Top Five 4A Teams This Week

<p>With the regular season behind us and the postseason starting in some sections tonight, we wrap our ’top five’ series with big girl ball. For the most part, these five teams have consistently been the teams to watch, and I would not be surprised if at least three of these five made it to the semi-state. Here are the top five teams this week and the setters that run them.</p> <p><strong>#5: Roncalli (23-5)</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous Ranking: #5</strong></em></p> <p>Starting us off in the fifth position are the Royals from the south side of Indianapolis. Year-in and year-out, Roncalli is a volleyball school that produces Division 1 athletes, and this season is no exception. With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85811" first="Emma" last="Halter"] (’22, 5-6 DS/L, Texas commit)</strong> anchoring the defense, this Royal team can go far into the playoffs. Someone has to feed the attackers, so look no further than <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99585" first="Monica" last="Jones"] (’23, 5-8 S) </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85900" first="Faith" last="Burch"] (’23, 5-11 S/RS)</strong> to run a modified 6-2. This pair <em>averages </em>twelve assists per set combined. (!!!) Although Monica is the primary setter, watching Faith transition from thumping lefty right side to setter is special to witness. They open their postseason against rival Southport.</p> <p><strong>#4: Munster (27-3)</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous Ranking: #4</strong></em></p> <p>Want to put a cherry on top of an epic regular season? How about knocking off undefeated and previous #1 Penn on the road? With a huge boost of confidence going into the postseason, the Mustangs are ready to conquer whatever is thrown at them. Helping the squad to a Northwest Crossroads Conference championship is setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="115070" first="Marina" last="Gronkiewicz"] (’22, 5-10 S), </strong>a smooth and athletic setter who can bomb away from behind the baseline. The Mustangs drew Hammond Morton in the first round.</p> <p><strong>#3: Penn (31-1)</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous Ranking: #1</strong></em></p> <p>The good news about the Kingsmen’s loss to Munster is that the pressure of staying undefeated is gone. The bad news is that everyone will want footage of that loss for the blueprint of how to beat this talented roster. Good luck, because this roster is loaded with athletes that have been winning for years, as evidenced by winning the Northern Indiana Conference title this past fall. This 5-1 offense is led by <strong>Macy Hatkevich (’23, 5-8 S),</strong> whose athleticism and volleyball IQ are both through the roof. Probably the most offensive-minded setter on this list, Macy has her undersized hitters constantly in-system, and with the constant threat of her attack on two, her hitters are often going against solo blocks. Penn drew Goshen in the first round, and should easily win their sectional.</p> <p><strong>#2: Yorktown (25-3)</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous Ranking: #3</strong></em></p> <p>The Hoosier Heritage Conference is a who’s who of volleyball powers in Indiana. Yorktown, champs again, play Pendleton Heights and Mount Vernon every year, so playing a tough schedule is nothing new for the Tigers. With a tournament loss (0-2) to Roncalli and back-to-back five-set losses at another tourney to Brownsburg and Hamilton Southeastern, Yorktown is a program that consistently plays hard and defends well. These Munciana kids will have to find an extra gear if they want to repeat as state champions. The Tigers are in good hands with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="115069" first="Emilee" last="Hill"] (’23, 5-8 S), </strong>who already has a state title under her belt from last season, and made it to state in another discipline---the 100m hurdles. </p> <p><strong>#1: Hamilton Southeastern (25-2)</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Previous Ranking: #2</strong></em></p> <p>The Royals have been a juggernaut for so long that I can’t remember the last time they had an under-20 win season. Playing in one of the toughest volleyball conferences (Hoosier Crossroads, which they won) and sectionals (which they are defending sectional champs) in the state is a tough task for any school. HSE is ready for the postseason, and have relentlessly dismissed the competition since opening the season with two straight losses to McCutcheon and Carmel. In that 25-match win streak, the  Royals have dropped five sets. FIVE. Is this the year? The modified 5-1 and super fast offense they run is dictated by setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110509" first="Macy" last="Hinshaw"] (’24, 5-8 S)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85808" first="Emily" last="Weber"] (’22, 5-10 S, Wright State commit). </strong>Seemingly always in system and always getting hands on the ball, this duo has been the reason this team can go as fast as it does. I wish the best of luck to Noblesville (the first round draw) and the rest of the state to figure it out before November.</p>