Volleyball
2024 Top 10 Volleyball Rankings: A First Look
Labor Day is in the rearview mirror and we are going full throttle into week three of the high school volleyball season. A couple of area teams have a chance to make a statement this week.
- Carroll (8-0): We will learn a lot about the Chargers state title chances this weekend when they take on Hamilton Southeastern and Zionsville. For now though, no one in the area is as good or as deep as Carroll. Bailey Sinish leads the charge, but the Chargers rotate 11 different girls even with Sarah Stegall injured.
- Homestead (8-1): Addy Tindall surpassed the 1,000 career kill milestone and has helped Sparty get off to another great start. Two tough road games are on the horizon with Dwenger on Thursday and Bellmont next Tuesday. Sophomore Reagan Lyons is providing a nice extra boost for Homestead on the outside.
- Bellmont (7-3): Coach Krull’s team has been one of the most consistent in the state in his 20 years at the helm. After a 1-3 start, the Braves have rattled off six consecutive victories, including a 2-1 wins over Westfield and Zionsville this weekend. Future Boilermaker MaryKate Scheumann is averaging more than 5!!! kills per set. The Braves will, like Carroll, get a crack at HSE this weekend. FYI – Bellmont is now in 4A Sectional 6 (Homestead, Huntington North, South Side, and Wayne) as part of the success factor.
- Bishop Dwenger (3-2): The Saints have me scratching my head a little bit coming into this week. Two quality wins over Angola and Bellmont, but a five set loss to a solid Leo team at home to start this season. Fatigue in a week of matches or not enough depth? A lot of pressure is going to be put on Jillian Tippman, Lindsay Snyder, and Nicolette Watercutter to supply consistent pressure on the attack.
- Angola (4-1): The Hornets will run the NECC once again and be ready for postseason play. Woodlan, Belmont, Northwood, Homestead, AND Carroll still lie ahead on the schedule. Maya Harris is on a tear to start her junior campaign, averaging 4.7 kills per set and hitting .311.
- Leo (6-2): How good are the Lions? Well, Emersyn Weaver had 331 kills last season and looks even better in her junior year. The Lions quietly went 23-8 last season and return a good bulk of talent from last year’s squad. Class 3A Sectional 21 is a gauntlet, no doubt, but Leo will definitely be in the mix.
- Woodlan (6-0): Alyssa Anderson has been pretty much impossible to stop, hitting .457 so far this year. The Warriors are down to 2A for at least the next two seasons. In my eyes, that makes them a big favorite to not only win their sectional, but make a deep postseason run. 2A Sectional 36 isn’t quite the juggernaut that 3A 21 is, but South Adams and Blackhawk Christian will supply a good battle for Woodlan.
- Southwood (6-0): Last year’s 1A state champ is up to 2A this season off and running in the 2024 year. The Knights have yet to drop a set and I’m not sure when they will at this point. Sophomore Shania Rhamy is the real deal.
- South Adams (11-1): 27 sets won and just five sets lost so far this year for the Starfires. The only blemish in the loss column came at the hands of Bellmont in four sets this past week. An interesting matchup lies ahead on Thursday at home against Norwell.
- Snider (6-2): It’s a big week upcoming for the Panthers as they go on the road Tuesday to Homestead and host Bellmont on Thursday. Both of those matches will be on Summit City Sports. Snider will be in a lot of matches this year with the talent that Oriana Smiley and Abigail Romulus bring to the table. Snider fans have to be pumped about freshman Arielle Stephens play early on as well.
This weeks volleyball schedule on Summit City Sports:
Tuesday, 9/3: Snider at Homestead | Thursday, 9/5: Bellmont at Snider AND Homestead at Dwenger.
