Volleyball regional preview

Updated: October 24, 2011 9:36PM

Class 4A at Munster

Schedule: Valparaiso (33-4) vs. Munster (30-7), 6:30 p.m., tonight.

Skinny: Munster is making its fourth straight regional appearance but has come away each time unsuccessful. The Mustangs have experience on their side, however, as four of their players earned valuable time in last year’s loss to LaPorte in the regional championship match. Valparaiso won its first sectional title since 2005 with an impressive three-game win over the Slicers. The Vikings defeated Munster earlier in the season and are gunning for their second regional title in school history (1991). The Mustangs have won four regional championships with the last one coming in 1996.

Next: Winner vs. McCutcheon Regional winner in Huntington North Semistate, Oct. 29 at 11:30 a.m.

Class 3A at Griffith

Schedule: Andrean (30-5) vs. Griffith (21-9), 7 p.m. tonight

Skinny: A pair of Northwest Crossroads Conference foes face off for this regional title. The 59ers haven’t won a regional championship since 1998, while Griffith has never won a regional championship in volleyball. These two coaches have themselves played in the regionals with Griffith coach Cathy (Herring) Dilbeck having won a regional championship her junior year (’98) over Merrillville. Andrean’s Julie Wiejak (1995 Bishop Noll graduate) played in two regional tournaments her junior and senior seasons but saw her team go down in defeat in both semifinal matches. The 59ers go into this match the favorite since they beat the Panthers twice this season en route to their first ever NCC crown.

Next: Winner vs. South Bend St. Joseph’s Regional winner in the Plymouth Semistate at 10 a.m. Saturday

Class 2A at Wheeler

Schedule: Rochester (24-11-1) vs. Wheeler (26-10), 6:30 p.m., tonight.

Skinny: The Bearcats gave Winamac a run for its money last year in the regional championship and feel like they’ve gained a ton of experience from that match. Rochester, meanwhile, breaks through to the regional round for the first time since ’06. The Zebras have won three regional titles (last in ’03) in school history but have no experience coming in. This is Wheeler’s fourth straight appearance in the regional. Rochester’s Katlyn Sawyer has recorded more than 500 kills this season and will be a beast to stop; Wheeler counters with junior Shannon Doyle, who has a team-high 423 kills.

Next: Winner vs. Madison-Grant Regional winner in the Bremen Semistate at 10 a.m. Saturday

Class 1A at Washington Township

Schedule: Pioneer (31-5) vs. Washington Township (31-5), 7 p.m., tonight.

Skinny: This is a rematch of last year’s regional championship won by Pioneer on its home court. This year, WashingtonTownship hosts the championship and would like nothing more than cap off its fourth straight sectional championship season – and Coach Scott Campbell’s last at the helm – with the school’s first regional title. Pioneer defeated the Senators in 2010 for the first tile in school history.

Next: Winner vs. Wes-Del Regional winner in the Caston Semistate at noon Saturday

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