4A Preview: #1-4

We did it! We’re at the end of our Indiana high school preview with our Class 4A #1-4 rundown. I’d like to thank Zach McCrite, fellow ref and administrator of IndianaPrepVolleyball.com for his help in this endeavor. If you’re at all interested in all things high school volleyball in Indiana, check his site out, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll also include the MVR, or Most Valuable Returnee, for each team listed. Happy reading! #4: Hamilton Southeastern, 29-5 The state runner-up was an easy choice for this list, but I don’t think Royals fans will like their placement. With all that they have coming back, it’s who they might meet after their sectional that has me concerned. Gone is pin attacker Abby Weber (Southern Indiana, D2), who was #2 in kills, #1 in aces and #2 in digs last fall. Gone is another pin attacker in Grace Hunter (Marian, NAIA defending champ), who finished #3 in kills. Gone are an additional two defensive specialists that totaled almost 600 digs in 2019. So, who is coming back for an HSE team hungry for more? MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85697" first="Delaney" last="Garner"], ’21, 6-1, MB, Harding (D2) commit I could have picked so many different kids. Someone has to challenge the sheer number of middles that will be returning on this list, so why not Delaney? She’s returning almost four kills per set, hitting close to .400 in the process while blocking over a ball per set. That’s #1 in three different categories coming back for her senior year. We could have also named one of the two setters in the 6-2 they run, [player_tooltip player_id="85808" first="Emily" last="Weber"] (’22, 5-10), younger sister to Abby. We could have also included libero [player_tooltip player_id="85675" first="Carly" last="Mills"] (’21, 5-5, Indiana commit), or maybe [player_tooltip player_id="85704" first="Olivia" last="Phillips"] (’21, 5-11, S), the other setter in the 6-2. This list could go on and on. I’ll stick with Delaney, but you could argue the other three easily, as none can do their jobs without each other. #3: Providence, 29-2 Their two losses were to New Castle early and Center Grove in five in the regional final. To get another shot at New Castle, this would have to go through the southern half again, which might mean Roncalli (4A #15) or Center Grove (4A #6). That’s it. The rest of the highly-ranked teams are in the northern half of the draw. Meeting New Castle, however, would put them in the state SEMIfinal, but the good news is this; it’s either Yorktown OR New Castle, not both. They beat HSE, Crown Point, and Mercy (Kentucky’s #2 overall) last fall, so it can be done. The question remains, can they get another shot? MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85667" first="Ali" last="Hornung"], ’21, 5-9, OH, Purdue commit Joining her sister at Purdue in the fall of 2021 will be fun to see. What will be more fun to see is the sheer amount of talent returning to the Pioneers in a few weeks. There’s setter [player_tooltip player_id="85679" first="Emma" last="Kaelin"], who’s committed to Indiana State in ’21, pin attacker [player_tooltip player_id="85715" first="Anna" last="Purichia"], another Union kid who does all of the dirty work, and [player_tooltip player_id="85899" first="Grace" last="Purichia"], the class of ’23 setter who is waiting in the wings to run the program by getting a ton of playing time. Grace is, easily, my favorite setter of the 2023 class. There’s so much coming back, I’m going to have to make time to check out this amazing program. #2: Yorktown, 28-2 This is the part where I curse the sectional alignments. The top two teams in the state are in the same sectional. The blind draw gods have not smiled upon us, or the Tigers, as their only two losses last fall were to New Castle and.....New Castle. Gone is Courtney Watkins to NAIA perennial top ten Indiana Wesleyan, last fall’s #1 attacker for Yorktown. Gone is setter Kate Vinson (’21, Ball State signee). But what’s coming back? Is it enough to knock off New Castle? MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85673" first="Ellee" last="Stinson"], ’21, DS, Northwestern commit Yorktown is the definition of passing. They always---always---have the best receivers in the state. Case in point, the current liberi for both Nebraska and Ohio State came from Yorktown. (Insert mic drop here) Miss Stinson is just another in a long line of serve receivers that can, and will, be the key to their success. Ellee is also a six-rotation pin attacker for the Tigers. Yorktown doesn’t have size, but they make up for that with their passing and defense. Others returning for another run at New Castle are [player_tooltip player_id="85678" first="Jenny" last="Morey"] (’21, 5-7, DS, Wright State commit), and [player_tooltip player_id="85700" first="Jaylynn" last="Dunsmore"] (’21, 6-1, MB). It’s really hard to beat a team that’s constantly in system. It is equally unfair that this team is stuck with New Castle in their sectional. #1: New Castle, 35-1 The #3-ranked team in the nation are these Trojans. Their loss? To Assumption, the #1 team in Kentucky and #11 nationally. New Castle hasn’t lost to a team from Indiana since October 4, 2018 to none other than Yorktown. They won the 3A state title in 2017 and 2018. Moved up to 4A because of the "success factor" the IHSAA rewards teams with, the Trojans plowed through the state tournament, winning the state title in the top class. Can a four-peat really happen? With Melani Shaffmaster (6-3, S, Minnesota signee) no longer running the offense to yet another state title, who sets? Now that Zoe Conway (5-6, DS, Ball State signee) no longer defends at NC, who steps in to pass? MVR: Mabry Shaffmaster, ’21, 6-1, OH, North Carolina commit Bring two things to a New Castle match. An extra rotator cuff for Mabry, and a helmet for whomever wants to defend her. Over six and a half kills per set, hitting nearly .400 on the season, makes her nearly unstoppable against the competition here in Indiana on the pins. Oh, yes, we could talk about [player_tooltip player_id="85669" first="Laila" last="Smith"] (’21, 6-1, MB, Alabama commit) and her ability to block everyone and go over everyone else on the attack. We could also mention [player_tooltip player_id="85677" first="Bailey" last="Cox"] (’21, 5-6, DS, Georgia commit) receiving every ball that Mabry can’t get to. The bottom line is this; three of the top twelve 2021 recruits all play for the same high school program in Indiana. Until someone---anyone---figures the Trojans out, this could be the best single recruiting class in rally-scoring history in Indiana.