The Draw Is Complete: First Round 3A Matches We’re Watching

<p>The blind draw that makes Indiana unique to the rest of the country is complete for volleyball, and all 64 sectionals are set. There is still a week of regular season remaining, but let's face it—-our focus is on the postseason. Most of the time, matchups in the early parts of the sectional don't bear much weight. We took the time to find the matches that should garner the most attention, this time in class 3A. Here they are, from north to south, and all are first round matchups.</p>   <p><em>***NOTE: All records are through October 6 matches, and all rankings are from the Z-Ratings at indianaprepvolleyball.com***</em></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#16 Angola (19-6) v East Noble (20-9)</h2>   <p>The northernmost early match in 3A featuring two teams with 18+ wins should be a fun one. Although Angola handled East Noble in their first match, things could get a bit tougher once the postseason rolls around. For the Hornets, look no further than <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237882' first='Maya' last='Harris'] </strong>(Illinois commit). She'll fill the stat sheet, just as she has for her entire career, and carry last year's runners-up as far as she can. Her 6k/2d/2 ace per set stat line is one of the most impressive this author has seen in quite some time—-no other player in 3A is responsible for this much (8 points) per set for their respective squad. East Noble, as a contrast, rely on a more balanced approach in their point scoring. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='829992' first='Ava' last='Larson']</strong> is one of 11 (!!!) seniors on this roster that want to have one more go around in late October.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Castle (13-10) v Delta (10-10)</h2>   <p>Yes, yes, I know. No rankings, records are not where the rest of the article is, blah blah blah. This match is intriguing to me because of the familiarity. Munciana's roots can be traced WAY back to these two squads, and it's more than just club ball for this pair. The first round playoff match between these two will be the THIRD time they've played one another, and the contempt for each other is real. I'm looking at a pair of sophomores, one on each team, that should make the most noise if either want to come out of this battle with a victory. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='804352' first='Akiyah' last='Turner']</strong> is an active pin that can do a little of everything for New Castle, while <strong>Kyra Murry</strong> is the lead on the offense from Delta. Youth is prevalent on both sides of the net in this match, and I wouldn't be surprised if this match gets tougher as the years go by with these two.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#6 Tri-West (18-11) v #7 Guerin Catholic (20-5)</h2>   <p>The one match on this list where neither team played each other in the regular season might end up being the best match in the first round of the 3A playoff. Both have tons of talent, a strong fan base, and years of solid volleyball history. Both play a tough schedule to prepare for matches like this one. Both have a solid contingent of club kids that know how much this match will dictate the rest of this half of the draw in 3A. The Bruins are led by SMU commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='260995' first='Caroline' last='Ward'],</strong> who can jump out of any gym on command and terminates from just about everywhere. Guerin rolls out Iowa commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828399' first='Emery' last='Cardinal']</strong> in the middle, as her strong presence is daunting because of her rare combination of size and skill. There's a ton to celebrate on both sides of the net in this match, so find a way to get a ticket and watch some seriously high-level ball. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4 Brownstown Central (21-4) v #17 Silver Creek (18-9)</h2>   <p>The furthest south we'll go will be to scenic and historic Madison, where another tough match in 3A will kick off their respective sectional. The Braves, recently elevated to 3A from 2A due to the IHSAA Tournament Success Factor, has held their own this year just fine. Senior outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='839883' first='Sophie' last='Wischmeier']</strong> is the go-to attacker for BC, and will most likely be leaned upon a bit more during her final go-around in the state playoffs. Silver Creek's only has two seniors, yet these young Dragons are neither inexperienced nor unathletic. 6'3” basketball prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='839809' first='Brooklynn' last='Renn']</strong> is an intimidating force in the middle, and should give pause to the Braves when attacking, knowing that the angle is probably not open when Miss Renn is blocking.</p>

The blind draw that makes Indiana unique to the rest of the country is complete for volleyball, and all 64 sectionals are set. There is still a week of regular season remaining, but let's face it—-our focus is on the postseason. Most of the time, matchups in the early parts of the sectional don't bear much weight. We took the time to find the matches that should garner the most attention, this time in class 3A. Here they are, from north to south, and all are first round matchups.