4A State Final: Attack v Ball Control

<p>We made it! Finally, after all of the social distancing, masking, quarantining, specially-situated benches, NFHS modifications and limited capacities, we are finally at the end of the road that is the Indiana high school volleyball season. With only a few hiccups, we got to this spot with some excellent volleyball, so we’re touching on the players that have made the biggest impact for their teams.</p> <p><strong>Munster, 33-2</strong></p> <p>They. Go. Fast. From a former coaches’ perspective, getting a ball quickly to the pins keeps the blockers from not only closing, but blocking at all. Munster’s offense is, for lack of a better term, different than most other offenses in the Hoosier State. This is what explains both of their outsides having hitting percentages north of .350 on the season. Although <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96843" first="Haley" last="Melby"] (’22, Iowa commit) </strong>is the bigger of the two names, it’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="102468" first="Lourdes" last="Torres"] (’21, 5-9, OH)</strong> who leads the Mustangs in kills, at nearly four per set while hitting .375. Add libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101109" first="Sarah" last="Morton"] (’22, Auburn commit)</strong> and her team lead in digs (5.7/set) and aces (79, .8/set), and you can see how high-level this team plays. An epic five-setter in the regional final completed the revenge match against Crown Point, while controlling McCutcheon in three in the semi-state got them here. Can <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="115070" first="Marina" last="Gronkiewicz"] (’22, 5-10, S)</strong> keep this offense going on all cylinders? Sure, if you can keep up the pace for the whole match on the biggest stage against the only undefeated team left in the state.</p> <p><strong>Yorktown, 27-0</strong></p> <p>With Hamilton Southeastern’s loss in the regional final, Yorktown became the last undefeated team in 4A, which almost didn’t happen. Down 2-1 in the semi-state to Providence, Yorktown’s epic comeback is one of the best high school matches I’ve ever had the honor of being a part of, and was worth the price of admission. This mixed bag of class leadership has three kids already committed to Division I schools, including spitfire <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85673" first="Ellee" last="Stinson"] (’21, Northwestern commit). </strong>Ellee is the heir apparent as libero at Northwestern, but for now, in her last high school match, she’s the engine to this machine on the outside. At over three kills per set and almost five digs per set, she’s second in each category for the Tigers. Joined in serve receive is another future Division I libero in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85678" first="Jenny" last="Morey"] (’21, Wright State commit), </strong>and the pair often take all of the serve receive responsibilities. Jenny’s team lead in digs (5.6/set) go unnoticed most matches; she’s not flashy, but is a vocal leader and just gets the job done. One of two bigs on the team, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85700" first="Jaylynn" last="Dunsmore"] (’21, 6-0, MB), </strong>leads the Tigers in kills (3.5/set), attack percentage (.312) and blocks, and will be leaned on more for her size than anything. For me, the x-factor is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="115068" first="Kaitlyn" last="Judge"] (’22, 6-0, RS), </strong>whose three kills per set will need to be kicked up a notch to keep up with the Mustangs, and take the pressure off of Stinson and Dunsmore. </p> <p><em><strong>Prediction: Yorktown in five sets.</strong></em></p> <p>The Tigers have dropped exactly seven sets in 27 matches this season, but three of those came in the last two matches. They started slow against both Brownsburg and Providence. If (and this is a big ’if’) Munster can take advantage early on and keep the pressure on, as so many teams before have failed to do, the Mustangs have a chance. Yorktown’s ball control, their bread-and-butter for years, is what keeps them winning. Munciana teaches that, and Yorktown perfects it. Even IF Yorktown has a breakdown in passing, they still have <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85819" first="Rory" last="Powers"] (’22, Air Force commit)</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="85824" first="Taryn" last="Sallee"] (’22, 5-6, DS) </strong>that put in work for three rotations. Key serving and passing by both triggered the comeback against Providence. I see both having the same effect in the state championship, starting at 7:30 on Saturday evening.</p>