Center Grove High School volleyball coach Deb McClurg has led the fourth-ranked Trojans back to the state finals for the first time since 2000, the year they won the Class 4A title.

She’s doing it with a veteran team that she finds a little perplexing at times. Center Grove (33-3) has a propensity for starting slowly, even with eight seniors on the roster.

“It just seems like we can’t kick it in,‘’ McClurg said. "I don’t know if we’re not warmed up at the beginning or what, but it’s a pattern.’’

The Trojans lost their opening game in the Sectional 11 final against Perry Meridian and in last week’s Perry Meridian Regional opener against Carmel. They bounced back to win the next three games.

They won the first game against unranked Avon in the regional final, but the Orioles stretched the match to five games before Center Grove pulled out a 15-10 victory in the deciding set.

“But the one thing I will give this team credit for is they never give up,‘’ McClurg said. "Good teams bounce back. They’ve showed that in the last couple of rounds of the tournament.’’

A state title this weekend would be well-earned. Center Grove is the lowest-ranked team in the 4A field and the only team not to play in last year’s finals.

It also will have to play No. 2 Muncie Central (33-4) in a virtual home match for the always-powerful Bearcats. They meet Saturday morning in the second semifinal at Yorktown High School near Muncie. No. 1 Elkhart Memorial (35-2) and No. 3 Floyd Central (35-3) play in the 9 a.m. semifinal.

The final is at 8:10 p.m. Saturday at Ball State’s Worthen Arena.

Award for Horrigan

Greenfield-Central’s Kevin Horrigan is one of eight high school athletic directors selected to receive a National Federation of State High School Association Citation Dec. 14 in Dallas during the 40th annual National Athletic Directors Conference.

According to a news release, NFHS Citations are presented to outstanding athletic directors in recognition of contributions to interscholastic athletics at the local, state and national levels.

Horrigan has been athletic director at Greenfield-Central since 2002 and was at Lawrence Central for 12 years and Brebeuf Preparatory School for five years.

Online extra

Check out Kyle Neddenriep ’s preseason “Fab 15” as he counts down the top boys basketball teams in Central Indiana before the first practice Nov. 9. Check out Blogs.IndyStar.com/preps for a complete rundown.