Indiana 4A Preview: The Queenswomen?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want money off of your registration to our July 27 Stock Up Showcase? Use code KypDig2025 at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following the top ten teams in 4A from a year ago, we stay in northern Indiana with an enigma of a volleyball program. The Penn Kingsmen (Kingswomen? Queensmen? Lady Kingsmen? I dunno what to call them.) graduated 6 kills per set from a year ago, but have a ton of young talent coming back, which includes some senior stalwarts that could and should guide this program to another 20-win season. Here are five kids that should be major factor's in Penn's success this coming fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Penn (23-6 in 2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With one of the tougher schedules in the entire state of Indiana (top-twenty SOS in all classes in '24), there's no doubt that Penn is more than capable of holding their own in your average volleyball season. While they did run a 6-2 a year ago, having Eastern Illinois commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435484' first='Kyla' last='Coolman']</strong> at the helm of this offense is an immediate upgrade to what they had going a year ago. Wise beyond her years and more than capable of running a 5-1 on her own, Kyla's experience playing an open-level schedule in every tournament this spring is a nice thing to have at the setting position. Feeding her the ball is returning libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='504726' first='Abby' last='Lane'],</strong> a NIVA product who should lock down left back regularly and be an anchor in serve receive. Her calm and consistent demeanor is an immediate impact and must-have for any team looking to compete beyond the sectional in 4A in northern Indiana. Size and attacking shouldn't be that much of an issue, as pin attackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771810' first='Anna' last='McCullough']</strong> and <strong>Kambria Burns</strong> return for more, with the possibility of shouldering a bit more of the offense. Basketball-first <strong>Addison Hummel</strong> is a nice piece to have in the middle, as she's the returning top blocker and hitting percentage player from a season ago. The pieces are there, but with 6 kills per set graduating, there will be some growing pains early on in the schedule while the younger kids figure out how to play at a faster and more efficient level. I'd love to be writing about this team early on in our weekly reviews---talking about the extra attackers that came out of nowhere to make this team elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction: Is it enough for another regional win? Maybe.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A return to the regional is a distinct possibility for this squad. But the reverse sweep they needed over Chesterton just to win the regional last year will be hampered this year by two very real changes. For one, Chesterton returns the entirety of their offense from a year ago (whereas Penn does not). Second, Penn just doesn't have the guaranteed firepower to get that lucky two years in a row. I'd like to be wrong in this evaluation. I really would. But the Trojans have too much going their way to let this happen again. I will predict that IF Penn gets by the regional, their season will be a success, with a ton of young talent still sticking around to manufacture a deeper run in '26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->