Way Too Early Preview: Indiana 2A

<p>With the USAV season officially done, we can turn our focus to the high school season in the Hoosier State. Under no circumstance is this a prediction of this coming fall season, as some have already written me about the 1A preview I had yesterday. Below is a review of the final four teams from last fall and a possible dark horse with all of their respective prospects you should know.</p> <p><strong>Heritage Christian, 30-4</strong></p> <p>I really like this squad. Led by Purdue commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85670" first="Raven" last="Colvin"]</strong> (daughter of former NFL star Roosevelt Colvin), three of their four losses came to state-ranked 4A schools. Although it is easy to pin the entire season to Miss Colvin’s success, we can’t ignore the other working parts. It was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85706" first="Elizabeth" last="Phillips"] </strong>(Team Indiana Elite 18, 5-10, ’21, OH/RS), not Raven, who led the team to their first state championship with 18 kills in a sweep. The Eagles only graduate one, and have nine rising seniors to go for a second-straight title.</p> <p><strong>Wapahani, 31-6</strong></p> <p>It seems as if we have a team from Delaware County (read: Muncie area) every year in the final four in every class. <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Wapahani is no exception to this rule. Even though four of their six losses came against state-ranked 4A teams, they still play one of the toughest schedules they can. Led by </span><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">Mallory Summers </strong><span style="font-size: 1rem;">(5-8, ’21, OH) with 15 kills in the title match, the young Knights graduate three, with Mallory being the lone junior. This young squad looks to reload for the 2020 season.</span></p> <p><strong>Barr-Reeve, 34-3</strong></p> <p>Yet another young team in class 2A, the Vikings only graduate three for the coming fall, with only one of those producing stats in the semi state match (a three-rotation setter). BR is led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85713" first="Anna" last="Ballengee"] </strong>(Circle City 17 Purple, ’21, 5-8, DS), who is a six-rotation OH in high school. She had one of two double-doubles on her squad against Heritage Christian (12 kills, 13 digs), and is fully capable of running the show on the court. I can’t wait to see what the Vikings have in store for the fall.</p> <p><strong>Fairfield, 24-13</strong></p> <p>Unfortunately for the Falcons, they played perhaps the worst match at the worst time in the semi state against eventual state runner-up, Wapahani. Despite the showing, there is good news on the horizon. <strong>Kate McGuire </strong>(NIVA 16 Royals, ’22, 5-6, DS) led the team from the libero position with 16 digs in only three sets. I know I’m repeating myself, but the Falcons only graduate three, with only one starter gone from last fall’s title attempt. Although it’s a bit of a haul to get to Goshen, it’ll be worth the drive.</p> <p><strong>Dark Horse: Southmont, 24-11</strong></p> <p>The Mounties fit the profile of the above four teams. One, they don’t graduate a ton. Two, the majority of their starters are intact. Three, one of the pin hitters is returning, and had the lion’s share of playing time in 2019. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85758" first="Kaley" last="Remley"] </strong>(Circle City 18 White, ’21, 5-7, OH/DS) had nine kills in the three set loss to buzzsaw Heritage Christian. It’s arguable that HC had their best match of the state tournament against Southmont, hitting over .400 in the match. However, with the core of their starters returning, it would be nice to see this matchup again.</p>