Indiana 4A Preview: Knight And Day?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a $10 discount off of your registration to our July 27 Stock Up Showcase? Use code KypDig2025 at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our 4A preview continues with a volleyball blue-blood from the Evansville area. Castle, a 30-win team annually, has always had solid leadership, exceptional athleticism and a team chemistry that coaches beg for in a high school season. After last year's tough straight-set loss to Yorktown in the semi-state, one could argue that reloading (rather than rebuilding) is in the cards for the Knights. However, with seven graduates from last season's 31-win team, there will be sizable holes in leadership, athleticism and chemistry, as there would be with any team losing that much from a roster. Here is my preview and prediction of the Castle Knights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Castle (31-4 in 2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At first glance, one would think that the offense will be ok, since not a lot of it had graduated in the form of kills per set. However, this balanced offense was effective BECAUSE of its balance, which requires a setter or setters. Since both graduated, who can handle the pressure of running this Uber-talented offense? Or, if running a 6-2, are there multiple setters that can get the job done like last season, where both of those setters can also hit? Attackers returning include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272388' first='Emma' last='Bruggenschmidt'],</strong> an IU <em>softball</em> commit, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='730165' first='Gabby' last='Korba'],</strong> a heavy-hitting, three-rotation left side. If the makeup of the roster is different from a year ago, which I guess it might be, both Emma and Gabby will have to give more than 2 kills per set to carry these Knights to a 30-win season. Which leads me to my next question---are there other attackers? Middles, perhaps? More size than what both of those ladies can offer? To get past teams like Yorktown, size and more serve-receiving skill will be needed. It's understood that <strong>Karsyn Wilhelmus</strong> is the heir apparent to the libero jersey, but are there other defenders that can come in and help? Does <strong>Paige </strong><b>Fur</b><strong>bee</strong> become the flag bearer of the next wave of volleyball studs at Castle? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction: 20 wins, with their schedule, is easy. But this team is "knight" and day different from last season.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the weakest schedule among the top ten 4A schools from a season ago, twenty wins is not out of the question for Castle. The Knights swept through their sectional last fall, but it might not be that easy this fall---Evansville North, for one, has more coming back on both offense and defense than Castle does, plus bringing back at least one setter. The unknowns with the Knights are many, and the chemistry is always top notch with whomever is coaching them. However, seven "it factors" just graduated. This team will be night and day different from last year in both makeup and volleyball-centric athleticism. Here's to hoping I'm dead wrong, and we're talking about Knights representing the south and not the Tigers or Highlanders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->