Faith Christian tests Trinity Lutheran but falls in IHSAA class 1A state final – Journal & Courier

INDIANAPOLIS – Faith Christian entered its second straight IHSAA state 1A title game free flowing and loose.
Senior libero Caya Stillings led her teammates in a “Cupid Shuffle” dance line 20 minutes before first serve.
“It helped bring us all together in that moment,” Stillings said.
Faith Christian’s early dance moves couldn’t overcome its hitting struggles but it did create a self belief in confidence on Saturday, Nov. 8, in Indianapolis.
In the end, Faith Christian fell in its second consecutive IHSAA class 1A state championship appearance against Trinity Lutheran in four sets 25-11 25-15 20-25 25-16.
Faith Christian (28-6) committed 32 attacking errors to Trinity Lutheran’s 15 and hit .049
Senior outside hitter Olivia Barber led Faith Christian with 16 kills, senior Brooklyn Perry added 12 kills and Stillings parried with 30 digs.
Trinity Lutheran (23-11) started the first set on a 7-0 run with Faith Christian committing four hitting errors during that span.
Trinity Lutheran 6-foot-1 sophomore middle blocker Rachel Bonde led with 20 kills and 16 digs, junior Emerson Warren added 13 kills and the Cougars collectively hit .219.
Faith Christian led Trinity Lutheran briefly three times in the third set with senior Brooklyn Perry delivering a kill and briefly putting the Eagles ahead 7-6 for the first time.
The Eagles played more consistent in the fourth and Barber served two aces that pushed Faith Christian’s lead from 20-18 to force a fourth set.
Faith Christian fought hard at the end but couldn’t overcome the 8-2 deficit build in the final frame by Trinity Lutheran.
But Faith Christian’s seniors Stillings, Barber and Perry will be remembered as winners. Players that ushered in a new era that helped Faith Christian reach the highest destination in all of Indiana High School Sports twice.
“This group of seniors is second to none,” Faith Christian coach Josh Hill said. “They’re one of the most special groups that ever came through the program. To get to the state finals twice is an unbelievable achievement. There’s a lot of people who have never even whiffed this game. It’s remarkable.”
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached atehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at  ethan_a_hanson.

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