Yorktown poses with the runner up trophy Saturday after losing to providence during the the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena.
Providence celebrates their win Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Providence won in a sweep ending the game 3-0.
Providence players, coaches and students celebrate their win Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Providence won in a sweep ending the game 3-0.
Providence celebrates their win Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Providence won in a sweep ending the game 3-0.
Yorktown’s Bella Rosenthall dives for the save following an attack from Providence on Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena.
Providence’s Mandy Barney celebrates a point on Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Providence won the title for third year in a row.
Marissa Hornung goes to serve Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Providence won the title for third year in a row.
Yorktown’s Jade York goes to serve to Providence on Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Yorktown lost to Providence 3-0.
Yorktown’s Olivia Reed scrambles to hit the ball on Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Yorktown lost to Providence 3-0.
Yorktown’s Kendall Murr sends the ball over the net past Providences defenders Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Yorktown lost to Providence 3-0.
Yorktown students cheer at the onset of the match on Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Yorktown lost to Providence with a final score of 3-0.
Yorktown was the Class 3A runner-up.
Yorktown Player console each other after losing to providence during the the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Yorktown finished the season overall 38-2.
MUNCIE — The Yorktown Tigers were hardly recognizable Saturday afternoon at Ball State’s Worthen Arena.
The qualities that made them the top-ranked team in Class 3A all season seemed to vanish, like that heady defense and fundamentally-sound offense. The Tigers just didn’t have it in the Class 3A state championship as Providence played almost flawlessly in a 25-20, 25-15, 25-16 sweep.
Yorktown’s calling card — from the first official practice back in August all the way through a season in which it lost just 10 sets in 40 matches — was its continuous fight, hence its motto “Fight to the Finish.” Yorktown coach Stephanie Bloom never took her foot off the gas, relentlessly pushing her Tigers.
After this loss — in the state championship, keep in mind — Yorktown’s Kate Avila remarked how honest Bloom was in the locker room.
“It was tough,” said Avila, one of three seniors along with Mimi Arrington and Jade York. “Coach Bloom isn’t one of those coaches that’s just going to be like, ‘Hey, you had a great season.’ She was real with us; she told us what we did wrong. It was a tough loss. You can’t just show up and expect to win.”
Seemingly every time star freshman Kenzie Knuckles swung, Providence got a touch. During one nearly minute-long rally — during which Knuckles, Rhyen Neal and Jade York made spectacular dig after dig look easy — the final free ball landed just long.
Yorktown’s Rhyen Neal takes the attack on Saturday during the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Yorktown lost to Providence 3-0.
That’s the kind of day it was.
The Tigers hit .132 compared to .304 from Providence, putting down just 29 kills compared to 49 from Providence.
“Once (Providence) got in a groove, they just played to win,” said the brutally-honest Bloom, who is one of only two individuals to have won a state title as a player and coach. “I just didn’t see that out of our group.”
Then, speaking in a back hallway away from her players, Bloom finally let her guard down.
She was explaining how relentless Providence’s attack was, how the Pioneers were always swinging and how sound their defense was. And then how the Tigers struggled blocking and getting them out of system.
But this was one day. It was one match. Yorktown finished the season 38-2 without a player taller than 5-foot-8. Bloom was asked, what was she most proud of about this season?
She paused, caught off guard. It started to hit her that this magical season was over. The goal had been the Tigers’ third state championship and second in five years.
Twelve seconds went by, and Bloom fought it, but she couldn’t help it. The tears started flowing.
“Sorry,” she said, looking away.
By this time, assistant coach Rhonda Murr, who had been standing a few feet away, walked over and put her arm on Bloom’s shoulder.
Twenty more seconds of silence.
“We have great kids,” she began, trying to compose herself.
“And I would have loved this for them. I think with our (lack of) size, it speaks of the type of players we have, the type of grit that we have. It was disappointing that I don’t think people got to see that grit tonight. But man, what a year.
“I’m so proud of them. Across the board, you know. Teachers would say, ‘What great kids you have.’ And that makes me proud, because there are more important things than a state championship match, and I want them to know that. I think they represent our community very well, so I’m proud of them.”
Contact sports features writer Ryan O’Gara at (765) 213-5829. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGaraTSP.
Yorktown Player console each other after losing to providence during the the IHSAA class 3A State Tournament in Worthen Arena. Yorktown finished the season overall 38-2.