4A Preview: #13-16
We finally arrive at the beginning of our Indiana 4A high school preview by showcasing #13-16 in our rankings. And by “our” I mean the rankings according to Zach McCrite, founder of IndianaPrepVolleyball.com and fellow volley dork and referee. If…
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Continue ReadingWe finally arrive at the beginning of our Indiana 4A high school preview by showcasing #13-16 in our rankings. And by “our” I mean the rankings according to Zach McCrite, founder of IndianaPrepVolleyball.com and fellow volley dork and referee. If you’re at all interested in high school volleyball in the state of Indiana, check that site out.
For now, let’s dig a little deeper into #13-16. I’ll also mention the MVR, or Most Valuable Returnee, for each team.
#16: Floyd Central, 19-13
Do not look at their record. Their schedule is as such because they play the eighth toughest schedule in the entire state. To beat the best, you have to train against and play the best, and there’s no better training than live ball. I’m completely on board with what the coaching staff down at Floyds Knobs is doing, but that looming nemesis, Providence, just so happens to be in their sectional and is a top five team every year. Here’s to hoping the volleyball gods are kind in their draw so they don’t have to face Providence until the sectional final. Graduating their setter (from a 6-2) and their libero won’t be easy replacements, but they return everyone else, and as long as their ball control stays solid, this is a team to be reckoned with.
MVR: Kayden Holcomb Kayden Holcomb 5'10" | MB Floyd Central | 2021 State IN , ’21, 5-10, MB, Prep Dig #28
#1 in blocks, #1 in aces and #3 in kills all in one kid. This Union-trained kid is the heart and soul of what Floyd Central can do, and without her, all opponents can camp on the pin players. One could also argue that Kyra Sharp Kyra Sharp 5'11" | RS Floyd Central | 2022 State IN (’22, 5-11, Pin) is also an x-factor for the Highlanders, but I’m not sure on her status with the possibility that the 6-2 might disappear. She was a three-rotation (front row only) player, but has been trained at KIVA.
#15: Roncalli, 24-9
Four straight conference titles, a couple of sectional titles, and THIS close to moving on to semi state. A hard standard to uphold, for sure. But with a new coaching staff, and only graduating a setter, the Rebels look to reload, and never rebuild.
MVR: Emma Halter Emma Halter 5'5" | DS/L Roncalli | 2022 State #60 Nation IN , ’22, 5-5, DS, Texas commit
And it isn’t close. Emma has been all-state since running the show in the alternate jersey her freshman year. She touches everything, receives everything else, and is a second coach on the floor. As she goes, so go the Rebels. I’ll give additional attention to Faith Burch Faith Burch 5'10" | RS Roncalli | 2023 State IN (’23, 5-10, RS/S, Prep Dig #7), whose hands and arm should carry Roncalli far.
#14: Carmel, 21-11
If only. If only Carmel wasn’t in the toughest sectional in the state. If only the Greyhounds didn’t get upset in the same sectional by #18 Fishers in five (16-14!). If only anyone else stepped up and helped Gabby Smith (’20, 6-1, MB, New Hampshire signee) and Kelisa Twyner (’20, 5-9, OH, Queens signee) in their last match. Oh, what could have been. It’s the story of the Greyhounds. They have the talent, they have the coaching, but do they have the toughness? They certainly play a tough enough schedule (12th toughest in the state) year-in and year-out, so what gives? Good question. I would LOVE to be proven wrong this fall.
MVR: Ella Bostic Ella Bostic 6'0" | S Carmel | 2022 State #45 Nation IN , ’22, 6-0, S, Prep Dig #6
There are so many. Lexi Brehl Lexi Brehl 5'8" | DS/L Carmel | 2021 State IN (’21, 5-8, DS, Prep Dig #22), Macarty McQueen Macarty McQueen 5'10" | OH Carmel | 2022 State IN (’22, 5-10, OH, Prep Dig #13) and Emily Waddell Emily Waddell 6'0" | MB Carmel | 2023 State #137 Nation IN (’23, 6-0, MB, Prep Dig #5) are just off of the top of my head. However, without Ella, this team doesn’t go. She’s fast enough to get to the bad passes, and immediately makes them hittable. She’s big enough to be an offensive and defensive force at the net. AND she trains at Munciana. Some players on the north side of Indianapolis are starting to figure out the advantages that playing at Munciana gives, and I look forward to watching those advantages play out this fall.
#13: Penn, 30-7
Penn has, most of the time, the largest pool of athletes to draw from in the state. They are the big fish in the small volleyball pond that is Northern Indiana. Annie Drews, current US National team starting right side, is from Penn. There’s a ton of talent, for sure. But is there preparation? A mediocre SOS (#35), only one win against the top 25 in the state (La Porte, in the regional semifinal)—in order for the Kingsmen (Kingswomen?) to compete with the best, they’re going to have to toughen up their schedule a bit.
MVR: Emma Hickey Emma Hickey 5'7" | DS/L Penn | 2022 State IN , ’22, 5-7, DS/OH, Prep Dig NR
Emma not being ranked is on me. You WILL see her name on the next set of rankings released in August. I haven’t seen a bunch of NIVA teams playing where I’ve been in recent years. That being said, Emma translates as a DS at the next level, even though she’s responsible for a ton at Penn. She’s #2 in kills, #2 in aces, #1 in digs, and takes twice as many balls in serve receive, with less errors, than any other DS on Penn. Does Emma get any help in 2020? We’ll see.