Top Five 4A Teams This Week: Connections

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this week's edition of the "Top Five", we dive a little deeper into wrapping up the regular season. We'll mention the toughest remaining regular season match, and setter-middle combination that needs to happen for a deep run in the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Results are through the 9/25 matches.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5: Yorktown (18-5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers are having yet another exceptional season, and should easily eclipse the twenty win mark yet again. Their toughest remaining test before the postseason should decide the conference title, as they host 17-3 New Palestine tonight. As for the zero-tempo combo, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='228839' first='Kynnadi' last='Bell'] ('24, 5-6 S)</strong> should find a nice connection with middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='133621' first='Jayde' last='Garrett'] ('24, 6-0 MB)</strong> to keep teams honest and prevent teams from keying in on Indiana commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152944' first='Charlotte' last='Vinson'].</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4: Roncalli (19-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are so many young and talented players up and down the Royal roster that it's hard to keep this portion to just two players. Sophomore setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='252404' first='Addie' last='Haberthy'] ('26, 5-11 S)</strong> has made a meteoric rise in the last two club seasons, and has fully blossomed into one of the top setters in any class in Central Indiana. Middle <strong>Mackenzie Kruer ('25, 6-0 MB)</strong> is another youthful attacker on this squad that can put balls away efficiently as well as defend against tough attackers. Roncalli's match at Brownsburg on October 3 might be the only remaining test on what is a tough '23 schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3: Castle (21-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although they've spent the majority of their schedule in southwestern Indiana and northwestern Kentucky, the Knights are still rolling right along with their high-end play. Winners of their last eleven, a September 30 match against Terre Haute South looks to be the toughest remaining match before the postseason begins. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='458189' first='Maya' last='Joska'] ('25, 6-0 S, Virginia Tech commit)</strong> is part of a 6-2 in this offense that distributes the ball well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491145' first='Addisen' last='Gallentine'] ('25, 6-2 MB)</strong> is one of many young and big athletes on the Knights' roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2: Cathedral (22-4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a four-set loss to #1 Hamilton Southeastern, the Fighting Irish have run off eight straight wins, dropping only one set in the process. Having one of the toughest schedules in the state, it's nice to see that their schedule is easing up a bit. On September 27, Carmel comes to town as Cathedral's toughest competition before the regional. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110377' first='Kamryn' last='Utley'] ('24, 5-7 S, Lehigh commit)</strong> has been the only setter the Irish have known for a while, and balances her offense's attack well. Finding <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='332515' first='Josie' last='Myers'] ('25, 6-2 MB)</strong> shouldn't be an issue, as she's always ready to hit and transitions quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1: Hamilton Southeastern (23-0)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although their conference schedule still has a couple of matches remaining, the Royals' match at Noblesville on September 28 might be worth the watch for any volleyball enthusiast. It goes without saying that HSE is the cream of Indiana volleyball this season, having dropped exactly two <em>sets</em> this fall. But with all of the weapons and talent on this squad, it's easy to overlook those people that others take for granted. Take <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153104' first='Breonna' last='Goss'] ('24, 6-0 MB, Duke commit).</strong> Easily one of the highest jumpers in volleyball in Indiana, she transitions so quickly that opposing blockers don't have time to even throw hands up to stop her. Setting her that quick ball in transition is one of the setters in the Royals' 6-2, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='110509' first='Macy' last='Hinshaw'] ('24, 5-10 S, Santa Clara commit).</strong> So smooth and deceptive, she makes the setting position look easy (For the record, it's not.).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->