Top Five In 1A This Week

Kyp Harasymowycz August 31, 2023 @ 08:33 AM

<p>We wrap up our top fives this week with an emphasis on the smallest class in the state of Indiana. Although the size of school is diminished, the talent is clearly not. Here are five teams, their records, and a couple of athletes on each roster that have made a difference in the early going thus far.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5: Faith Christian (11-0)</h2>   <p>Undefeated and undaunted, the Eagles from Lafayette have a nice mixture of club talent, leadership and size for a small school. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='171344' first='Aesha' last='Vogt'] ('24, 5-8 OH, Butler commit)</strong> is a pass-first primary passing outside who is equally deadly from behind the base line. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462512' first='Olivia' last='Barber'] ('26, 5-8 S/RS)</strong> is a recent transfer from Rensselaer that has a very high volleyball IQ. She sets for this squad, but can put a bunch of balls away in a hurry.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4: Borden (12-0)</h2>   <p>The first of three sets of Braves to hit this list, Borden is also one of quite a few small schools from the southern half of the draw that will make it the more competitive of the two brackets in the state tournament. <strong>McKenna Mullen ('26, 5-7 OH)</strong> is the primary passer and attacker for this squad, averaging three kills and three digs per set. <strong>Hannah Peine ('25, 5-10 MB)</strong> brings some size to the mix, and uses her length to defend from pin to pin nicely.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3: Tecumseh (7-0)</h2>   <p>Women's sports at Tecumseh are simple---they always win. All the time. In every season. Volleyball is no different, as these mutli-sport athletes are gym rats through and through. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230530' first='Jenna' last='Donohoo'] ('24, 5-10 OH/RS)</strong> is one of multiple seniors on this roster that lead the way physically and emotionally. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='157434' first='Payge' last='Johnson'] ('24, 5-8 S/RS)</strong> joins Jenna in the 3+ kill/3+ dig per set club, all while being one of the setters in the 6-2 they run. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2: Springs Valley (11-1)</h2>   <p>I can hear the squawking now. THEY LOST A MATCH! HOW ARE THEY RANKED THIS HIGH? Well, voice in my head, that lone loss was to defending 3A state champ Providence, and they haven't lost since. An impressive schedule, if there ever was one. The Carnes sisters run this Blackhawk show, as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110507' first='Leigh' last='Carnes'] ('24, 5-10 S/OH)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209451' first='Maddie' last='Carnes'] ('26, 5-10 S/OH)</strong> own the lead in no less than six statistical categories on this squad. Combined, they average north of seven kills per set while hitting over .300, plus they're the two setters in the 6-2 that they run. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1: Blackhawk Christian (8-1)</h2>   <p>Like Springs Valley, the Braves' lone loss is to a 3A power in Bellmont. And if you're from the Fort Wayne area, you play everyone else in the area, with little regard for the size of school you're playing, since they're ALL so talented. Speaking of size, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230528' first='Abbie' last='Cresse'] ('24, 6-3 MB, Dayton commit)</strong> is far and away the biggest and best player in 1A. She dictates what opposing hitters do, and probably causes more hitting errors with just her presence. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230529' first='Allie' last='Boyer'] ('24, 5-11 OH)</strong> is a primary passing machine who averages three kills and three digs per set with ease. The sheer size and volleyball acuity on this roster is unmatched in 1A.</p>

We wrap up our top fives this week with an emphasis on the smallest class in the state of Indiana. Although the size of school is diminished, the talent is clearly not. Here are five teams, their records, and a couple of athletes on each roster that have made a difference in the early going thus far.