2014 AREA GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PREVIEWS Posted: Monday, August 18, 2014 12:47 am | Updated: 1:06 am, Mon Aug 18, 2014. By Jim Gordillo 812-331-4355 | jgordillo@heraldt | 0 comments BLOOMINGTON SOUTH South is coming off back-to-back 20-11 seasons, but still in search of a Conference Indiana or sectional title to show for it. A first-round loss to Columbus North last year still tastes sour. Time to make lemonade for a senior-laden roster with just one new player. I think they still feel like they have something to prove, said Eugene Kim, 95-33 after two seasons at North and two at South. They have quite a few things they want to accomplish and they know they are running out of time. Three first-team all-area picks are back in senior middles Abby Boatman (252 kills, 89 blocks) and Bri Blume (246 kills, 180 digs, 53 blocks, 43 aces) and senior libero Dominique Davis (393 digs), all third year varsity mainstays. Juniors OH Emily Ehman (167 kills) and RSH Ashlynn Fox started last year while senior MH Claire Dennis led the team in blocking with 71 solos. New are senior setter Rachel Farrar and sophomore DS Sami Mehay. Abby is athletic and so long, shes going up over the block right now, Kim said. Bri can be dominating in the middle. Shes a great physical presence. ... Dominique has really matured into the position. ... Emily is a dynamic player who can cover the floor. ... Fox is doing some nice things hitting the ball and Claire is as quick as it gets for a middle and shes improved so much. Farrer has done a fantastic job picking up the offense. Shes the least of our worries. ... Sam brings such a different level of energy to the floor and meshes well with whats out there. BLOOMINGTON NORTH On paper anyway, Klaus Haagens team is a perfect 10, just the right amount of players to keep everyone involved in starting the process of bouncing back from a discouraging 11-21 season. The new coach has three experienced seniors to lead the way in four-year varsity members OH Alivia Coon (242 kills, 32 aces), libero Allison Donham (81 career aces) and last years kills leader, OH Sari Kamen (276). I told them they have to be leaders, bring energy, Haagen said. If things are not going to plan, they are the girls the others have to look up to, to bring the defense back on track, to take balls and make plays to get back in the game. Taking over in the middle are two sophomores, Zoe Merritt and a big addition in 6-footer Claire Taylor from Lafayette Harrison. The setters are sophomore Julia Wood and junior Allie Beams, who saw some spot varsity time last year. Right-side hitters are sophomore Haley Stults and junior Elle Costello, who was slated to start on the backrow last year before an opening-game injury, but came back to fire seven aces in a late-season win over Southport. Finally at DS is sophomore Bri Blandford. Its nice in that no one person has to shoulder everything, Haagen said. We do not have a star. The ball wont go to the same player again and again. They all have to be ready. You cant watch a movie while the game is going on. EDGEWOOD MUSTANGS The Mustangs lost three seniors (including area co-player of the year Ashley Hacker and stat sheet filler Vanessa Brown), a ton of height and their head coach. They are also just waiting for everyone to underestimate them this season. Five seniors come back, led by returning starters 5-7 OH Mady Miller (187 kills, 355 digs, 70 aces), MH Autum Loughead (209 kills, .365 hitting) and 5-6 Megan Judge, who transitions from libero to OH. Also returning are Ireland Butcher (from RSH to libero) and 5-11 MH Hanna Jones. The whole character of our team changes, coach Sam Jones said. The new setting candidates are returning junior Jessica Steinmetz, who ran the JV last year, and Shelby County, Ky. sophomore transfer Kendall Souder, who has plenty of club experience and is making it tough on Jones to pick the starter. Other sophomores moving up are OHs Ella Morris and Abby Brinegar, who has the hands of a former setter. We know whats at stake, Jones said. We also know we have the ability to play at a high level as we have in the past. This year, we feel like we need to prove it a little bit more. We lost a lot and a lot of things are working against them, but I take it as a plane doesnt take off with the wind. When the wind is against you is when you really take off. BLOOMFIELD CARDINALS Theres no shortage of enthusiasm for the Cardinals after making it to the Loogootee Semistate last year. Go-to player for the last three years, Tiffany Lachance is at Vincennes U. now, but a junior dominated group is ready to step up. They are also ready to embrace a new 6-2 lineup as last years starting setter, junior Averi Workman, is joined by sophomore Felicity Graf, who handled herself with aplomb in the postseason run. Both are super hard workers and selfless players, coach Ashlea Dunkerly said. Other regulars back are juniors Emily Bucher, moving from outside to middle; Meaghan Bond, who will work the middle, both front row and back; Aubrey Adams, making the big change from libero to all-arounder to take advantage of her good hands and solid block; Madison Toon (OH) and Kylee Moody (RSH). Seniors Lexi Place and Taylor Graf will fill backrow spots. Sophomore Harlee Sullivan (OH) returns while Allie Downey takes over at libero. They are all so close and all really interchangable players, Dunkerly said. BROWN COUNTY EAGLES Three straight sectional finals appearances, 62 wins ... and seven seniors hungry and talented enough to finally get some hardware to go with it. Back are six senior starters in all-arounders Emily Brady (four-year