Early Results: Top Five Attackers In 3A

<p>With the season being too new to have accurate top five polls from around the state, and many high school programs not even reporting their results, let's focus on the athletes who <em>are</em> being supported by their programs and leading the way. Here are five kids state-wide that have made moves and turned heads in the early going of the fall.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'24, Danielle Haberlin, 5-7 OH, Rensselaer</h2>   <p>Just as you cross into the central time zone in northwest Indiana, a small town called Rensselaer has a 3A school that has been in and out of the state's top ten over the past few years. At three kills and two digs per set while hitting nearly .400 is Danielle, who might be better known for her primary passing than her attacking. No matter, doing a lot of both and carrying the Bombers in the early part of the fall has been her M.O., what with the youth she's surrounded by on her squad. We'll keep tabs on her and the Bombers as the season progresses.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'26, [player_tooltip player_id='221477' first='Isabelle' last='Masten'], 5-6 OH, Tri-West</h2>   <p>Speaking of youth, Izzy is part of an athletic and young squad of Bruins that nearly knocked off 4A power Zionsville last week, losing in five hard-fought sets. Miss Masten is among a host of athletic volleyball players that can flat out <em>play</em> on this squad. The good news is that they play without fear and play hard in the process. Izzy, at five kills and three digs per set while hitting over .300 on the young season is that primary passing outside the Bruins need right now, even if she's projected to be a defender at the next level.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'25, [player_tooltip player_id='192110' first='Claire' last='Payne'], 6-1 MB, NorthWood</h2>   <p>Of the twenty athletes I'm mentioning this week as "top attackers" in each class, Claire is the first middle. It's rare for middles to lead any squad in kills, since the outsides get the majority of sets, good and bad. At 5-1 early this season, their lone loss is to a tough and big Homestead squad. Tonight's road match at undefeated Fairfield should prove as another test in their season. Claire looks to lead the way with size and strength, and her numbers don't lie. At five kills and a block per set, while hitting over .400 against their schedule (which includes wins over Penn, Andrean and Lawrence North), you've got me convinced. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'25, [player_tooltip player_id='154814' first='Raegan' last='Durbin'], 5-10 OH, Western Boone</h2>   <p>A list of top attackers in 3A in the state of Indiana would be incomplete without First Team All-State honoree Raegan being mentioned. She does everything for the Stars, including primary passing, attacking, defending and serving responsibilities, and her name is sprinkled in every stat category you can mention. At 4-1 on the season, Miss Durbin's athleticism has been the main focus, and she'll need every bit of it in order for her squad to make it back to Worthen this November. At nearly six kills per set, she's the primary attacker, and I'm sure undefeated Zionsville knows it for their matchup tonight.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'26, [player_tooltip player_id='301139' first='Macie' last='Smith'], 6-1 OH, Hamilton Heights</h2>   <p>The Huskies have started strong with a 7-2 record, suffering losses to Western Boone and Mount Vernon this past Saturday. Macie is a long and lean primary passing outside with her attack touch already north of ten feet. If it isn't, then you've fooled me, because her performance at our Stock Up Showcase had her hitting <em>over</em> every block she went against this past summer. At almost six kills per set while hitting over .300, Miss Smith is the primary reason for the Huskies' success, and a 20-win season shouldn't be too tough to earn this fall.</p>   <p></p>

With the season being too new to have accurate top five polls from around the state, and many high school programs not even reporting their results, let's focus on the athletes who are being supported by their programs and leading the way. Here are five kids state-wide that have made moves and turned heads in the early going of the fall.