First Round 2A Matchups We’re Loving

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The Prep Network app is now live! Download it at prepdig.com/app for all of your PrepDig info, right in one place! Use code Kyp30 for 30% off of your annual subscription!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a blind draw in each sport's playoff bracket, first-round matchups seem to be the most intriguing—-or the least fair. There is no other bracket of the four that show how crazy a blind draw can be more than the 2A bracket that just came out on Sunday. Here are three matchups that shouldn't have happened, but the casual volleyball fan gets rewarded with in the first round of the IHSAA playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Southwood (23-1) v #2 South Adams (26-4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why not start with the best example of why the blind draw should be abolished? These two teams represent the top two teams IN THE STATE in class 2A, yet they're forced to play each other in the first round of the playoffs instead of in Gainbridge in November. Both have amazing records, both have amazing players, and both have had one of their better seasons in each program's history. Here are a couple of players to watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["494521"],"_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-6ac7cd62b65a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the few legitimate SEC players in the IHSAA playoffs this fall, Shania is a workhorse, a dominant force and a relentless high volleyball IQ kid that is worth every portion of accolades she's received over the years. A primary passer for the Knights, Miss Rhamy is the emotional and physical leader of Southwood, and will be the primary reason for making it to Gainbridge this fall.</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":"Reece Beitler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"South Adams","_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-6ac7cd62b66da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Starfires are, year-in and year-out among the top five in the state in 2A. With that, there are seemingly always athletes that can take over a match at any given time, and Reece fits that bill for SA. Her four kill and four dig per set average paces the Starfires, and Miss Beitler's two-sport athleticism will show out from the first whistle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#20 Tell City (21-6) @ #6 Perry Central (29-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third match between these two volleyball powers will be the tiebreaker, with Perry Central's lone loss of the season coming to Tell City on September 10. Things might have changed from then until now, but it's still two teams that are very familiar with each other—-and should NOT be playing until the sectional final, at the very least. 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='813735' first='Haley' last='Braun']","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Tell City","_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-6ac7cd62b67d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Even with the smaller schools, it helps having bigger kids that can take control from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. Insert Haley, whose three kills per set while hitting over .300 and leading the Marksmen in blocks. All of those traits will be much needed if a road upset will be had next week in the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1038680"],"_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-6ac7cd62b685a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Masen being listed as a setter is like me listing that I'm kinda tall. Masen's setting is only <em>part</em> of the story, and there's a heckuva story to go with her skill set. Yes, she's part of the 6-2 that the Commodores run, and the offense is solid with her at the helm. But when she's not setting, her attacking is a significant addition to the point-scoring machine that is Perry Central. She's logging three kills per set, nearly three digs per set and also hits about .300 for the season, making her one of the more complete players in this or any class in Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Parke Heritage (17-9) v #15 Greencastle (22-5)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although neither of these teams are in the top ten in 2A, both are the best in their sectional, and certainly shouldn't be seeing each other until the sectional final. Good news for the fans is that the gym will be loud with a ton of high-end volleyball being played. Greencastle won an earlier Saturday matchup in late September, pulling out a 2-1 victory. I'm thinking the most recent version of the match might be a bit tougher:</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='810110' first='Abby' last='Mathis']","_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":"Parke Heritage","_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-6ac7cd62b6947"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Abby's size/skill combination got the Wolves this far, and her ability to terminate from either pin as well as from the middle will be much needed for the early-round playoff match next week. If Miss Mathis stays to her four kills per set, .300+ and block-leader mentality, the Wolves could find themselves pulling off the upset.</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":"Charlotte Tomamichel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Greencastle","_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-6ac7cd62b6a31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A freshman, primary-passing lead attacker from the outside is what guides the Tiger Cubs to one of the better seasons we've seen from them in some time. Her four kills and three digs per set, while also being a main passer in serve receive, is a testament to her athletic maturity and emotional resolve when the pressure is on. Charlotte is a must-watch in this match up, and the Tiger Cubs will go as far as Miss Tomamichel can take them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->