1A All-State Returnees: Unknown No Longer

<p>It says something when, after years of reffing and coaching in Indiana and around the region, I am surprised by the talent that feels "new" to me. Kids that I hadn’t seen or even heard of suddenly "pop up" on my radar, when frankly, that isn’t the case at all; these athletes have always been there. It is with this last statement that, although these five listed as 1A All-State returnees are unranked, these available All-Staters certainly will be ranked when the new rankings come out in August.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101312" first="Asia" last="Crim"], ’21, 5-5, DS, Loogootee, 1st Team All-State</strong></p> <p>Steady as she goes. I’ve got repeated clips of Asia on film just doing her job and getting it done. She projects to be a middle-back defender at the next level, but can probably play all three positions in college. Add to the fact that she has to play all six rotations in high school, and you can see almost immediately the level of volleyball IQ that Miss Crim possesses. I see a road trip in my future.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101314" first="Dara" last="Milivojac"], ’21, 5-7, OH, Indianapolis Lutheran, 1st Team All-State</strong></p> <p>When the whole gym knows where the ball is going and you’re still able to put the ball away, that says something. Coached by a Circle City lifer and Scott McQueen’s assistant, Kathy Anderson, Dara is in good hands, as is evidenced in recently pounding her 1000th kill in her junior season. Springs and strength are Dara’s positives, and should never come out for any reason.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101315" first="Bailey" last="Reynolds"], ’21, 5-8, S, Trinity Lutheran, 1st Team All-State</strong></p> <p>TL has always---ALWAYS---been in the state championship conversation in 1A in the state of Indiana. It is no accident that the Cougars are regularly there in the end, and Bailey is just one of a multitude of players capable of being on this list. However, I apparently failed to rank the setter responsible for TL’s success, at least in the last few years. Bailey’s recent ascent to 1500 career assists should give you a general idea of how good this kid has been, and getting that championship trophy in November would be the cherry on top of a brilliant career.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101318" first="Kylie" last="VanHoy"], ’22, 5-10, S, Loogootee, 1st Team All-State</strong></p> <p>Between Asia, listed above, Kylie, and Kylie’s sister, Makenzie, Loogootee is in good hands and should again go deep into the 1A tournament this coming fall. Kylie’s hands are a pair of the best in the class of ’22, and is coached in club by Evansville’s head coach, Fernando Morales. That road trip I mentioned before? If they advance further than they did last year, I’ll be seeing them in Muncie for the state title.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101313" first="Sadie" last="Brenneman"], ’21, 5-8, OH, Bethany Christian, 2nd Team All-State</strong></p> <p>This six-rotation springy and quick outside can do whatever is needed on the court. In her 2019 club season, she was forced to play middle, as her attack touch is closing in on ten feet. This past club season, it is obvious that her natural position is that of an O2, the ball-control outside that shouldn’t ever come out of the game. Although Bethany Christian is a bit far for me to travel, I have no problem meeting her halfway sometime during her fall schedule. Stay tuned.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>