State Champions Perfection!-29-0 Tipp wins volleyball state title

Where do you even begin with this special group?

Following a dominant performance on Friday against the #1 ranked team in Ohio in the state semis, the Tippecanoe volleyball team was three sets away from doing something no other volleyball team in school history has ever done.

A state title and undefeated season were on the line, and standing in front of the Red Devils was a very formidable Bloom Carroll team, who finished the season ranked #2 in the state.

But as rankings often do, they don’t tell the whole story. Tipp knocked off the second-ranked Bulldogs 25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 25-10 to finish the season 29-0 and had added the hardware to the trophy cases at the high school. 

In fact, the Red Devils pulled off a hat trick as they defeated the #1, #2, and #3 ranked teams in Ohio in their last three tournament games.

“Last year we had a bad taste in our mouths after losing in the regional semi-finals and the kids had an agenda,” Tipp coach Howard Garcia said following the game in the press room as he sat there with the five Tipp seniors. “They had a goal to be able to rectify that loss and continue moving forward.”
“People know we are in the MVL, but they don’t want to recognize who we are. But this team… their unity, their care, their love, and their faith is what takes them over the top. It took them over the top today.”

“There are no words in my heart to really express how a coach can feel when they see their kids do the job when people didn’t give them a chance,” an emotional Garcia said. “And here they are, and they are making a statement.”

After two good wins to open the day, Tipp fell behind 18-12 in set three, but before they knew it, Faith Siefring tied the match at 22-22. Tipp could never get over the hump to regain the lead. Bloom Carroll had three set points as Tipp hung in. But a questionable call to end the set on a ball that was called out of bounds. The ball apparently hit the Tipp side of the antenna, sending the match to a fourth set.

Bloom Carroll had a 7-5 lead in set four. Tipp didn’t want the match to get to a fifth set, which was unfamiliar territory for this team. Then, one of the greatest runs in state tournament history took place.

Tipp went on a 20-3 run to end the game, completely taking control and leaving Bulldog fans in complete shock.

Mader had two big kills to begin the run, then Bri Morris reeled off eight straight serves to push the Tipp lead to 17-8 before the serve was broken. When Courtney Post had a big kill to turn over the serve, Siefring served out the match, scoring the next six points. When Savannah Clawson crushed a kill that was returned wide, the celebration began. 

Tipp was led statistically by Abbi Mader with 20 kills and ten digs, while Clawson added 17 kills and 14 digs for the Red Devils. Post had a big game with nine kills. Morris dished out 50 assists with five aces, along with 15 digs, and Siefring had 11 digs. 

In the deciding fourth set, Tipp took over at the net with 17 kills, with Bloom Carroll only registering six. 

*This was the final game in the high school careers for the five Tipp seniors: Kaylee Armstrong, Morgan Sessions, Post, Morris, and Clawson. Their record over the last four years is 99-5, including 72-0 in MVL conference games. Let that one sink in.