2A Rankings Update: Usual Suspects
Each week, I review and rank each class’s top five teams and the players that helped them get there. Today’s article focuses on class 2A, where the next four weeks could decide very little. Four of the five teams listed…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingEach week, I review and rank each class’s top five teams and the players that helped them get there. Today’s article focuses on class 2A, where the next four weeks could decide very little. Four of the five teams listed here have been here since the beginning, and in our third week of this, we still don’t see a change to the top. It is important to note the help I received from IndianaPrepVolleyball.com and its administrator, Zach McCrite. If you’re at all interested in high school volleyball in the Hoosier State, go check it out.
#5: Hagerstown, 14-3
Last week: NR
Welcome to the party, Tigers! This is the first time we’re mentioning Hagerstown in three weeks of doing this. With two of their losses being to volleyball powers Muncie Burris (3A #2) and Wapahani (2A #1), it stands to reason that they schedule tough enough to be considered. In their fourteen wins, they’ve dropped one set. Total. Maddie Pruitt Maddie Pruitt 5'7" | MB Hagerstown | 2022 State IN (’22, 5-7, MB), a high flying, quick-twitch middle, is second in kills, first in hitting percentage and first in blocks for the Tigers, as they look to make it past the regional this year.
#4: Andrean, 8-2
Last week: #3
A little slip up against 4A Munster didn’t help their ranking, but certainly helped their strength of schedule and preparation for the postseason, now less than a month away. Coming back with a four set win over a strong Lowell program was a huge recovery for the Fighting 59ers last Thursday, and upcoming matches against Illiana Christian, Munster and Lowell await. Freshman phenom Marin Sanchez (’24, 5-9, OH) is as steady a six-rotation outside that you might see at this level, and plays with a maturity rarely seen from a freshman. She’s second in kills and is a primary passer that rarely gets aced. Stay tuned.
#3: Heritage Christian, 15-0
Last week: #2
I know what you’re saying. They haven’t lost yet, and they still drop a spot? Although HC beat up on a solid Lowell team and knocked off the hosts in the Harrison Classic in their opening pool on Saturday, it’s not their fault that they were paired in the winner’s pool with two 1A teams, whom they easily handled. Three of the four teams they played had at least one set where they couldn’t make it to double digits. I mean, when you have Raven Colvin Raven Colvin 6'0" | MB Heritage Christian | 2021 State IN (Purdue commit) and Elizabeth Phillips Elizabeth Phillips 5'10" | OH Heritage Christian | 2021 State IN (Arkansas State commit) bombing away on you, bring your helmets. My eye-opener from this past weekend was Amaya Lowry Amaya Lowry 5'9" | RS Heritage Christian | 2022 State IN (’21, 5-9, OH/RS), who is yet another option for the Eagles in a roster full of offense.
#2: Barr-Reeve, 16-2
Last week: #5
Their last week was hugely instrumental to their ranking this week. Wins over 1A #3 Springs Valley and 4A volleyball powerhouse Floyd Central in back-to-back nights is no easy task. Then, your tournament foes are all bigger schools, sweeping Evansville Memorial Reitz, Mount Vernon (Posey) and Evansville North. Loogootee next week might be the only tough match they have before the sectional. Scary good, these Vikings are. Still led in kills by Anna Ballengee Anna Ballengee 5'10" | DS/L Barr-Reeve | 2021 State IN (Southern Indiana commit), we turn to Jasye Thompson Jasye Thompson 5'6" | DS/L Barr-Reeve | 2021 State IN (’21, 5-6, DS), averaging nearly five digs per set on this senior-laden team.
#1: Wapahani, 9-1
Last week: #1
Not really much of a surprise here, as their lone loss is to 4A #2 (spoiler) Yorktown. Their recent four-set win over 4A Brebeuf was the first set they dropped in any of their wins. Aside from playing 3A #1 Bellmont in the regular season finale, I don’t really see another match where the Raiders will be pushed, let alone threatened with a loss. This is NOT the team you want to see in the postseason. Another Munciana product, Camryn Wise Camryn Wise 5'11" | MB Wapahani | 2023 State IN (’23, 5-10, MB), leads the Raiders in blocks and aces, and is #3 in kills.