The Edgewood eighth grade volleyball team finished fifth at the 2015 Eighth Grade Indiana State Volleyball Championships in Muncie over the weekend.
Pictured in front are, from left, Kylie Prater and Katie Schmidt. In the middle row are McKenna Hawblitzel and Brooklyn Slone. In the back row are Allie McGuire, Kaia Hummitch, Grayson Kilburn, Kiera Hatfield, coach Bethany Tribbett, Gwyn Bellamy, Emma Hoff, Delaney Walters and Haley Howard. (Photo provided)

MUNCIE – Facing some of the top eighth grade talent in the state, Edgewood wound up in fifth place overall at the 2015 Eighth Grade Indiana State Volleyball Championships held in Muncie this past Saturday.

In opening pool play, Edgewood defeated New Castle 25-20, 25-21 and also Alexandria 25-4, 25-8. New Castle entered at the defending seventh grade state champion.

Advancing to the Gold Pool among the entry pool winners, Edgewood lost to Emmanuel Lutheran (Seymour) 25-20, 25-19 rallied to beat Muncie Burris 25-20, 25-21, which is coached by legendary volleyball figure Don Shondell. Burris would beat Lutheran in the other game 25-21, 25-22, giving all three teams top seeds entering championship play.

In the quarters, New Castle exacted revenge, beating Edgewood 25-20, 25-15. New Castle would then beat Lutheran in the semi’s and meet Burris in the final, to which Burris would come out on top as the state champion.

Noted players for coach Bethany Tribbett’s team included Kylie Prater, McKenna Hawblitzel, Brooklyn Slone and Allie McGuire in passing and digging, Katie Schmidt in setting, and a host of hitters such as Gwyn Bellamy, Grayson Kilburn, Emma Hoff, Haley Howard, Delaney Walters, Kiera Hatfield and Kaia Hummitch.

Edgewood finished its remarkable season 33-4 overall with three invitational championships and two runner-up invite finishes.