CLARKSVILLE — Just before Tuesday’s 25-7, 25-9, 25-6 win at Clarksville, Providence volleyball coach Terri Purichia had big news for her players: they are the No. 1 team in Class 2A.

Purichia got the news Monday and was eager to share with her team before Tuesday’s match with the Generals.

“It was like a slow leak all day,” she said. “I was hoping to get to tell them. I was working up what to say. I could tell when I got to them that most of them had heard.”

The new poll came following Thursday’s big win over Louisville Holy Cross, in which xxxxxxxx. The victories over Holy Cross and the cross-town rival Generals gives Providence a 17-1 mark this season.

“After [Tuesday’s] game, we had a nice talk,” Purichia said. “I told them it was a great honor and well deserved because they’ve worked so hard, not just this year, but the last couple of years. They definitely put in the time and effort to be worth of this.

“That said, this could go as easily as it came. We have to keep at it. This is not something we’re going to take lightly.”

Providence has a tough second-half schedule, including matches against Sacred Heart (Ky.), Brownstown Central, New Albany, Floyd Central and Columbus East.

“We’ve played well at the beginning of the season,” Purichia said. “But the rest of the season is brutal with competition. The next few weeks are going to challenge us more than we have been to this point. There are going to be teams capable of putting us in our place if we don’t continue to work to get better. I told them I’m proud of them and to enjoy it tonight, but tomorrow it is on to the next thing.”

Purichia said there are loftier goals her team wants to achieve.

“If next Tuesday we’re no longer No. 1, that’s OK,” Purichia said. “We’re focused on being No. 1 at the end of the season.”

The Pioneers will travel to New Washington on Thursday. Clarksville will go to Christian Academy on the same night.



CLASS 2A RANKINGS

1. Providence

2. Wapahani

3. Madison-Grant

4. Eastern Greene

5. Tell City

6. Wheeler

7. Alexandria

8. Muncie Burris

9. Clinton Central

10. Southwood

    Others receiving votes: Rochester, Cloverdale, Paoli, Southwestern.



CLASS 3A RANKINGS

1. Yorktown

2. Bellmont

3. Chatard

4. Brownstown

5. Mishawaka Marian

6. Fairfield

7. Brebeuf

8. Muncie Central

9. New Prairie

10. Delta

    Others receiving votes: Silver Creek, Heritage Hills, S.B. St. Joseph’s, Western Boone, Mississinewa, F.W. Concordia, NorthWood, Norwell.



CLASS 4A RANKINGS

1. Carmel

2. New Castle

3. Columbus East

4. Avon

5. Penn

6. Westfield

7. Cathedral

8. Seymour

9. Shelbyville

10. New Albany

    Others receiving votes: Perry Meridian, LaPorte, Floyd Central, Lawrence North.



CLASS A RANKINGS

1. Cowan

2. Loogootee

3. Barr-Reeve

4. Wes-Del

5. Pioneer

6. Indianapolis Lutheran

7. Trinity Lutheran

8. Frontier

9. Lafayette Central Catholic

10. Hauser

    Others receiving votes: Northeast Dubois, Rossville, Tecumseh, Clinton Prairie, Washington Township.