Wapahani’s celebrates a State Championship win against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s celebrates a State Championship win against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s celebrates a State Championship win against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s celebrates a State Championship win against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s celebrates a State Championship win against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Hannah Smith dives at a ball from Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Haidan gates and Hannah Smith attempt a pass against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Coach Jared Richardson talks to his team at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Estella Davis blocks against Speedway during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Estella Davis blocks against Speedway during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Skyler Van Note hits against Speedway during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Estella Davis blocks against Speedway during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani fans celebrate winning a second set against Speedway during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Speedway’s Melanie McHenry struggles against Wapahani’s defense during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Speedway’s Melanie McHenry struggles against Wapahani’s defense during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Speedway’s Melanie McHenry struggles against Wapahani’s defense during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Speedway’s Melanie McHenry struggles against Wapahani’s defense during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Speedway’s Melanie McHenry and Wapahani’s Lexi Spence battle at the net during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani fans watch a match underway against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s band plays during their game against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Sarah Orme hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Estella Davis hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Sarah Orme hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Skyler Van Note tries to fight past a block from Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Skyler Van Note passes against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani fans celebrate a point against Speedway during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Skyler Van Note hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani attempts a block against Speedway’s Melanie McHenry during their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Annie Schuck hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Skyler Van Note hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Estella Davis hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Skyler Van Note passes against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Hannah Smith Sarah Orme dives after a ball from Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Hannah Smith passes against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani celebrates with fans after defeating Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Annie Schuck hits against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani’s Hannah Smith passes against Speedway in their Class 2A State Championship game at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Wapahani celebrates after a four-set win over Speedway to win the 2A state championship
Wapahani huddles before its Class 2A state championship match against Speedway.
MUNCIE — Dynasty is thrown around frequently in sports, referencing a team that wins three championships in a short period of time.
Wapahani’s celebrates a State Championship win against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
So when Wapahani defeated Speedway 25-17, 21-25, 25-20, 25-19 in the Class 2A volleyball state championship, winning its third state title in the last five seasons, that qualifies as a dynasty, right?
“That’s what we’re certainly working toward, yes,” Wapahani coach Jared Richardson said. “I always said that I wanted to be back in the state finals once we were back in 2A, and that’s what we were able to do.”
The Raiders’ other recent state championships came in 2011 and 2012.
Early in the first set, Wapahani seemed like nerves could have been setting in, quickly amassing six attack errors as Speedway built a 16-10 lead. After Richardson used his second timeout, the Raiders showed new life. They went on a staggering 15-1 run to win the set, with sophomore Skyler Van Note tallying 10 kills.
The text message that sparked Wapahani’s title
At times, Wapahani struggled to contain Melanie McHenry, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter that seemed to find the court with every kill. She dominated Speedway’s offense, finishing with 26 kills. The rest of the Sparkplugs combined for just six.
“It helped that we were used to facing tall star players all season,” Van Note said. “We focused our energy on her, we remember what we did against players like Wes-Del’s Alysa Sutton.”
Playing off momentum from the first set, Wapahani jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the second set. Speedway battled back, eventually tying the set at 17 before taking a 23-19 lead, forcing the Raiders to burn a timeout. Speedway won the set off an attack error from Annie Schuck, tying the match at one set apiece.
At times, offense from Van Note and Estella Davis fell flat and the Speedway defense picked up its intensity. Van Note finished the match with a team-high 28 kills, while Davis was second with 12.
On Davis’ left wrist were the letters “FEWDM” in marker, which she said stands for “Forget everyone who doubted me.” During the tough portions of the match, it reminded her to keep her head in the game, and not let outside influences change her game.
‘If the other student section expects us to break down when they start taunting us, we have to play even harder,” Davis said.
Wapahani and Speedway played each other neck-and-neck through the third set, neither team pulling ahead of the other for more than two points at a time. With the set drawing to a close, Wapahani extended its lead to 23-19 off an Estella Davis kill, before she ended the set a couple points later with another kill.
Play even harder? No problem for her.
The Raiders took an 8-3 lead in the fourth and final set, coming out aggressive with the state title on the line. Speedway’s Melanie McHenry led her team back using kills and block to take a 13-11 lead, but Wapahani went on a 5-0 run highlighted by two kills from Van Note to retake the lead and force a Speedway timeout.
Leading 24-19 and with the Raider faithful on their feet, Havyn Gates tossed the ball into the air and sent it over the net. Barely. Just barely.
It tapped the net, and quickly dropped for the championship-clinching ace.
“It feels incredible, it hasn’t really set in yet,” Van Note said. “To get this right now, I can’t even think of a good word that works to describe it.”
Dynasty works pretty well.
Contact prep sports reporter David Polaski at dpolaski@muncie.gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidPolaskiTSP.
Wapahani celebrates a State Championship win against Speedway at Worthen Arena Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.