December 9, 2005

Brebeuf Jesuit girls volleyball team
wins Class 3A state title

By Brandon A. Evans

The Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Braves clinched the Class 3A state championship for girls volleyball.

This is the second title for the Indianapolis private Catholic high school team since 2003. They finished the season 37-1.

The state final was held Nov. 5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where the Braves were triumphant over the Boonville Pioneers.

Coach Brian Murray has been with the team for seven years. There are six girls on the current team who were part of the state championship team in 2003.

“I think it meant more to them because we were expected to win,” Murray said. “In 2003 we came out of nowhere and surprised a lot of people.”

This year, he said, the season was fun but there also was a lot of pressure to win state. Also, the team finished ranked first in the state and fourth in the nation.

“It never got to the kids because we were so focused on winning state,” Murray said. “We talk a lot about doing our best on the court. Winning takes care of itself.”

Hard work is part of the key to the team’s success, he said, but so is teamwork.

“These kids have worked their tails off since seventh grade to be successful,” Murray said. “This was also the best team chemistry I have ever worked with.”

Everyone had a role and played it, he added.

Though the team rarely stumbled this season, losing is something that every team eventually faces.

When it happens, Murray said, “I tell the kids to learn from the setback; examine how they played. We spent a lot of time talking about working hard and being a good teammate.

“We talk about being aggressive and trying to be successful; we discuss the fact that they can’t be afraid to fail.” †

 

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