Sports
McCutcheon boys volleyball advances in IHSAA sectional
WEST LAFAYETTE ― Exposure was at the forefront of McCutcheon boys volleyball coach Keith Crisler’s mind Wednesday night.
Sophomore Mason Souligne was on a serving tear, putting the finishing touches on a three-set sweep against an outmatched Tri-West team in the opening round of the sectional at Harrison’s May Gymnasium.
When Crisler played volleyball at Lafayette Jeff, it was a club sport trying to gain traction and still seen in the eyes of some as a bit too niche.
Now he’s coaching in a sectional tournament sanctioned by the Indiana High School Athletic Association. It blew Crisler’s mind, he said.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Crisler said. “I’m glad we’re getting exposed to everybody in the entire state and we’re growing because volleyball is a fantastic sport.”
Personalities, Crisler believes, come out in the heat of competition.
It was evident Wednesday night when the Mavericks, viewing the postseason as a chance to right a wrong from their most recent outing, celebrated every kill, every block and every ace with the utmost enthusiasm.
This just six days after a four-set loss to North Putnam to conclude the regular season.
“We were kind of six individuals on a court and we weren’t really cohesive,” senior Khelan Patel said. “We really emphasized bringing our energy up and staying up no matter what happens.”
As McCutcheon’s libero, that energy starts with Patel, the team’s shortest player but also its driving force.
In a matter of years, boys high school volleyball in Indiana went from a club sport to an emerging sport to a sport officially recognized by the IHSAA.
For seniors Patel, Kierran Jordan, Josh Madsen, Jayden Heygood and Malachi Kenner, this is their one time to embrace being volleyball players under the IHSAA’s umbrella.
They want it to last as long as possible.
On Wednesday night, with a team that was engaged from the starting lineup all the way to the end of the bench, they proved it.
“We have had a lot of ups and downs this season, but we didn’t let that get in our head,” Madsen said. “However the season has gone, there’s no reason to feel like we don’t care or not push as hard as we can and want the best for each other.”
McCutcheon (14-9) next takes the court Saturday, May 17 in a sectional semifinal match with Lebanon (4-7-1) at 11 a.m. The winner advances to the championship game later that day at 7 p.m.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.