Mustangs show heart in semistate volleyball loss

HUNTINGTON | Desperate concern was draped across the faces of the Munster Mustangs. Hope was fleeting. It was not dark yet but it was getting there.

So volleyball coach Tracy Afman called a timeout at the Class 4A Huntington North Semistate on Saturday. Her Mustangs were down two games to zip and trailed Westfield 14-7 in the third game.

"I reminded them to put their hearts on the floor," Afman said. "I told them this could be your last shot to do this together."

The glimmer of a fantastic season ending seemed to light a fire. The flame did not burn all day and night, but it gave the loud and supportive Munster fans something to remember.

"Coach told me to spark the team," Munster senior Jamie Rogalski said.

The setter scored 12 straight service points to take the lead up to 19-14. But an unbelievably talented Shamrocks' team would not go away. Westfield took the semistate semifinal 25-21, 25-22, 30-28.

"We turned it on a little too late," Afman said. "The team you saw in that third game is the team that got us here."

Westfield (30-6) advanced to play Penn (37-1) in Saturday night's championship game.

Munster (31-8) won its first regional title since 1996 with a team that many didn't expect too much of. At least that's what senior Caley Mintz said, as tears fell down her cheeks.

"People never thought we could get this far," Mintz said. "We worked so well together. We were more like a family than we were a team."

During the 12-0 run in the third game, the Mustangs began playing better defense, took care of the ball with greater security and were finally able to get some kills around the net on a consistent basis. But on four different occasions where the 'Stangs could've forced a fourth game with one point, the Shamrocks found a way to end it there.

"That run showed that we were not going to give up," Rogalski said. "We did not want our season to end. Their defense was really, really good. They were a good team. I just wish we would've jumped out earlier than we did."

Senior Melissa Hajduch was 23-of-24 hitting with nine kills. Sophomore Shannon Farrell was 21-of-22 hitting with eight kills. Rogalski was 51-of-51 setting with 17 assists. And she was 16-of-18 serving.

"We made it to semistate and that is quite an accomplishment," Rogalski said.

Afman spoke about her team as one that had a chip on its shoulder all season long. It was a team that seemed to pay attention to what the naysayers said about them.

"The girls were determined to show everyone they're better than what people think," Afman said. "We beat Andrean in three games. We beat Valpo to win the regional. These girls had a great season. We just ran into a very good team today."