2A Preview: #9-12

<p>Continuing with our high school preview in Indiana, we hit up Class 2A, numbers 9-12. I would not be able to do any of these previews without the help of Zach McCrite, fellow referee and volley dork, who runs the website IndianaPrepVolleyball.com and has all kinds of rankings available. If you’re at all interested in high school volleyball in the state of Indiana, it is worth your while to go check it out. </p> <p>I’ll also include the MVR, or Most Valuable Returnee, for each team in these rankings.</p> <p><strong>#12: Frankton, 27-3</strong></p> <p>Just as I’ve stated in the past to ignore the record, do the same with the Eagles. To find a strength of schedule as poor as Frankton’s in 2A (#237!), you have to go all the way down to #33, Seeger. At least Seeger won their section, so they’re absolved from my opinions. However, with Frankton, I cannot ignore the fact that their schedule is this poor. With five seniors on the 2019 squad, this was probably an opportunity for them to go out with a bang. </p> <p><strong>MVR: Chloee Thomas, ’21, 6-1, MB, Prep Dig NR</strong></p> <p>Although Chloee is more known for her basketball prowess, she is still a winner in both sports, on and off the court. She’s got the size to be a true middle, and is projected as an M1 because of that one-footed skill so prevalent in basketball. I personally project her to be NCAA Division III or middle-of-the-pack NAIA for volleyball. What stands out to me is her character. Ask ANYONE what they think of Chloee, and this Hamilton Heights transfer will say nothing but positive things about this kid. You can’t teach character, but her parents certainly did. I wish more kids were like Miss Thomas.</p> <p><strong>#11: Linton-Stockton, 23-8</strong></p> <p>The Miners graduate five seniors, just like the Eagles above. But in this case, the SOS (#121) is far closer to a team at this level that wants to compete for championships. Their losses include top-five Loogootee, state runner-up Barr-Reeve (twice) and 4A Jasper. That’s more like it. Now, if they can find a replacement for their graduating setter and libero, they’ll be just fine going into 2020.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="101227" first="Gentry" last="Warrick"], ’22, 6-1, MB</strong></p> <p>Gentry will be included in the 2022 rankings coming on Monday, August 10. As the Miner (Lady Miner?) with the most kills, the most blocks and the most aces on the team, this COA-trained kid will be expected to shoulder the load yet again. Although she’s limited because of the lack of club training on her high school team, she still adjusts to what’s in front of her, whether she’s asked to hit a slower-tempo middle or on a pin in serve receive. Fast and light on her feet, Gentry can make a bunch of D3 schools a lot better come fall of 2022.</p> <p><strong>#10: Western Boone, 21-10</strong></p> <p>I keep harping on the SOS, but WeBo’s is the toughest out of this group of four (#85). Their proximity to Indy makes playing the schools on the northwest side easy to travel to, and their proximity to West Lafayette allows them to go up north occasion to play some larger schools there as well. And, frankly, with the level of athleticism the Lady Stars seem to produce nearly every year, I expected just that. Their losses include 4A Top Ten Brownsburg and McCutcheon, and they lost in the sectional final to eventual 2A state champ, Heritage Christian. </p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85848" first="Madelyn" last="Hawkins"], ’22, 5-6, DS, Prep Dig #50</strong></p> <p>Do NOT underestimate this kid. She appears smaller because of her wiry frame, but she touches every ball. Her leadership is by example, and BOY does she lead. #1 in digs (over 5.5/set) and #1 in aces as a sophomore ain’t bad at all. This Circle City-trained kid will have no problem finding a program in ’22 somewhere who needs a steady, no-nonsense passer who takes a ton of court in serve receive. </p> <p><strong>#9: Tecumseh, 25-9</strong></p> <p>Losing in the regional final to eventual state runner-up Barr-Reeve is a heckuva season for these Lady Braves. You have to go all the way back to 2014 to find a year where they DIDN’T have 20 wins. An above-average SOS (#100) keeps this program consistently competitive year in and year out, and I definitely see myself traveling all the way down to Lynnville (just north of Evansville) to see what this group brings.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="95626" first="Kaybree" last="Oxley"], ’22, 5-10, MB/OH, Prep Dig #38</strong></p> <p>A winner in three sports, this all-state honoree doesn’t even list volleyball as her top sport on any platform. Kaybree is the true definition of gym rat, as her honors include at least a regional final appearance in all three sports. I don’t have enough information to pass along all of her skills, but I do know she’s the returning kills and blocks leader and is #2 in digs. How Miss Oxley goes, so go the Braves. Looks like I’m hitting up I-69 to Lynnville this fall.</p>