Indiana 1A Preview: Northern Rebels?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want $10 off of your registration to our Freshman or Stock Up Showcase July 27? Use code KypDig2025 at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With only one class remaining in our preview and a couple of weeks to go before scrimmages happen, we touch on all of the teams in 1A that could make a major impact on the volleyball scene. First off, finishing at #10 in class 1A last fall and making it all the way to the state semifinal, are the Rebels of South Newton. Tucked in northwest of Lafayette and <em>almost </em>into Illinois, these ladies have waves of athletes that play multiple sports and familiar last names to carry the volleyball program. This coming fall is no different. Here's my take on South Newton's preview and prediction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">South Newton (26-11 in 2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't look at the record, as the IHSAA keeps the regular season out of consideration for the postseason. With the fourth-toughest schedule of all 1A schools last fall, the Rebels are always prepared for a deep run in the playoffs. They finished in the state semifinal, losing a four-set battle to Faith Christian---also from the Lafayette area. The Rebels graduate nearly 60% of their offense, with a big portion of that offense moving on to Central Michigan. They also lose a little size in the middle, who made a ton of difference in multiple matches defensively. However, South Newtown returns the younger siblings of those who graduated, which should help in continuing their volleyball success. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435862' first='Jada' last='Cripe'],</strong> a rising sophomore outside, might end up being better than Jada, who just moved on to CMU. Rising senior <strong>Avalin Bohlinger</strong> is a solid pin attacker in her own right, and might need to be even more effective than last fall in the kills department. <strong>Briley Iseminger</strong> returns as the libero, who is as solid in serve receive as she is on floor defense. Rising junior setter <strong>Lindsay Lowe</strong> also returns, making the offense that much more effective with no turnover at that position. But is it enough?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prediction: Another surprising run?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>According to indianaprepvolleyball.com, the sectional win over Tri-County was a massive upset---but not to this author. When you have that level of club training for this size of schools, anything can happen, which is exactly what happened last October 19. Although the attacking might be a bit less effective this fall, most of the important pieces stay in place, which should make this season another fun one for the Rebels. They <em>should</em> win the sectional again, with the returning experience alone, and could make a run into November. But this is 1A---anything can happen in the northern half of the 1A draw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->