Top Five 1A Teams Right Now: Week Four Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a subscription to PrepDig? Use code Kyp30 for a deep discount off of your national subscription!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our fourth and final edition of the Top Five teams by class, we touch on the smallest division, Class 1A. Size doesn't exactly matter with this bunch, as their talent runs deep on each and every squad listed here. We're going to talk about the first and second contacts on each of these rosters that are filling up the stat sheets in more ways than one, and where they stand now as week four of our volleyball season ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5: Morgan Township (10-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With an epic comeback win last night over conference rival Kouts, the Cherokees have control of the Porter County Conference lead, with a tiebreaker in hand. There is absolutely no way this season happens without libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834766' first='Lexi' last='Rippe']</strong> and her senior leadership. This KeAloha product has very active feet with a calm and consistent platform that makes every pass look perfect in serve receive. In the left back on defense, she's more than capable of the read-and-react style of defense, and is more often than not still on her feet because she read the attacker so well. Junior setter <strong>Sierra Ricke</strong> is the recipient of Lexi's exceptional passing, and runs a well-balanced offense that is hittable to nearly every location. Another KeAloha player, Sierra's a natural lefty with high hands and a knack for deception and perfect placement for her hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4: Springs Valley (11-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With their lone loss to 2A top five Barr-Reeve, the Blackhawks lost their opportunity for a perfect season. No matter—-SV still has an amazing one-two punch in their first two contacts that keeps this team in the state championship conversation throughout each and every fall. Senior libero <strong>Macy Eckerty</strong> is known mostly for her dominance on the basketball court, yet is so athletic that she makes earning the libero jersey look easy for a top five squad. The recipient of her passing is none other than All-State honoree and Bellarmine commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209451' first='Maddie' last='Carnes'].</strong> Now setting full-time for the Blackhawks, Maddie can keep defenses honest by attacking on two, averaging multiple points per set from both the net and behind the baseline. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3: Faith Christian (12-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team with one loss in the rankings, FC's loss came to Lafayette-area Rossville, who are #2 in 1A this week. Even with that loss, however, the Eagles still lead the Midwest Athletic Conference and should remain in the lead for the majority (if not all) of the regular season. Senior libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='386164' first='Caya' last='Stillings']</strong> is more than capable of donning the libero jersey at the next level, and should be the catalyst to a deep postseason run for the Eagles. A modified 6-2 offense is their M.O., with setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477432' first='Kelsey' last='Olehy']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462512' first='Olivia' last='Barber']</strong> helming the Eagle offense. Olivia is also an attacker on the right side, so being able to do both will keep defenses honest for the remainder of the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2: Rossville (10-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a season-opening loss to 3A West Lafayette, the Hornets have won ten straight and own first place in the Hoosier Heartland Conference. More of a defensive-minded squad, freshman libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='883663' first='Cassie' last='Schoon']</strong> anchors what's already a stout passing and defending team. Even junior setter <strong>Tori Fadness</strong>, all 5'3” of her, can run an offense AND defend at a high level for 1A. In order to win the all-elusive state title, however, the Hornets will have to average more than their 9 kills per set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1: Trinity Lutheran (9-7)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can hear the rage-typing now. LOOK AT THEIR RECORD. HOW DARE YOU PLACE THEM AT #1. THEY WON THE STATE TITLE LAST YEAR, BUT AREN'T EVEN AS GOOD. First off, voice in my head, stop yelling. Second, look at their losses—-4A #2 Westfield, 3A #5 Brownstown Central, 2A #1 Southwood, to name a few. Their schedule is filled with the who's who of volleyball powers, regardless of class. With their combination of size, offense, defense and service pressure, they humble teams quickly and make the match out of reach in most others by being technically sound. Yes, they graduated their Division-1-bound libero from their state title program (currently IU Indy's starting libero), but there's so much more that's returned. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750237' first='Madelyn' last='Adams']</strong> has been stalwart in her passing and defense, while sophomore setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885665' first='Bella' last='Wehmiller']</strong> has more size at the setting position than most 1A setters in this state. In every metric, from strength of schedule to strength of team, the Cougars are a superior squad. (Take a look at indianaprepvolleyball.com's Z-ratings and MaxPreps' rankings to see the disparity between TL and the 1A field.) Until someone knocks them from their perch and can win a title over them, I'll stick with Trinity Lutheran as the top squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->