The ACAC, NECC, NE8, and SAC are finally all in action as we get closer to sectional play and the best time of the high school volleyball season.
- Carroll (19-1): The Chargers have dropped just four sets all season long. This team is elite on all levels and has a legitimate shot to win a state championship. The challenge for Coach Sinish is to keep her players locked in on the regular season and to not get ahead of themselves, like I clearly am. Carroll hosts Warsaw (16-5) on Tuesday before another tournament weekend with Yorktown and Westfield.
- Angola (13-1): The biggest winner of last week was Angola. The Hornets swept Bellmont on Saturday and also defeated 3A state hopeful Northwood in 5 sets. Junior Maya Harris has taken over, setting a school record with 37 kills in the five set thriller against Northwood. Don’t overlook the experience that seniors Ava Harris, Bailey Holman, Anna McClure, and Lexi Stillman bring to the table.
- Bellmont (14-7): A pair of 3-0 losses this weekend against Northwood and Angola hurt the Braves in our rankings, but I’m not sure how much it actually hurts them in their ultimate goal of winning a sectional and competing at the highest level in 4A this year. That loss to the Panthers was as close as it can get for ending in three sets. The task now is moving forward with NE8 road matchups against East Noble and Leo this week. Something tells me MaryKate Scheumann is about to have one of the best weeks in her illustrious career.
- Homestead (16-3): Sparty won all eleven sets played this week, including four match victories on Saturday to win the Lafayette Jeff Invitational. Unlike a lot of other teams with conference matches on the horizon, Homestead will have some more off days upcoming. A good chance to rest but also fine tune things in order to make a deep postseason run.
- Southwood (13-0): If Northfield doesn’t beat Southwood on Tuesday night, who is going to stop the Knights during the regular season? I say, no one. 32 sets won, one set lost on the year for Southwood. We will be talking about this group still being undefeated come semistate weekend. Book it.
- Leo (14-3): All the Lions have done since September 4th is win. Seven consecutive victories leading into this week where a nice challenge lies ahead with Adams Central Monday and a match that could decide the NE8 Thursday AT HOME against Bellmont. Leo fans should show out in full force on Thursday to support a team that has 14 of its last 15 matches.
- Bishop Dwenger (7-6): Two SAC matches this week could help the Saints get back on the right track after going 3-2 this past week. I’ve been really impressed by sophomore Braelynn Hodgman, who has locked down the setter position for Dwenger. If the Saints go 2-0 against Northrop and Snider this week, the October 8th matchup at Concordia should determine who wins the SAC.
- South Adams (19-2): The Starfires continue to play at a high level and control their own destiny in the ACAC moving forward. Just one match this week, at Jay County, before matches at Woodlan and versus bitter rival Adams Central next week to determine the conference champion.
- Concordia (9-10): Don’t look now, but the Cadets have won five matches in a row. Depth is a real plus for Concordia, and the emergence of senior Madison Poyser has been crucial in this run. Nine seniors on Coach Miller’s squad tells me that this group is going to hit its peak at the right point in the year. A SAC title is well within reach for the Cadets.
- Adams Central (13-4): Welcome to the top 10, AC! The Flying Jets three set victory over Woodlan on the road Thursday was crucial in deciding who can win the ACAC. Seniors Paige Hamilton and Maci Henry, as well as freshman Emma Hirschy have led a balanced attack for AC. A busy week ahead with trips to Leo and Blackhawk Christian as well as a home match against Bluffton.
This weeks volleyball schedule on Summit City Sports:
Monday, 9/23: Homestead at Angola | Tuesday, 9/24: Heritage at Woodlan | Thursday, 9/26: Bellmont at Leo
