4A Preview: The Blue Bloods

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Use code KypDig2024 at checkout for $10 off of your registration to our Stock Up Showcase or our Freshman Showcase August 3!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part of our high school preview will involve contenders, which we started on Sunday. Today, we'll talk about two programs in class 4A that are seemingly in the conversation for a long post season run every year. Here are two teams that have long histories of volleyball success over the years, and their returning pieces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Yorktown (27-6)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm going to write this preview with the hopes and prayers firmly behind a full recovery from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152944' first='Charlotte' last='Vinson'],</strong> who had a serious illness earlier this club season that had her hospitalized for a spell. The Indiana commit is, far and away, more responsible for her teams' offense and success than any other player in 4A in Indiana. And yes, <strong>Ariane Wright </strong>will need to fill the stat sheet with her own point-scoring abilities, but will need to be even MORE of a factor if Miss Vinson isn't at full strength starting in the second week of August. They also return Texas A&amp;M commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155213' first='Addi' last='Applegate'],</strong> who will anchor a defense and serve receive like so many other big time liberi have when they've passed through Yorktown's halls. I'm more concerned that there isn't much coming through the ranks in Tiger country to replace what's graduated the last two seasons. Whether Charlotte is fully recovered or not, there aren't too many programs that can sustain success without an influx of talent year-in and year-out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Center Grove (27-6)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm high on the Trojans advancing far this coming October, not only because of what they're returning, but because what's returning is THAT much better after a solid year developing in club. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173243' first='Ellen' last='Zapp']</strong> is a hybrid attacker that can play anywhere along the front row, and the Oakland commit just finished a solid run with Circle's 17-1, finishing 5th in Open this past week in Vegas. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173248' first='Reese' last='Dunkle']</strong> is the top middle for this program, and the Stanford commit really showed out this club season and upped her game and her athleticism, also with Circle. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435850' first='Anabelle' last='Schembra']</strong> ran the offense with TI's 16-1, playing up a year and playing a mostly open schedule. I'm anticipating that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172341' first='Maddi' last='Higginson'] </strong>will be the libero, as her return will solidify an already stout defense the Trojans have on the floor. There are quite a few other pieces and parts coming through the ranks of not only being role players on varsity, but through a highly successful JV program. This group should be fun to watch this fall, and should flirt with the top five in the state from the start of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->