Indiana 3A Preview: Panther Pride?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want $10 off of your registration to our Stock Up or Freshman showcase on July 27? Use code KypDig2025 at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a top-30 strength of schedule and a ton of club kids playing, the NorthWood Panthers are a "reload, not rebuild" program that is borderline blue-blood, considering their extended success over the years. However, with the graduation of an SEC middle, a starting libero and two other major contributing starters from a 30-win season a year ago, is there enough to continue their dynasty? Here's my take on NorthWood, and my prediction of their placement next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NorthWood (30-7 in 2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers have, for lack of a better term, the "easier" 3A draw by being in the northern half of the state. However, that doesn't assume an automatic return to the state semifinal, where the Panthers barely dropped a five-setter to eventual state runner up Angola last fall. Returning to that height will be exceptionally difficult, as more than 70% of the offense just graduated, including an SEC-signed middle, not to mention the fact that the libero just graduated as well. The balance among the top three attackers last fall is what kept the Panthers in matches, even though there was a clear D1 main attacker in the mix. So the question is who will take over the offensive reins? <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768712' first='Ella' last='Branham']</strong> is the top returning attacker from a season ago, who is a nice six-rotation attacker with a defensive side that can hold her own in the back row. I like <strong>Eden Wiggins</strong> in the middle, who is the top returning blocker from last fall. She's the size that will definitely be needed to make another late run into late October. Setter <strong>Emily</strong> <strong>Uhlmann</strong> should surpass 2000 career assists this fall, and will be hard pressed to find more offense than the ladies listed above.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction: Sectional? Yes. Anything past that is a big maybe.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers, blessed with attacking talent over the years, prided themselves on a balanced offense so that their "main" attacker wouldn't be (1) overwhelmed or (2) camped on by the defense. It seems that's no longer the case for the first time since this author can remember. Who IS the main attacker for this bunch? And are there more attackers coming up from the JV ranks? And who is the libero? There are so many questions to be answered. Luckily, the regular season is long enough that those questions can be answered by mid-October. In this author's opinion, there's just not enough to get another regional win, let alone make the final of the semi state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->