and Shakamak en route to the championship game.

It proved to be a little tougher against the LadyBirds as they led 13-10 after the first quarter. But WRV used an 11-0 run to take the lead for good at the half -- 21-13.

The LadyBirds focused on stopping WRV's 5-11 Stephanie Fougerousse but the plan back-fired as junior Kelsey Anderson caught fire and scored 12 of her game-high 22 points in the first half, while Fougerousse was limited to four points.

"I think we got off to a bad start tonight, but then we started to figure some things out," Pigg said. "Once we got the lead I felt like we were going to be OK. Kelsey knocked down some big shots to get us going there in the second quarter."

In the first two games of the tournament, Clay City and Shakamak tried to make the tempo a slower style, but North Central came out at a much faster paced style of play.

"It was tough at the beginning," Anderson said. "I thought the game was played at a really fast paced compared to the first two games and it was really back and fourth for awhile, and defensively we wasn't playing like we should have."

WRV led 25-18 lead at the half and opened up the third quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 15-point lead before the quarter was two minutes old.

"The first thing that we wrote on the board at halftime was rebounding," Pigg said of his motivational speech. "I told the girls that we had to win the rebounding edge regardless and be more aggressive with the basketball and we would be OK."

WRV was more aggressive going to the basket as it reached the charity stripe 17 times in the second half and was successful on 13.

Fougerousse took care of the rebounding part, as she collected 11 of her game-high 16 boards in the second half recording a double-double to go along with her 12 points.

In addition to Anderson's 22 points and Fougerousse's 12, sophomore Tayler Kail added 14 points and five rebounds and senior Tasha Borter chipped in with four points for the winners.

WRV defeated host Southwestern (Shelby) in the first game of the regional but lost to University 58-37 in the regional final, finishing the season at 19-5.

No. 8 -- Lady Cardinals win softball sectional

By B.J. Hargis

Sports Editor

The Bloomfield Lady Cardinals defeated Eastern Greene 6-1 and South Knox 4-2 at the Class 2A South Knox tournament to capture its first sectional championship in softball since 1995.

In the semifinals against EGHS, Bloomfield came up with four hits in the fifth inning and pushed across four runs to pull away from county rival Eastern Greene.

The Lady Cardinals broke open a 1-1 tie.

"The fifth inning has been a big offensive inning for us this year," said Bloomfield Coach Jessica Lauderdale, whose Lady Cardinals ended the season with a 14-6 record, including a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in extra innings to Brownstown Central at the regional.

"Up until the fifth, it was a 1-1 game. It was hard on the nerves. But we not only came up with those four hits in the fifth, but we also drew three walks. Obviously that inning proved to be the difference in the game."

Holly Zschiedrich, who proved to be the Lady Cardinals' biggest offensive weapon, hit a line shot down the third base line that drove in Danielle Sichting and Ariel Fuller for a 3-1 advantage.

Zschiedrich later had an RBI double.

Shelby Gott upped her record to 13-5 with the complete-game victory. She struck out nine and did not issue a walk.

Gott fanned nine and walked one as she pitched the complete game-victory over South Knox.

"I love these girls," said Gott, who scattered six hits to earn her 14th victory of the season. "I am so proud to have helped win the sectional with them.

"We wanted to win the sectional really badly and I thought that we just wanted it more tonight."

Although they did not score in the first, two hits off of South Knox pitcher Amber Scott gave notice that the Lady Cardinals were going to be a tough out. Scott had not allowed a run in wins over North Knox and Linton-Stockton as the Lady Spartans advanced to the championship game.

First baseman Amber Vandeventer walked and scored the first run of the game in the second on a South Knox miscue, putting the Lady Cardinals ahead for good.

Vandeventer also had an RBI double in the second to put BHS ahead 2-0 after 2 1/2 innings.

"It was really important for us to jump out to the lead," said Lauderdale. "But even if the girls had fallen behind, I am confident they would have battled back.

"Amber really came up with a big hit when we needed it. I can't say enough about all the girls. We really got a lot of contributions from a lot of different girls. I am so proud of everyone. Maybe now I can relax."

Senior shortstop Brittany Myers went 3-for-4 and scored the second run of the game.

"This was extremely stressful," said Myers, whose infield single played a big part in the Lady Cardinals scoring an insurance run in the seventh. "This is a glorious moment for us and for Bloomfield softball."

Cassie O'Neall, the other BHS senior, had a single and added two assists and one putout at second base.

"This is the first time we have won a sectional in 15 years," she said. "It feels really great to be a part of something like this."

No. 9 -- Local athletes run to success in 2008

By B.J. Hargis

Sports Editor

The boys and girls cross country and track and field seasons provided the most excitement and drama during 2008 by individuals in Greene County.

Their collective success was rated as the No. 9 sports story for the year.

