3A Preview: #1-4

<p>We finish our 3A Indiana high school preview by naming our top four teams for 2020. It is important to note that none of this is possible without the help of IndianaPrepVolleyball.com, a website dedicated solely to Indiana high school volleyball, run by Zach McCrite, a fellow ref and volley dork. If you’re even remotely interested in Indiana high school volleyball, check that site out.</p> <p>I’ll also list the MVR, or Most Valuable Returnee, for each team listed. Enjoy!</p> <p><strong>#4: Muncie Burris, 26-7</strong></p> <p>Steve Shondell and his Owls are synonymous with excellent volleyball, dating all the way back to the 80s and beyond. Losing in the sectional final to eventual state runner-up Bellmont was not what they had in mind, and the five-set loss was considered by some to be a mild upset. Aside from losing your setter to graduation <strong>(Mara Perry, Radford, D1), </strong>everyone else that made a major contribution to the 2019 season returns. </p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="103403" first="Abigail" last="Kesler"], ’22, 5-11, MB</strong></p> <p>This Munciana-trained kid is wise beyond her years. Fast in transition, fast arm swing, hits multiple angles, and can even play six rotations if you need her to do so. Watching her play, I struggle to believe that Miss Kesler is only a rising junior. WIth everyone but the setter coming back this fall, let’s hope she gets that connection with the new setter sooner rather than later. Expect to see Abigail on the next set of ’22 rankings coming out on August 10.</p> <p><strong>#3: Evansville Reitz Memorial, 31-2</strong></p> <p>There are so many question marks to Memorial’s program. Their only 3A loss was to eventual state champ Brownstown Central, after a collapse in set three. The Tigers also lost to 4A #33 (??) Greenfield-Central. But they also had two wins over 4A #12 Castle. So which team is this? The team that knocked off an excellent Castle team twice? Or the team that mailed in the third set of the state semifinal? The 2019 version had six seniors, three of which were the top three attackers on the team. When 80% of your offense graduates, who steps up?</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="103404" first="Traeston" last="McCutchan"], ’22, 6-2, RS</strong></p> <p>Can someone explain to me how the six foot plus kid got set less than 300 times last fall?!? She’s more than capable, trains at Evansville United, and, well, SHE’S SIX TWO. I can only assume that she was injured for part of the time, as her kill percentage was over 40% for the balls that she actually got. Hopefully, some improved passing and better set selections from a new setter will make the Tigers get over the hump of the state semifinal. Being in the southern half doesn’t help, as Brownstown is still there. Oh, and Miss McCutchan? Please stay healthy. They need you big time.</p> <p><strong>#2: Brownstown, 33-5</strong></p> <p>2019 was an epic year for the Braves. First state title after so many successful seasons. A tougher-than-average schedule to train the program to that level. Kids that play volleyball year-round. All of their training finally paying off. That being said, the graduation of four, including two of the top three attackers and their libero, will make repeating that much tougher. Top attacker and blocker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93744" first="Kendra" last="McCory"] </strong>returns, but the back row will have their growing pains, as three of the top four defenders are gone. Leadership is required, and in a hurry.</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="93747" first="Reagan" last="Nuss"], ’22, 5-6, S</strong></p> <p>Enter the reason you got there in the first place. Reagan has held the reins to the offense since her freshman year, and this all-state honoree has been underrated for too long to be told she can’t because of her size. She does just as much as setters bigger than her, and in most cases, can get to bad passes that the bigger setters can’t. Add to it that every ball is hittable, and you have yourself a setter that can easily run a 5-1 at the next level. This top-30 ’22 is a can’t-miss prospect, and she still has two years to get better. Stay tuned.</p> <p><strong>#1: Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, 28-5</strong></p> <p>They HAD them. Dwenger had Angola dead-to-rights, up 2-0 in the sectional final. Depth and relentlessness took over, and the rest is history. I don’t want to call this an epic upset; Angola is ranked at #9 in my rankings. But it’s still an upset, and with all of those seniors at Angola, it was only a matter of time and resiliency that caused the upset. Stud middle <strong>Delaney Hogan (6-0, Xavier signee) </strong>is gone, along with starting setter <strong>Kaley Lyons (IU Kokomo signee, NAIA)</strong> and libero <strong>Lauren Haraburda.</strong> So, which Saint will lead?</p> <p><strong>MVR: [player_tooltip player_id="85813" first="Eva" last="Hudson"], ’22, 5-10, OH</strong></p> <p>Four kills a set, hitting over .400, primary passer, #1 in aces, top returning back row defender---the list goes on and on. Eva is the reason this team can go, and I can’t imagine a better candidate for a little revenge in October. We have four rising juniors listed as MVRs in this article alone, and none are more impactful on their teams’ success. Munciana has a gem in Miss Hudson, and I am eager to see her progress this fall.</p>