BEDFORD, Ind. — Addison Jones lost track of how many times she rewatched the game.
She wasn’t alone within the Barr-Reeve volleyball program. How last season ended ignited something that couldn’t be quenched. The Vikings had a singular, unified mission: finish the job. Anything less was disappointment.
Unrealistic or even unfair expectations? You forget who you’re talking about. This is Barr-Reeve.
The Vikings added another notch to their impressive resume with a straight-set victory over Triton Central (25-9, 25-18, 25-16) to win the Class 2A semi-state championship at Bedford North Lawrence. It earned a spot in the seventh state championship match in program history.
“This program is special,” Barr-Reeve coach Tyler Schultheis said. “These seniors had huge goals starting in June and July. They were really good leaders to get us to this point. I think the lumps at the beginning of the season really helped us later.”
A quick history lesson for the un-initiated. Barr-Reeve ranks 11th in state history in sectional titles (30) and ninth in regional titles (16). Few volleyball programs in Indiana, pound for pound, can match the Vikings’ accolades. An impressive showing for a school with less than 300 students.
Much of the credit goes to former coach Amber DeCoursey, who won 692 matches and three state championships across 23 seasons. She stepped down three years ago once her daughter began playing in college (DeCoursey has remained on the bench as an assistant). The clipboard was then passed to Schultheis – a 2011 Barr-Reeve grad who spent his high school years as the volleyball student manager.
The wheel hasn’t stopped turning in Montgomery. Barr-Reeve won 25 games and a sectional in year one, followed by 30 wins and a regional in year two. The latter ended in a five-set loss to Brownstown Central in the Class 2A semi-state final. The Vikings have won nine straight sectionals across three different classes.
“It’s never wanting to feel that again,” Jones said of last season’s end. “Remember the dream we’ve had since we were little girls. You remember what it felt like to watch (past teams). You just want to be them. We were in a position this year where we could do that.”
Barr-Reeve (32-5) pushed itself with a tough schedule (the losses came to Center Grove, Castle, North Posey, North and Cathedral). At its core was a senior class refusing to accept anything short of perfect. That standard was set as far as kindergarten watching previous heroes win on the court.
It became evident in the postseason. Barr-Reeve hasn’t dropped a set in six victories and didn’t trail Triton Central at any point until the third. That lasted only one game point.
“We try to develop at a young age,” Schultheis said. “We try to get kindergarten, first grade or second grade involved. It’s not so much volleyball skill but just getting a volleyball in their hands and seeing what happens. It’s been since 2020 since we made it this far. I think the girls would say we’re just happy to do it.”
The lineup has become too versatile and deep for opponents to match. Jones is one of the stronger two-way players in Southwestern Indiana. JJ Knepp, Lanie Graber and Mariana Van Der Aa have over 200 kills apiece. Lora Graber (libero) and Hallie Knepp (setter) set the tone in getting the ball to those talented hitters.
The two semi-state matches went as smoothly as Schultheis could hope at this point. Barr-Reeve defeated Greencastle 25-22, 25-11, 25-20 in the morning. It countered few pockets of resistance against Triton Central. The Vikings quickly jumped to a double-digit lead in the first and never let it dip below four late in the second.
Barr-Reeve needed roughly 58 minutes to beat Triton Central. Four players totaled double-digit kills.
“We have great talent,” Jones said. “So many offensive pieces. Then we’re all best friends. It’s just always fun. We just want to do it with this team.”
The Vikings face Benton Central in the 2A state championship at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Class 4A
Plainfield ended Castle’s season with a 25-13, 25-17, 18-25, 25-23 victory in the semifinal at Martinsville.
The Knights endured a slow start before threatening to extend the match to five sets. It was tied 16-all in the fourth before the Quakers earned a spot in the final. Castle finished with a 31-4 record in Lexi Blackwell’s first season at her alma mater.
The Knights proved once again their standing among Southwestern Indiana teams. Castle swept the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference before adding a state-record 43rd sectional title and third straight regional crown. The lineup graduates three of its top four hitters and top three defenders.
Class 3A
Tri-West defeated Jasper 27-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21 in the early semifinal at Jasper.
The Wildcats won seven of the final nine points in the second to tie it but consistently played catch up over the final two sets. Jasper finishes with a 24-12 record, a strong turnaround from six straight losses in early September. Kendall Corbin had 14 kills, and Nora Breitweiser totaled 32 digs.
The lineup is positioned well for the immediate future. The top four hitters, libero and setter all return next season to ensure the Wildcats are among the SIAC contenders.
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Barr-Reeve volleyball advances to IHSAA state championship with straight set victory
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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