Way Too Early HS Preview: Indiana 1A
As we clear the fog of our COVID-19 shelter-in-place, gyms will start opening and training will begin soon. We at PD are anxiously awaiting more volleyball, but still have a ton of info to sift through to prepare for the…
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Continue ReadingAs we clear the fog of our COVID-19 shelter-in-place, gyms will start opening and training will begin soon. We at PD are anxiously awaiting more volleyball, but still have a ton of info to sift through to prepare for the upcoming fall season. Here is our 1A preview of teams we predict will make another run at a state championship, starting with Class 1A.
Cowan, 30-4
The Blackhawks out of Muncie are the reigning state champions, and only lose three to graduation. The crazy part about that last statement is that none of the graduations were major impacts for this team in 2019, and major pin hitter Grace Conway (Munciana 17 Aztecs, 5-11, ’21, OH, 24 kills in the state final) will try to lead Cowan to another state title run. Stalling their advance, unfortunately, is the return to her native country of Swiss exchange student Martina Demarchi (20 kills and 10 aces in the state final).
Trinity Lutheran, 30-6
The state runner-up doesn’t rebuild, they consistently reload. Led by Hannah Sabotin, University of Indianapolis (DII) signee, the Cougars don’t have nearly as much to replace as the Blackhawks above. Hannah and Kennedy Hoffman (Cougar VBC, 5-10, ’21, OH) led the way with 12 kills each in the state final. We’re also looking forward to Sydney Jaynes’ (6-3, ’21, MB, 10 kills and 5 blocks in the state final) return to the Cougar starting lineup.
Morgan Township, 29-6
With a senior-heavy squad (the Cherokees graduated seven players from 2019), this was supposed to be Morgan Township’s year. It was truly unfortunate that they ran into a buzzsaw in Cowan on their way to a state championship. However, there are a couple of bright spots to look forward to. Purdue commit Emily Rastovski Emily Rastovski 6'1" | OH Morgan Township | 2021 State IN returns for her senior season in ’20, and a young and successful JV program fills in the seven losses. Miss Rastovski can’t do it alone, however, and will be hard-pressed to repeat their 2019 success.
Bloomfield, 26-6
Being quickly dispatched in the state semifinal by Trinity Lutheran was a crushing blow to what was a successful season for the Cardinals. Returnee Kylee Shelton (5-10, ’21, OH) was the lone bright spot in the semi state, leading the Cardinals in kills (8) and digs (11) and had Bloomfield’s lone ace. They only graduate one, so this run should repeat in the southern half of the state. Hopefully, they can solve TL this time.
Dark Horse: Hauser, 27-8
Hauser has always had athletic girls volleyball programs since I personally moved here in 2004. Their heartbreaking loss in the state quarterfinal to Bloomfield almost had a different result; Hauser was up two sets before Bloomfield won by two points in each of the last three for a reverse sweep. I would love to see Hannah Johnson (5-10, ’21, MB) get one more shot at a title, as her 21 kills and 5 blocks in the regional final against Bloomfield dwarfed Miss Shelton’s stats in that match.