3A Rankings Update: Who Should You Watch

<p>We continue our weekly class rankings in Indiana by giving a new top five each week. 3A is the highlight today, with only two returnees and three newcomers to the list. We also like to add a player to watch for each team, regardless of graduating class. Someone that has made a difference or might need to make a bigger difference for the coming match schedule.</p> <p>I’d like to also add credit where it is due. Zach McCrite, purveyor of IndianaPrepVolleyball.com, has been a huge help for me over these high school rankings. If you’re at all interested in Indiana high school volleyball, you should check that site out.</p> <p><strong>#5: NorthWood: 8-1</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous ranking: NR</strong></em></p> <p>With their lone loss to 4A #2 Penn in the first week of the season, 8-1 is an excellent start, with conference foe Plymouth on tap for tonight. We’re intrigued by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="108258" first="Alana" last="Lehman"] (’22, 5-10, RS/MB), </strong>who leads the Panthers in hitting percentage (.308) and blocks (.7/set) and is second in kills. </p> <p><strong>#4: Angola, 7-1</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous ranking: NR</strong></em></p> <p>The Hornets just suffered their first loss of the season to Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran in a sweep, but should get themselves back on track for a September 19 showdown with defending state runner-up Bellmont. Angola’s strength is their youth, with freshman <strong>Morgan Gaerte (’24, 6-4, MB) </strong>dominating all who come her way. She leads Angola in kills per set, total kills, hitting percentage and blocks. Not bad for a first-time varsity player, let alone starter.</p> <p><strong>#3: Muncie Burris, 11-3</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous ranking: #1</strong></em></p> <p>A loss to 4A #2 Penn last week might have bumped them a bit down the list this week, but their truest test of success will be more accurately made with a non-conference match tonight against 2A #1 Wapahani on the road. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103403" first="Abigail" last="Kesler"] </strong>is still the driving offensive force for the Owls, nearly doubling the kill total of her next closest teammate. Someone has to get her the ball, though, and Burris turns to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="108259" first="Lauren" last="Nixon"] (’22, 5-11, S), </strong>already with over 300 assists on this young season. </p> <p><strong>#2: Greenburg, 12-0</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous ranking: #4</strong></em></p> <p>Hoist up the Jolly Roger! The Pirates keep on coming, and haven’t dropped a set since their five-set thriller over Lawrenceburg on August 25. With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93687" first="Anna" last="West"] </strong>pounding the majority of balls for Greensburg, we turn to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85922" first="Josie" last="Nobbe"] (’23, 5-10, OH), </strong>a nice complement on the attack (3.4 kills/set, .306) and on defense (3.2 digs/set).</p> <p><strong>#1: Bellmont, 6-1</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous ranking: NR</strong></em></p> <p>Full disclosure: it’s early. Our teams are ranked according to multiple categories, including strength of schedule already played, which Bellmont has in droves. Their loss to 4A Munster over the weekend was tough, but bouncing back with a four-set victory over 2A #4 Carroll definitely helped the confidence of the Braves, the 3A runner-up last fall. <strong>Megan Saalfrank (’22, 5-9, MB) </strong>skies over the competition, and her team lead in kills, kills per set and hitting percentage (.479!!!) has caught our attention. A Saturday showdown against 4A #4 Yorktown is a great preparation for the stretch run that includes previously mentioned Angola, 4A Mount Vernon, FW Concordia Lutheran, FW Bishop Dwenger, 2A #1 Wapahani and defending 1A state champion Cowan, just to name a few.</p>