4A Rankings Update: The More Things Change…

<p>Over the several weeks we’ve done these updated rankings for Indiana, we’ve had at least one new entry into the top five. Today, revealing the 4A update is like reshuffling the same five cards. All five teams changed positions this week, but none left the rankings, which to me means the cream is rising, and it’s not going anywhere.</p> <p>I’d like to thank Zach McCrite for helping me with these rankings through his website IndianaPrepVolleyball.com. If you are interested in Indiana high school volleyball, it’s worth the look.</p> <p><strong>#5: Penn, 18-3</strong></p> <p><strong><i>Last week: #4</i></strong></p> <p>The Kingsmen continue their impressive season with sweeps over South Bend Adams and South Bend Clay last week, and a sweep over Mishawaka Marian this past Tuesday. A match against Bremen tonight has them heavily favored. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101974" first="Emma" last="Hickey"] (’22, 5-7, DS) </strong>continues to lead the Kingsmen in a tough 4A region despite her size.</p> <p><strong>#4: Crown Point, 18-3</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Last week: #3</strong></em></p> <p>The Bulldogs, once they figure out La Porte and Penn, will be fine. They have wins over 4A #3 Munster, 3A #3 New Prairie, defending 4A champ New Castle and 4A Avon, just to name a few. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="102846" first="Kendall" last="Schara"] (’22, 5-8, OH)</strong> continues her exceptional play by leading CP in kills and aces, is third in blocks and second in digs. </p> <p><strong>#3: Munster, 21-2</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Last week: #5</strong></em></p> <p>It may look like I’m from Northwestern Indiana with all of these mentions, but truly, these teams (including La Porte) have always been here. It’s a ton of great volleyball that gets so many training options in the Chicagoland area. Munster is no exception, with a win over Valparaiso and a match against Lowell tonight. The one-two punch of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96843" first="Haley" last="Melby"] (’22, Iowa commit)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="102468" first="Lourdes" last="Torres"] (’21, 5-8, OH)</strong> has the Mustangs riding high coming into the home stretch.</p> <p><strong>#2: Hamilton Southeastern, 9-0</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Last week: #1</strong></em></p> <p>Ouch. That’s the sound my ears are making for the screaming I’m getting from Royals fans. They’ve dropped two sets total this season, including impressive sweeps over Avon, Providence, Roncalli and Floyd Central. Not playing for a couple of weeks gave our number #1 team time to catch up in strength of schedule and strength of wins. If that’s the case, this will be a great opportunity for HSE to meet up with another Delaware County team in the state final again. The Royals offense is relentless, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85697" first="Delaney" last="Garner"] (’21, Harding commit) </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85828" first="Lovie" last="Wallace"] (’22, 6-1, MB)</strong> anchoring the middle.</p> <p><strong>#1: Yorktown, 12-0</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Last week: #2</strong></em></p> <p>While the rest of the state started playing in mid-August, Yorktown was forced to take two weeks off. No matter. They, like the Royals above, had only dropped two sets all season, and the last one was to massive rival and defending 4A state champ New Castle......until they went five with a feisty Greenfield-Central team last night. The offense revolves around <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85673" first="Ellee" last="Stinson"] (’21, Northwestern commit)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85700" first="Jaylynn" last="Dunsmore"] (’21, 6-0, MB), </strong>and both were needed last night; their combined 41 kills and 30 digs tells me that the Tigers are going to need another attacker for the state tournament run. With libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85678" first="Jenny" last="Morey"] (’21, Wright State commit)</strong> donning the special jersey, they might not need it.</p>