Drew Gambill advanced to the boys track and field state finals in the 800 for the first time.

Gambill ended up winning his heat and finished 10th overall in the 800 at Indiana University on May 31.

Gambill, who won the 800 at the Evansville Central Regional, was clocked at 1 minute, 57.37 seconds, which was the best of his career.

His teammate, Anthony Witt, finished third in the 3,200 meters in his final high school event. His time was 9 minutes, 7.39 seconds and was a personal best, easily beating his previous best time of 9:11.07, which he set in winning the same event at the Evansville Central Regional.

In the fall during the cross country season, Gambill was easily the best runner in the area this season. He won the county and both conferences and advanced through the sectional, regional and semistate.

He qualified to compete in the state finals for a second straight season in cross country.

Eastern Greene senior Lindsey Stevens conclude a brilliant career at the girls track and field state finals at Indiana University's Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington.

Stevens was timed at 47.05 seconds in the 300 meter low hurdles. This broke her own school record of 47.08. She placed 13th in this event.

Stevens also qualified to run in the 100 high hurdles. She was timed at 16.04.

Stevens, who also went to the state finals in the 300 hurdles in 2007, was the first Eastern Greene female athlete to win a regional title in school history by capturing the 300 hurdles title earlier in 2008 at Bedford North Lawrence. She said it was probably the highlight of her career.

Stevens also narrowly missed out on a third event, as she placed fifth in the long jump at the regional. Her 19 team points at the regional set a new school standard for total team points at a regional.

For what is believed to be the first time in the history of Greene County, three different female athletes from three different schools advanced to the semistate in cross country.

Casey Fougerousse, a junior from Shakamak, made it out of the sectional and regional for the third time in her career. She also helped the Lady Lakers make a third straight trip to the regional as a team.

Bloomfield freshman Julie Riggins made a big splash on the local cross country scene in 2008. Riggins helped the Lady Cardinals win the county and Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference championships and placed 14th at the sectional, 11th at the regional and 40th at the semistate.

White River Valley senior Jennifer Hughes earned a scholarship to run cross country at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College. She made it back to the semistate for the first time since her freshman season in 2005.

No. 10 -- Lady Miners overachieve in 2008

By B.J. Hargis

Sports Editor

The success of the Linton-Stockton volleyball team was rated as the No. 10 sports story in 2008.

Although the Lady Miners are the only team among the top 10 stories not to win a sectional championship, they probably overachieved in 2008, which was the reason their success this year was noteworthy.

The Lady Miners captured their third consecutive Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference championship with a perfect 7-0 record.

Linton-Stockton also was perfect in the Tri-River Conference, winning that for a third straight season under the leadership of Penny Dunn.

Although they finished one win short of a third goal -- winning the sectional -- they did have a 25-10 season. It was the fifth consecutive season of having won at least 25 matches.

The Lady Miners picked up win No. 25 when they defeated North Knox 25-11, 26-24, 25-15 in the semifinals of the Class 2A Bloomfield Sectional.

"We started out really well," said Linton-Stockton Coach Penny Dunn. "But we lost our intensity somewhat in game two.

"The girls came back well and finished it off in game three."

Megan Barnes led with 12 kills including four in game one. She also had three blocks, six digs, two aces and was 9 of 11 serving with six points.

"It was a win and a win at the sectional," Dunn added. "We know that we are capable of playing better."

The championship match was another matter. Linton-Stockton had dominated South Knox during the regular season, beating the Lady Spartans 25-12, 25-9, 25-21 in Linton on Sept. 11 as Barnes and Samantha Butt had runs of 12 and 16 consecutive serves to end the first two games.

But Linton-Stockton never scored more than three consecutive points and only scored three points on serve in game two as South Knox stunned the Lady Miners 27-25, 25-16, 25-17.

It was the first sectional title for South Knox, who combined for eight wins in 2006 and 2007.

"We are definitely surprised," said Dunn. "But like I said before, anything can happen in volleyball.

"We just never found our rhythm. And we could tell Thursday and earlier today that South Knox had improved since we played them."

South Knox Coach Michelle Cummings, whose Lady Spartans won just six times in 2007, said they had looked at a lot of tape and tried to exploit Linton-Stockton's weaknesses.

"Megan Barnes is just a force," Cummins said of the Linton-Stockton senior who finished with 16 kills, three blocks and three digs. "She is a great player.

"But we thought we might have an advantage when she was in the back row. We put up a double block on (Brittany) Rehmel, who is their main hitter when Barnes is in the back. We tried to take them out of their offense. We wanted to go down the line."

Dunn added that her girls had a great season, but that was lost in the fog of losing the sectional.

"There are a lot of disappointed girls in that locker room right now because we came up one win short of our goal. But they have a lot to be proud of for what they accomplished."

Later in the year, Dunn resigned her position as coach.