3A Too-Soon Preview: Part 1

Photo: Prep Dig, Josiah

Kyp Harasymowycz July 12, 2022 @ 08:07 AM

Halfway through our too-soon previews, we look at class 3A. With all of the moving from class to class because of the Tournament Success Factor employed by the IHSAA, this seems to be the most wide open race for a state title. There are a few title contenders sprinkled among the bunch in this series, but your guess is as good as mine for naming the last team standing on the first Saturday in November. BELLMONT Why not start with the team that barely lost the 3A title last year in five grueling sets to now-4A Brebeuf? The Braves are in perennial reload mode, and this fall will be no different. Gone are attackers Meg Saalfrank, Avery Ball, and Katelyn Rumschlag, who bring their size, skill and 6+ kps/.300+ hitting with them. No problem, as this will be a prime opportunity for rising juniors [player_tooltip player_id="110518" first="Delaney" last="Lawson"] (’24, 6-1 OH) and [player_tooltip player_id="157433" first="Jackie" last="Sutter"] (’24, 5-10 RS/OH) to bomb away from the pins. Also returning for the Braves is setter [player_tooltip player_id="190493" first="Lauren" last="Ross"] (’23, 5-9 S), who is beyond skilled enough to find the next wave of attackers. The biggest concern for me, and any team competing for a state title, is where the first contact might come from. When you graduate six regulars, they need to come from somewhere. WEST LAFAYETTE Caught up in the mix of how much talent resides in the northern half of the state, the Red Devils look to avenge their semi state loss to Bellmont. Their only graduation loss is a big one; Tori Woods (6+ kps/.400+, Texas Women’s University signee). What’s intriguing to me is what’s coming back. [player_tooltip player_id="85940" first="Rachel" last="Williams"] (’23, 5-7 OH) should become the primary attacker in the fall, bringing four kills per set with her. Lost in the shuffle last season was [player_tooltip player_id="173241" first="Taylor" last="Woods"] (’25, 5-11 OH) who is already attacking near ten feet and should never come out as a go-to option. Annie Karlaftis (’23, MB) should bring some much-needed size this fall, and her length and basketball background will do wonders against bigger squads. The libero jersey is Brinley Melchi’s (’24, DS/L) to lose, and she should be leaned upon both defensively and in serve receive with the elder Woods graduated. Will Saffron Horton (’24, S) be the 5-1 setter the Red Devils need? Only time and experience will tell. Fun fact: WL had three total losses last fall, and only one was to a 3A squad---the Bellmont squad listed above. The other two were to 4A state champ McCutcheon and 4A Zionsville.