1A Preview: #5-8

<p>Halfway through our previews of all classes in the state of Indiana, we start the second half with class 1A, #5-8. I wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of Zach McCrite, fellow official and founder of IndianaPrepVolleyball.com for all things high school volleyball in the state of Indiana. If you’re at all interested in volleyball in the Hoosier State, check it out.</p> <p>I’ll also include an MVR, or Most Valuable Returnee, for each team listed. Here we go!</p> <p><strong>#8: Covington, 27-8</strong></p> <p>Probably the biggest win of the Trojan’s season was their five-set opening round victory in their sectional over perennial power Lafayette Central Catholic. Kids from Covington are starting to figure it out---play club and your high school season gets better. And with all of the options in the state of Indiana, it doesn’t matter much WHERE you go, just that you get more ball touches. It will, however, be hard to replace top attacker <strong>Lauren O’neill (’20, 6-2, MB, Chicago State signee). </strong>With the youth coming up, combined with more kids playing club, Covington should continue to pump out 20-win seasons for years to come.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="102533" first="Holly" last="Linville"], ’22, 5-9, MB/OH</strong></p> <p>Yes, you read that right. 5-9 and a middle. Her quickness has her beating the big lumbering blockers, and she goes over the shorter blockers. Adept both in front of and behind the setter, she may pan out to a RS at the next level considering how fast she can go. At Covington, she does play six rotations from time to time, so maybe a pin placement is in her future. We shall see.</p> <p><strong>#7: Morgan Township, 28-6</strong></p> <p>On a team with seven seniors, it was fitting that the Cherokee’s finest season got them all the way to the state semifinal, losing to eventual state champ Cowan in straight sets. That level of leadership, however, will be sorely lacking if there isn’t a supporting cast. We all know that the young lady listed below is the reason for their success.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85682" first="Emily" last="Rastovski"], ’21, 6-1, OH, Purdue commit</strong></p> <p>Over four kills per set while hitting close to .500 on the season is an easy way to get noticed by a Big Ten school. She’s forced to play middle on her high school team, but is clearly an OH on her club team at Dunes and at the next level. I would list an additional name here like I usually do when the MVR is already committed somewhere, but there isn’t anyone. It is within a normal realm of possibility that 2020 might be a rough season for the Cherokees.</p> <p><strong>#6: Springs Valley, 28-7</strong></p> <p>All-State honoree <strong>Jewel McCormick</strong> <strong>(6-0, MB)</strong> has graduated. Although Springs Valley owns this sectional, replacing even one player with this much impact is difficult. Hopefully, a new batch of attackers can keep the Blackhawks on top for yet another year.</p> <p><strong>MVR: Aerie Acuff, ’21, 5-8, S</strong></p> <p>Nine assists a set coming back is huge for any team with state championship aspirations. With Aerie, you’re also getting back a leader, both physical and emotional. SV is going to need it, considering the youth coming up; five graduated from the 2019 squad, including three starters.</p> <p><strong>#5: Lafayette Central Catholic, 20-7</strong></p> <p>Ugh. An upset loss to Covington in their sectional opener must have been hard to take for Brad McCarter and his Knights. LCC is, year-in and year-out, one of the best and most consistent teams in any class. Maybe LCC’s youth hit them hard in 2019---only two seniors and a bunch of youth to rely on. Things will change in 2020, however, as the toughest schedule-maker in the Lafayette area continues to play 3A and 4A schools to prep for state championships every year. </p> <p><strong>MVR: Lilly Powers, ’21, 5-8, S and [player_tooltip player_id="85875" first="Lydia" last="Baker"], ’22, 5-7, OH</strong></p> <p>One cannot exist without the other. Lilly careered in her last match as a junior, with 49 assists against Covington in the five-set thriller. Lydia is the top attacker returning, and the two are #1 and #3 in aces, #6 and #5 in blocks, and #3 and #4 in digs, respectively. It goes without saying that LCC will be a solid team every year. However, with five seniors slated for the 2020 squad, this might be the year that avoids the upset possibility in the sectional.</p>