IHSAA 1A Preview: #4 Pioneer

<p>Hard to argue that Pioneer has THE top collection of female athletes in all of 1A in the state of Indiana. Volleyball won the whole thing. Softball just won the state title in 2A. Girls basketball won the state championship by a point. Three state titles by the same group of girls in one school year? I can hear the angry typing now....</p> <p><em>How can he POSSIBLY list our Panthers at anything other than #1 for this fall?!?!?!?</em></p> <p>Well, I’ll tell you why. It’s not who they have coming back, it’s who they graduated. The setter? Cap and gown. The libero? Gonzo. Leading attacker? Graduated. But the returners.....</p> <p><strong>’22, [player_tooltip player_id="108605" first="Hailey" last="Cripe"], 5-6 RS</strong></p> <p>By far, the most well-rounded female athlete in her upcoming senior class is none other than Miss Cripe. Her ability to use her strength to make up for her lack of size makes her an easy candidate for the first, and most important, returnee for this fall. She finished last fall second in kills and fourth in digs, so anything that she can bring back at a higher level will most definitely be needed. Almost four kills per set graduated from last fall’s title winning squad. Hailey doesn’t have to make up for all of them, but a lot more will be expected of her.</p> <p><strong>’24, [player_tooltip player_id="110516" first="Brooklyn" last="Borges"], 6-0 MB</strong></p> <p>Thrust into a starting role due to injuries early on last fall, her experience on the big girl squad will pay dividends down the road. In Brooklyn’s case, her size is a much-needed addition, and her quickness gets her past, and over, most of the blocks she’ll see in the fall. Miss Borges finished last fall #3 in both kills and blocks, but she’ll be called upon to do more now that she has more experience.</p> <p><strong>’22, Mackenzie Robinson, 5-4 DS</strong></p> <p>The team leader in aces last fall, Miss Robinson will probably don the special jersey, and her athleticism and footwork should serve her well (see what I did there?). I like her speed, I like her fearless ability to bomb away from behind the baseline, and her relentlessness on defense is what keeps teams like the Panthers in the state title conversation. I look forward to seeing more in her senior season.</p>