Indiana 1A Preview: All-State Honorees Everywhere

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just because the schools get smaller in our previews does not mean that the talent and experience are lacking. Here are three favorites and one dark horse for the state title in November, along with each team's all-state honoree.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blackhawk Christian ('22 record: 34-4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Braves return most of their offense from a year ago, and might need all of it to repeat. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230528' first='Abbie' last='Cresse'] ('24, 6-3 MB, Dayton commit, 1st team All-State)</strong> has the bloodline and the skills to dominate a match, and has unmatched size for this class. Speaking of size, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230529' first='Allie' last='Boyer'] ('24, 6-2 OH, 1st team All-State)</strong> can make a lot of blocks irrelevant from the pins and will be called upon to lead both physically and emotionally. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='154811' first='Leena' last='Leichty'] ('25, 5-8 S)</strong> will run this larger-than-life offense, and locates the ball well enough to make her hitters <em>that</em> much better for a late fall run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tecumseh ('22 record: 31-5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The level of athleticism among the female athletes at Tecumseh is ridiculous. Volleyball is always in the conversation for a state title. Basketball is there too. For a small school---heck, ANY public school---there should be an ebb and flow of talent from year to year. Not so with these Braves. First team All-State honoree <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='157434' first='Payge' last='Johnson'] ('24, 5-8 S/OH)</strong> is just one of multiple examples of that multi-sport mentality, and carries it with her when playing multiple positions. The same goes for hammer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230530' first='Jenna' last='Donohoo'] ('24, 5-10 OH/RS),</strong> who can put balls away from either pin and has great athletic acuity. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='192102' first='Ava' last='Kissel'] ('25, 5-10 MB/RS)</strong> is some more size that more than proved herself against bigger competition, especially in the title match last fall. For a team that beat 1A top fives Springs Valley and Trinity Lutheran on the same day, resiliency is the least of their issues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Springs Valley ('22 record: 30-5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like the southern half of the state draw needs to be any tougher in 1A, here come the Blackhawks. The sister combination of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110507' first='Leigh' last='Carnes'] ('24, 5-8 S/RS, 2nd team All-State)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209451' first='Maddie' last='Carnes'] ('26, 5-10 S/RS)</strong> is probably the best 6-2 setting combination in the state. Neither come out of the game for any reason, and this pair consistently lead the team both offensively and as setters. Even as they faded down the stretch against Tecumseh in the regional, Maddie was still putting balls away, showing that she certainly plays older than her age. <strong>Bella Nottger ('24, 5-10 MB, 1st team All-State)</strong> is no slouch, either. Her size and skill will be needed, along with the Carnes, if they want to get past that regional hurdle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DARK HORSE: Trinity Lutheran ('22 record: 23-11)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't look at the Cougars' record. They play anyone and everyone state-wide to get the best competition, regardless of class. They've been doing it for years, and it obviously works. What <em>doesn't</em> work for me is putting Trinity Lutheran and the words "dark horse" together. TL is always in the conversation every year for a state title, and mostly it's because of the super tough schedule the staff puts together. It also certainly doesn't hurt that the Cougars run a small but very successful club out of their own backyard, aptly named Cougar VBC. First team All-State honoree <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='160069' first='Addison' last='Darlage'] ('25, 5-6 S)</strong> is an exceptional setter with the athleticism and skill to run the show herself. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378035' first='Laura' last='Roeder'] ('25, 5-2 DS/L, 2nd team All-State)</strong> is the first contact queen that every team covets, and she makes Miss Darlage's job that much easier. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='157945' first='Carson' last='Bowling'] ('25, 5-10 MB)</strong> is the primary attacker for the Cougars returning this fall, and she'll be leaned upon a ton to continue that volleyball success at Trinity Lutheran.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->