Top Five Teams In 2A This Week: The Final Push

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sectional draw is coming up in mere hours, and teams are finalizing plans for a long postseason push. Here are five teams that are ready for that grind, and the players helping them survive it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#5: South Adams (23-5, NR last week)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Starfires return to the top five after a brief break, and appear to be ready for the postseason. <strong>Macy Pries ('24, 5-8 OH)</strong> continues to be the main catalyst, leading the squad with over three kills per set, while also leading in aces and digs. Even at her stature, she's top-three on the roster in blocks as well. <strong>Cora Baker ('23, 5-10 MB/S) </strong>has a fun positional combination that I don't get to write about in this setting. In the front row, she's a "big", with a higher-than-average attack percentage while leading the team in blocks. In the back row, she's leading the team in assists in their modified 6-2, and is tough from behind the baseline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#4: Muncie Burris (17-8, NR last week)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm pretty sure this is the latest I've brought up the Owls for the first time in a season, maybe ever. Burris is the perennial volleyball power that has the history everyone covets, while producing college-ready players regularly. Tomorrow night's contest against 4A power Carroll from Fort Wayne should be the toughest test remaining going into the sectional. Young big <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155089' first='Lilly' last='Howell'] ('25, 6-2 MB)</strong> continues from her strong freshman campaign by leading in kills and attack percentage (3+/.300+), while also defending well (#1 in blocks) and showing toughness behind the baseline (#1 aces). <strong>Maddie Dungan ('23, 5-7 S/RS)</strong> is part of a 6-2 that is highly effective against one of the tougher schedules in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#3: Scecina (23-4, #4 last week)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders, what with their sudden coaching change early this season, don't seem to have lost a beat all fall. With a hard-fought five-set win over Triton Central on Tuesday followed by another tough win over Monrovia last night, Scecina claimed the Indiana Crossroads Conference title outright. A pair of seniors lead the way for this crew: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='95675' first='Abbey' last='McCoy'] ('23, 5-9 OH)</strong> crushes it from everywhere, with an impressive attack line of 4/.300+ as a primary passer, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='148791' first='Allison' last='Daves'] ('23, 5-9 RS)</strong> is a lefty that plays with a maturity beyond her years. Miss Daves adds 3+k/.400+ on the attack line, and can step in to take the second ball regularly if needed. Considering their success this fall, she's more of an attacking piece to this puzzle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#2: Wapahani (21-4, #2 last week)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite their loss to 4A #1 Hamilton Southeastern earlier this week, the Raiders have had an outstanding fall season, and look to add one more trophy to the case this October. Knocking off Delaware County foe Delta in five last night certainly solidified that fact, and the pair of seniors running this show have been the go-to's all season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='85905' first='Chloe' last='Cook'] ('23, 5-9 OH)</strong> continues to lead in kills with over three per set, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='95740' first='Camryn' last='Wise'] ('23, 5-10 MB)</strong> is the physical force the Raiders need to have a long run in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#1: Andrean (23-5, #1 last week)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point, the Fighting 59ers have a stranglehold on the #1 spot. As the defending state champs, one would think that the pressure of going back-to-back would affect them. NOPE. A solid win over 4A Munster last night was merely routine, and was proof of their successes carrying over from last fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110517' first='Marin' last='Sanchez'] ('24, 5-11 OH)</strong> continues to be the physical leader for this crew, pounding 15 kills last night and completing the double-double with 16 digs. <strong>Annelise Allegretti ('23, 5-11 OH/RS)</strong> can crush it from either pin, and added 11 kills while hitting over .300 against Munster. The surprise for me (but probably not for Andrean) is the emergence of <strong>Audrey Nohos ('23, 6-1 MB)</strong> who has steadily proven herself against middles of all sizes this fall. She added 10 kills while hitting nearly .400 last night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->