Waphani too fast for Wheeler volleyball

BREMEN | Wheeler was prepared for high-powered Wapahani in Saturday's opening match of the Class 2A Bremen Semistate, but it was to no avail.

Wapahani, which sidelined defending state champion Muncie Burris in the sectional, was as good as advertised. The Raiders (28-6) ended the Bearcats' season in three games: 25-12, 25-14, 25-21.

"We knew it was going to be a faster-paced game, but I think it took us a little bit longer for us to adjust," senior Whitney Maas said.

Wheeler coach Alisha Polite said it was the best team her squad faced all season.

"The kids really realized how fast it was in Game 3, and that when we started to adjust and you saw the change," she said. "We picked up our defense a little bit more and began to play as a team I know in game three. It was a combination of that and they didn't want it to be over.

Wheeler (27-11) had trouble establishing an offense in the first two games, but found a passing game in the third.

"Wapahani is a very strong team," Polite said. "They've got a lot of weapons, and sometimes it's hard to cover and find each weapon."

After falling behind 11-5, the Bearcats pulled within 16-13 on the strength of kills by Haley Plothow and Shannon Doyle and a block by Natalie Roe. Wheeler was still battling, trailing just 20-18 before Wapahani stretched the advantage to 24-20 on the way to the match win.

"Maybe we did come out a bit slow," said Doyle, who finished with six kills and 19 digs, "but it's just something we can take forward and next year we can bring it out."

Haley Plothow added eight kills and 32 digs. Wheeler, which won its first regional title in school history, loses two seniors to graduation -- Mass and Robin White.

"They'll be shoes to fill, and we are young," Polite said. "We have a cast of 11 juniors and some freshmen on that roster. They've got to get a chip on their shoulder, and they've got to understand what it's going to take to get farther."