By Al Stilley
Editor

Roncalli reached the Indiana Boys Volleyball Coaches Association (IBVCA) state championship match Saturday at Perry Meridian for the fourth consecutive time. They won in 2018 but were second in 2019 and 2021.

This time around, Roncalli added to its legacy Saturday by defeating Hamilton Southeastern for its second state championship 25-17, 25-20, 20-10.
“This was a team of destiny,” said coach John Kesterson. “These boys weren’t going to lose, because they refused to lose.”

Senior Brendan Louthain was named as tourney MVP and on the all-tourney team with junior Alex Barkley and Andrew Mayer.

 The Royals advanced to the title match by wearing down Cathedral in three sets 25-21, 25-18, 25-15 earlier Saturday at Perry Meridian.

“We have the same goal every game and that’s to get out with a win and make a statement,” Louthain said. “Today we made a statement.”

The Royals finished with a 35-1 season. They only lost six sets all season and swept three foes in the state finals.

Friday, Roncalli and Perry Meridian put it on the line in their “double jeopardy” opening day match with, not only, bragging rights in Perry Township but to advance in the state finals.

The Royals swept their township rival 25-17, 25-22,25-19 to remain 3-0 for the season against the Falcons. Roncalli, led by a dominant front row, used their height and back-row quickness to advance.

Roncalli won each set in similar fashion – starting slow and slipping into a permanent lead midway. 

“That’s been our trend all year; we’ve always started slow,” Louthain said Friday. “It’s better to turn it around early so we can finish with a sweep, but Perry’s a really good team and we always play them close.”

Midway in the first set Friday, the Royals broke from a 14-14 tie with a 6-0 run bolstered by Louthain’s two kills and Noah Witmer’s block. In the second set, the Royals moved from an 11-11 tie  on two blocks but the Falcons pulled within one point (19-18) before a Royals five-point run. In the third set, Louthain’s three aces snapped a 4-4 tie. Later, PM’s Joseph Nung’s block tied it at 17-17. This time the Royals put together a 5-0 run with two blocks and two kills.

The Royals also moved their front row attack from the left side to the right side.

“We normally try to do a nice spread offense, but we were too focused on the left,” coach Kesterson said. “We do recover well; these boys play well with stress and being a little behind.”

After a surprise season last year, Perry Meridian reached the Elite 8 in front of a homecourt state finals crowd for the first time.

“We needed to not have their (Roncalli) big rallies in the middle where they scored more points,” PM coach Zach Ridener said. “Now I have a bunch of juniors that are hungrier than ever ... we will refocus and come back and try again.”

The two Southside teams also added to the talent level of Indiana boys’ volleyball. Louthain, Mayer, Witmer and Charles Schoettle of Roncalli; Simon Hmung and Seth Bolden of Perry Meridian; and Tyler Sobieralski of Franklin Central were named to the South All-Star team. 
Each coach was optimistic about IHSAA’s advancement of boys volleyball to recognition as an “emerging sport.”

“We’ll get more schools, paid coaches and more boys in the gym,” Kesterson observed. “We (Royals) have a lot of multi-sport athletes so it’s a great sport to play in the spring if they’re not already playing lacrosse or baseball.”

Ridener stated, “Now we can start with our younger kids and they will be more involved. Our middle school (Perry Meridian) is more interested in starting a program now.”
Beginning with the 2022-2023 season, boys’ volleyball will receive IHSAA support.

Decatur Central freshman Kylie Vaseloff fires a pitch while third baseman Kylee Hyatt defends her position in the Marion County Tournament quarterfinal game against Brebeuf at Ben Davis May 9. Vaseloff pitched a one-hitter as the Hawks won 15-1 in five innings.  ​​(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE.)

By Steve Page
Correspondent

Thanks in part to rain delays of the county tourney, Decatur Central ended a run of five games in four days Thursday at Martinsville with a 6-3 triumph that clinched third place in the Mid-State.
Freshman Hannah Harper and junior Ella Phillps each slammed home runs against the Artesians while pitcher Kylie Eads struck out 11 batters.

The Hawks won four games during that stretch, losing only to nationally No. 1-ranked Roncalli in the Marion County championship game May 10 on the road.

The string of games began May 9 at Ben Davis as the Hawks continued their county tourney march. Six seniors were able to enjoy their final prom May 7 after postponing their quarterfinal tourney game against Brebeuf to Monday. The Hawks won 15-1 and the right to meet Ben Davis in the tourney twin-bill that night.
Freshman pitcher Kylie Vaseloff, making just the fourth start of her varsity career, limited Brebeuf to one hit. She was backed with a 15-hit attack in the five-inning game. Vaselof struck out eight batters, reached base twice and scored two runs.

Then against the host Giants, senior pitcher Kylie Eads held Ben Davis to three hits and struck out 13 btters as the Hawks won, 11-0. One night later, they fell at Roncalli, 6-0 in the championship game.

“We wanted to give Kylie (Eads) a break,” Vaseloff said. “My fastballs, screwballs and risers were working. My teammates are really supportive. Kylie really helps me out a lot.”

Leadoff batter Jazlynn Stewart (3 for 3) and second baseman Sydney Hazelwood (4 for 4), both sophomores, enjoyed perfect days at the plate against Brebeuf.

With Eads on the mound, it was more of the same against Ben Davis. She retired the first 11 Giants and allowed only three hits. Eads hit a solo home run in the third and Alexis Garrison hit a two-run shot over the leftfield fence in the fifth two of the 14 hits banged out by the Hawks.

“It was nice, having prom and getting to play,” Eads said after facing the Giants. “My riser, screwball and fastball (worked). A lot outside, getting them to chase off the plate.”

In the doubleheader, the Hawks hit over .500 (29 for 57). Stewart finished 6-for-8, scored five runs and drove in two. Sydney Hazelwood was 5-for-6, scored three runs and drove in three. Eads was 3-for-5, scored two runs and drove in two. Laci Boggs was 4-for-8, with two runs scored and three RBI.

On May 11, the Hawks shut out Martinsville at Dick Collins Field. Eads struck out 12 and allowed only three hits. The Hawks broke open a 1-0 game with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Then the Hawks traveled to Martinsville for another win May 12 for an 8-4 league record and a 14-8 overall record and, finally, a break in the schedule.

​Kylie Eads, a Decatur Central senior, fires a strike during the Marion County Tournament semifinal game against host Ben Davis. Eads blanked the Giants on three hits, struck out 12 batters and hit a home run as the Hawks won 11-0 in six innings.

​Jazlynn Stewart, a Decatur Central sophomore, drills a single in the Marion County quarterfinal against Brebeuf. Stewart went 4-for-4 in the game and 6-for-8 in the two tournament games.

​Decatur Central sophomore Sydney Hazelwood makes contact for a single in the Marion County quarterfinal against Brebeuf. Hazelwood finished the two games with five hits in six at-bats.