PROVIDENCE HEAD COACH TERRI PURICHIA TALKS WITH SENIOR MAKENZIE WAGNER DURING THE PIONEERS ’ 3-1 VICTORY OVER BELLMONT IN THE CLASS 3A STATE FINAL AT BALL STATE UNIVERSITY ’ S WORTHEN ARENA IN MUNCIE ON NOV . 4 .
“ I have grown up with Coach Purichia and known her forever ,” Tappel said . “ She has taught me so many life lessons and has made me the person I am today .”
Adams remembers seeing Coach Purichia around the court when she was 12 .
“ I have grown up with her being a mother figure ,” Adams said . “ I feel like she always has the answer to everything . She has great advice and would drop everything to help a player .”
Because of “ Coach P ,” Drury said she feels more confident on the court after starting to play soccer in third grade .
“ She has shaped each and every one of us into the players that we are today ,” Drury said . “ She cares dearly for each and every one of us , and that makes an impact .”
“ She took us from a bunch of separated kids and brought us all together to be one amazing team ,” Stratford added .
A RECORD OF THE YEARS Providence ’ s Class of 2024 played 132 varsity matches .
In 2020 the Pioneers finished with a 23-7 record . They won 4A sectional and regional titles before falling 3-2 to the Yorktown Tigers in the semistate .
“ I feel like after our freshman year , people had a lot of questions if we were going to be good or not after the departure of Ali Hornung ,” Kaiser said . “ That fueled a fire within us and we wanted to prove ourselves .”
In 2021 , Providence lost to Floyd Central in a 4A sectional final on its home court .
After that defeat , the Pioneers dropped down to 3A in 2022 . And it worked out very , very well for them . Providence rolled to sectional , regional and semistate trophies before beating Bellmont in four sets in the state final .
“ I feel like there was a special feeling every time we stepped on the court during the postseason ,” Carver said . “ But as soon as we stepped on the court in this year ’ s state run it was meant to be and we were going to get back to state .”
18 PROVIDENCE PIONEERS | VOLLEYBALL | IHSAA CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPS 2023 NEWS AND TRIBUNE