Katarina DiBiasio
Another week, another national title for a Munciana volleyball club.
After the Chipmunks took home the 14-open crown on June 19, the Cardinals replicated the feat Friday by winning the 16-club division at the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Florida. The Cardinals went 12-1 over the four-day tournament to win a division that had 159 teams.
The team’s coach, Tucker Bitting, was an assistant on the Chipmunks last year when they finished fifth. He said there was a different feeling entering the final day with this group – which features seven area players on its roster – and he was right as the Cardinals capped a 12-1 week by topping Texas-based Austin Performance Legacy 25-23, 25-19 in the title match.
“The girls just went after it,” Bitting said in a phone interview. “They had to fight and battle in certain situations, but they were big-time volleyball players this week. It was fun to watch them go after it, and it was just a great experience.”
The Cardinals entered the tournament as the top seed, but a loss to Miami Elite 16 Blue on Thursday dropped them to the second seed for the final day. They responded with four wins Friday and finished the club season 67-8.
Rhyen Neal, who will be a junior at Yorktown in the fall, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Lacee Adams (Central) and Katarina DiBiasio (Monroe Central) were also named All-Americans. Bitting was pleased to see contributions from the rest of the group, too, which included Hannah Alcala (Madison-Grant), Bronwyn Boots (Pendleton Heights), Aubree Lanman (Pendleton Heights), Shelby Mudd (Cathedral), Allison Ruddick (Central), Korrigan Runyon (Central), Rebecka Vannatta (Delta) and Karleigh Wilson (New Castle).
“We had some really big plays in big moments,” Bitting said. “Those three (All-Americans) were really steady all week, but all 11 really contributed and did a nice job.”
Munciana Chipmunks win national title
The Cardinals didn’t lose a set until their sixth match, and their lone defeat came in the eighth match. On the final day, they actually dropped their first set in their first match but they bounced back to win eight straight sets and return to Muncie with some hardware.
“There were certain points where some of them were forcing it too much and trying to do things on their own, but they made a commitment to winning points and winning sets together,” Bitting said.
“They made big plays in big moments. They didn’t let pressure get to them. On the last day here, it doesn’t matter what level it is, you have to win big points. That’s what they did, that’s why they were successful.”
Contact sports features writer Ryan O’Gara at (765) 213-5829. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGaraTSP.