Under The Radar Teams In 3A

<!-- 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>We spend a lot of time talking about the best and brightest teams and players from around the state. This week, we're diving a little deeper into each class, featuring three teams that might not get as much publicity, but have plenty of talent to showcase. Here are three teams turning heads in their respective parts of the state, with a few players from each team that have earned a little more “pub”.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Greensburg (13-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winners of ten in a row, the Pirates are having a resurgent season with a mixture of youth and experience. A trio of attackers averaging 8 kills per set lead the way, all with separate skill sets that make them unique to the squad. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='839437' first='Victoria' last='Stier']</strong> is probably the best of the bunch, averaging over three kills per set. She's a six-rotation outside whose compact and explosive frame allows her to terminate at will against lesser blocks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477342' first='Averi' last='Helms']</strong> has done a little of everything in her four years of seeing varsity play. She spent some time as a setter in her sophomore season before locking in as a pin attacker for the Pirates. Finally, basketball-first <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831223' first='Claire' last='Larrison']</strong> is a strong and physical M2 who needs very little transition to churn up enough power to crush balls consistently. The combination of these three will guide this squad through the postseason, and with a little luck of the draw they could find themselves playing deep into October.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Castle (12-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not too long ago, the Trojans were competing for 4A titles with a pair of Shaffmasters. These days, at the 3A level, New Castle is finding more and more ways to compete within Delaware County and continue to be part of the gold standard of how this game should be played. The very balanced offense the Trojans roll out averages nearly 10 kills per set, showing off experience and athletic youth while doing so. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='804975' first='Cadence' last='Armacost']</strong> is the clear go-to on this roster, who does everything from putting balls away to defending to serving tough. Sophomore pin attacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='804352' first='Akiyah' last='Turner']</strong> is an exceptional complement to Cadence, adding 3+ points per set at the net as well as from behind the baseline. Rounding out the well-trained Trojan attack is senior <strong>Elysah Williams,</strong> who is part of the 6-2 New Castle runs. Taller than your average Muncie-area setter, Elysah adds some accuracy and volleyball acuity to the fray. Wednesday's match against county rival Yorktown should be an excellent gauge on how far this squad has come this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hanover Central (14-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having one of their best seasons in years, the Wildcats are a small-but-mighty squad that continues their winning ways in northwestern Indiana. Junior pin attacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='836595' first='Nora' last='Edgerton']</strong> is fun to watch—-a springy lefty with a whip for an arm, Nora's ability to find angles to hammer is her calling card. Sophomore libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800480' first='Liliana' last='Chorba']</strong> is a quiet and unassuming libero who has that calm and cool demeanor that leads by example. Her consistency in both serve receive and supplying a solid second ball for her hitters in out-of-system situations is a nice trait to have for any libero. Finally, the leader of this pack, <strong>Gabi Esparza,</strong> is the senior setter most coaches covet. Her location accuracy and ability to give the perfect ball to her attackers is a big reason for Hanover Central's success this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->