First Round 1A Matchups That We’re Loving

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Our Prep Network app is live! Download it at prepdig.com/app for all of your news in one location! Use code Kyp30 for 30% off of your annual subscription!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our final edition of first round matches worth watching, we're paying closest attention to the 1A bracket, where there is no shortage of big-time matchups between top-15 teams. With the blind playoff draw for all sports here in Indiana, there are bound to be some matches that should be happening in the sectional final. The reward for such a draw is that the casual fan can be immediately engaged in the postseason. Here are three first-round matchups where all of the teams are in the top 12 in class 1A in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#7 Morgan Township (21-7) v #4 Marquette Catholic (26-5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why not start with a huge matchup between two top ten programs in northern Indiana? These two met back on September 16, with a straight-sets win for the Cherokees. It's been a bit since that match, so expectations might be a bit different. Here are a couple of players to watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='830365' first='Braelynn' last='Dudzik']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Morgan Township","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac90d55858d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Size is rare for the smallest class, and Miss Dudzik certainly takes advantage of her presence at the net. The team leader in blocks while averaging over 2 kills a set from the middle position, Braelynn will be the x-factor on a senior-heavy team looking to go deep into the post season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='835219' first='Mackenzie' last='Snyder']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Marquette Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac90d558598c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A spitfire of an athlete, Mackenzie is a primary-passing outside and solid defender for the Blazers. Her 3+ kills and 4+ digs per set pace Marquette Catholic, and she will need all of it and more to step it up a notch in the leadership department (emotionally and physically) if they want to advance beyond round one in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#12 Lafayette Central Catholic (16-11) @ #1 Covington (28-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another match that we can put in the “unfair” category, this matchup features what should EASILY be the sectional final. Instead, a pair of small school blue-blood programs face off in the first round in what should be a battle of differing styles. LCC takes pride in their ball control and ability to fight and get every touch to frustrate opponents, while Covington uses brute strength and heavy attacking to dictate matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["514357"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac9138b326ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With well past 1000 career assists, Paige has been seeing regular time for the Knights for years. Her ability to get to every pass, distribute the offense evenly and keep defenses on their toes will be key in pulling off the upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["886984"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac9138b326de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I talked about size in a previous evaluation for small school kids, but Miss Wright takes it to a different level. She's a primary-passing freshman outside that can take over a match if you let her. At 4+ kills per set, 3+ digs per set and hitting over .350 on average, Meredith is the main reason the future looks bright at Covington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3 Tecumseh (26-6) v #6 Evansville Christian (26-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Far and away the worst example of the blink draw, these two teams are VERY familiar with each other, and should be meeting in the regional final somewhere. Fortunately for the local fans, this should be a loud and exciting environment for all involved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["722895"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac9138b32701"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">No team has as much control over her squad's future than Kelsey. As a setter, she's part of a 6-2 that runs a faster-than-average offense, and needs to be accurate in order for her team to be victorious. On the attack, she's at 4 kills per set while hitting north of .300 in the process. With her hand in many different cookie jars, Miss Marx will be the key to the Braves' long run in the post season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["449491"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac9138b32720"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As a libero for her club program, watching Anna distribute the offense for her high school shows the level of volleyball acuity this young lady possesses. Anna is leading this team from her not-so-regular position to the most wins they've had ever, I believe. Without her leadership, I'm not sure the Eagles have this level of success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->