Top Five In 4A This Week: Dynamic Duos

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've moved on from the rankings for all four graduating classes and put the focus on the high school season. We're already a few weeks in here in Indiana, so let's dive a little deeper and talk about the top five teams statewide, starting with 4A, and mention a pair of attackers on each team helping that squad get to that level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5: Floyd Central (10-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four wins over the weekend, including sweeps of both Carmel and Avon, put the Highlanders in the top five. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393799' first='Nora' last='Gibson'],</strong> a 6-1 KIVA product, is a problem for opposing teams. Her 4+ kills per set and .300+ hitting percentage is a constant for Floyd, and should be the primary attacker moving forward. A pleasant surprise for the program is freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='628197' first='Macy' last='Sorg'], </strong>another KIVA kid who dominates in basketball, just like Miss Gibson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4: Castle (8-0)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm preparing for the hate mail coming my way for the last undefeated 4A squad being listed this low. The Knights' biggest wins so far came against 3A top five Tri-West (without <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='260995' first='Caroline' last='Ward']</strong>) and 1A top five Trinity Lutheran, which are tough matches, but no match for what the three teams in front of them have on their respective schedules. Led by junior outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272388' first='Emma' last='Bruggenschmidt']</strong> and Arkansas State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='458189' first='Maya' last='Joska'],</strong> I don't see the Knights having too much trouble with their regular season schedule. If they keep winning, there's no doubt that they move up to the top three by the end of the month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3: Yorktown (11-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers were the dark horse this fall because of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152944' first='Charlotte' last='Vinson']'s </strong>possible return. Well, the return is no longer just <em>possible</em>, it IS. And with a vengeance. She's limited to front row play for now, and their match tonight against Hamilton Southeastern should prove exactly how far back Miss Vinson truly is. But in her limited play, Charlotte is averaging five kills per set, as if she never left. I'm also enjoying the play of fellow senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='297945' first='Shanese' last='Williams'], </strong>whose 3+ kills per set is a nice complement and should make the Tigers that much tougher as this season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#T1: Brownsburg (11-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winners of eight straight matches, including knocking off HSE in conference play, puts the Bulldogs firmly tied at the top. I'm looking directly at their Yorktown match on Saturday as the match that could put them at #1 by themselves. I'm not quite convinced of their #1 status, as a five-set struggle over undersized Franklin Central last week was a surprise. Northern Illinois commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185478' first='Delaney' last='Steers']</strong> is a hammer from the left pin, and careered against HSE at the perfect time. Her counterpart on the outside, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443866' first='Callie' last='Gibson']</strong>, is a future star in the making, and is a nice complement on the pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#T1: Hamilton Southeastern (9-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Royals finally lost for the first time since the 2022 opener, but remain tied for the top spot in 4A due to the toughness of their schedule AND not dropping a set since that loss to Brownsburg. With all of the talent on the offensive side of things, it's no wonder that Mississippi State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153107' first='Lindsey' last='Mangelson']</strong> and Illinois commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261036' first='Madison' last='Miles']</strong> are leading the way with a combined NINE kills per set. Finding complementary pieces to that offense will be the difference between an early exit in the postseason and earning that three-peat that is nearly impossible in today's volleyball in Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->