2A Preview: #13-16

<p>We continue our preseason preview of Indiana high school ball. Yesterday, we covered #13-16 of 1A. Today we look at #13-16 of 2A with the MVR (Most Valuable Returner) for each team. Full disclosure: I got a little help from a fellow referee of mine, Zach McCrite, who runs IndianaPrepVolleyball.com and has his own way of ranking each team per class throughout the state. His help is invaluable, and is well worth the subscription. Check him out!</p> <p><strong>#16 Scecina, 20-11</strong></p> <p>In our eyes, the end of Scecina’s season was a mild upset, with Southmont winning in five sets in the regional semifinal. Southmont had to turn around later that day and lost (like everyone else in 2A) to Heritage Christian, who went on to win their first state championship in any sport. The end of their run was heartbreaking, as the Crusaders graduate their libero and setter.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="95675" first="Abbey" last="McCoy"], ’23, 5-9, OH, Prep Dig #35</strong></p> <p>Nothing wrong with the rest of the squad, however. Abbey is the clear front-running returner, despite her youth. She’s a six-rotation thumper that shouldn’t come out unless injured. I like her gym-rat mentality in training, and her leadership has developed faster than most kids her age. I’m looking forward to watching Miss McCoy and see what strength she’s built during our quarantine.</p> <p><strong>#15 Parke Heritage, 21-9</strong></p> <p>It’s hard to gauge this team. They didn’t win their sectional last season, nor did they lose their last match to the sectional champ. However, they graduate no one of consequence and their youth becomes one season older. Hopefully, this young program grows up a bit and gets over the hump.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85699" first="Atlantis" last="Clendenin"], ’21, 5-9, OH, Prep Dig #33, IUPUI commit</strong></p> <p>The youth in question clearly defers to Atlantis. Averaging SEVEN kills, three digs and an ace per set tells everyone in the gym who’s in charge. But who else will step up? Well, someone has to get Miss Clendenin the ball, so why not fellow rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85770" first="Jillian" last="Gregg"] (’21, 5-9, S, Prep Dig #111)? </strong>Any stat that Atlantis doesn’t top is topped by Miss Gregg, and her club training, mostly at Circle City, has paid off to multiple twenty win seasons for Parke Heritage. Let’s hope for improvement to finally get that sectional trophy.</p> <p><strong>#14 Park Tudor, 19-7</strong></p> <p>It’s not fair that Indiana sectional draws are blind. No, really, the regular season is practically pointless since the sectional draw has nothing to do with the accomplishments of these kids and the hard work they’ve put in. This affects more teams in the larger classes, but 2A has their fair share of unfair first-round matchups. The Panthers drew Heritage Christian. One could argue that to be the best, you have to beat the best. OK, I get it. But PT clearly earned the right to not have to face the state champion in the first round.</p> <p>OK, I’m off my soapbox. This team graduates their hammer, <strong>Lily Sumner (6-0, OH, Auburn), </strong>but they have a ton of youth back, and Pat Carlson is one of the better trainers of multiple high school programs in the Central Indiana area. They might not win a state title, but here’s to hoping that the volleyball gods have PT avoid Heritage Christian until the sectional final.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85876" first="Sarah" last="Gomperts"], ’22, 5-9, S, Prep Dig #81</strong></p> <p>#1 in aces, #2 in digs, and Park Tudor graduates their setter. Slot Sarah into that position, and everyone else can adjust. This Circle-trained kid will be the reason the Panthers get another 19 wins this season, and although they still have Heritage Christian in their sectional and Muncie Burris (#4 in 3A) in their conference, I see a twenty-win season as a massive accomplishment for the Panthers in 2020.</p> <p><strong>#13 Evansville Mater Dei, 16-13</strong></p> <p>Losing to Tecumseh in the sectional was a tough loss. -12, -16 and -19 in the sectional final is tough to swallow, but Tecumseh is a top ten program. To get there, you need to win matches like that one. Mater Dei, over the years, has won some and lost some. Evansville itself doesn’t have a ton of club talent, and most high schools in that area don’t travel much to test their mettle, but winning a sectional in volleyball is a big deal down there, and with the youth returning, they should compete for an over-.500 win percentage.</p> <p><strong>MVR: Rachel Luigs, ’21, 5-8, OH, Prep Dig NR</strong></p> <p>Yes, the Wildcats graduate their libero, and one could argue that her replacement would be a huge factor. However, it’s harder to replace varsity experience and leadership, and Rachel brings that for Mater Dei. #1 in kills, #2 in digs and #2 in assists (partial 6-2?), Miss Luigs is the engine that makes this program go. Hopefully the supporting cast grows up around her.</p>