starter and three-sport standout), and Cheyenne Ellis (50 aces, 221 digs), setter Bri Harper (659 assists), all-area OH Liz Jackson (269 kills, outstanding .340 hitting), DS Harley Rogers and MH Carly Williams along with new libero Alex Kakavecos. Joining them are sophomores Vanessa Hoskins (DS), Elizabeth Huls (DS) and Elly Wertz (MH). Its an athletic group. We are a different looking team than last year, coach third-year coach Julie Owens said. Our expectations are high. EASTERN GREENE T-BIRDS Coming off a 16-13 season after graduation ended the T-Birds four-year reign of terror in Class 2A, this team has familiar faces, but with more experience, passing savvy, ability and height. Returning starters are lone senior Brittnee Morris (OH), three juniors in all-SWIAC standout MB Katie Morguson (209 kills), setter Amanda Butler (655 assists) and OH Kelsey Fleener. Also back is sophomore RSH Sally Spice. Added to the mix are some freshmen, including 5-11 Timber Falin on the front row, Lilly Prince and 5-8 Jordan Kiest. Amanda and Katie got to work together a lot playing club ball so they are more comfortable with each other, coach Gina Ingram said. Katies gotten a lot stronger, so I look for a lot from her. If we can get Timber to grow into her role, by the end of the year, we could be playing some pretty good volleyball. LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN A core group of three juniors will lead a young program that is mostly freshmen. Back this year from 12-5 squad are juniors Ariel Cosens (MH), Grace Holdeman (S/OH) and Hannah Whitney (OH), along with lone senior Emily Archer (MB). Two frosh will help right away: Shoshi Johnson, splitting duties at setter, possibility in a 6-2 lineup, and Anna Dale will play libero. Also back after a year off is junior Myra Engel (OH). They have shown great leadership so far, coach Beth May said. This has been a different team, but Im excited about what they can do. I expect us to be inconsistent because were young, but they show great hustle and great communicators. Plus, they seem to be having a lot more fun than in the past. LINTON MINERS The Miners are in good position not only to defend their SWIAC title but also snap a six-year sectional drought as well. We had great open gym attendance and we have girls who like to weightlift and encouraged the others to lift, said sixth-year coach Jill Fougerousse (103-63), whose program swelled to 22 players this year, her largest group ever. Four letterwinners are back from a 22-11 season, led by second team all-area senior MH Macy Fidler and junior S Libbi Fougerousse. Fidler set school records for kills (408) and blocks (80) in a season. Shes 91 kills short of 1,000 for her career, a leader by example and big time leaper. Fougerousse set school records for assists in a match and season (950) and aces in a match. She brings a great sports IQ and may add a jump-serve to her arsenal this year. Others moving into bigger roles include junior DS Carlie Williams, junior RSH Emma Brewer, senior DS Amanda Henico and hard-to-rattle sophomore OH Tayler Moore. Also watch for sophomore OH Kaitlyn Clothiers long arms and hard swing and talented freshmen 5-8 MH Ryleigh Fidler and scrappy DS Brantli Lannan, who both played on 18-U teams this summer, to earn plenty of floor time. Union transfer junior Sydney Smith (DS) and versatile sophomore Jaelyn Walker also look to contribute. OWEN VALLEY PATRIOTS There will be a new look this year, not only with a lineup turned over by graduation, but in attitude as well. Fourth-year head coach Kimberly Hale wants this team to be the one thats off its heels and on its toes more often. And the girls have shown Hale they can shake off a mistake, move on and remain aggressive. Were trying to get away from defense, defense, Hale said. We want to try to be the one who sets the pace and with this group, we can do that. Its such a versatile group. They get along great and you cant coach that. That said, OV went 17-12 last year, and will be rebuilding. Back from the varsity are seniors Morgan Ranard (OH) and Courtney Drescher (M), junior Brooke Schafer (RSH) and athletic sophomore OH Jayden Henson (290 digs), this years team leaders. Stepping into expanded varsity roles are two seniors, setter Beth Mauder and utility player Kristen Alexander, juniors Jennifer Morgan (D), McKenna Richardson (RSH) and Ashley Rogers (M) as well as freshman all-arounder Natalie Ray. WHITE RIVER VALLEY WOLVERINES Its a second go-around with coach Shawn Brown, who led the Wolverines in 2010-11. With Allison Wininger (277 kills, 77 aces) not returning, theres just one senior in RSH Alysa Woodall, morale officer and one of three team captains. Backing her up is an experienced, solid junior group: OH Lexi Graves (169 kills), MH Shannon Pittman (58 aces) and her tough jump serve, MB McKenzie Campbell, libero Rebecca Reynolds and setter Brooklyn Stoner (508 assists). Stoner will share duties in a 6-2 system with sophomore OH Abby Denham (110 assists). Another soph with a tough serve, Rylee Ellett, steps in on the right side. I really like this team, Brown said. We had a lot of girls show up for open gyms this summer. Theyve worked really hard and they are a fun bunch of girls. AREA SCHEDULES BLOOMINGTON NORTH Aug. 21: at Brownstown Central, 7 p.m. Aug. 23: at Columbus East 3-Way, 10 a.m. Aug. 26: Terre Haute South, 7 p.m. Aug. 28: at Seymour, 7 p.m. Aug. 30: at Mooresville, 11:30 a.m. Sept. 2: Columbus North, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: at Whiteland, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: at Terre Haute North, 7 p.m. Sept. 13: at Lafayette Harrison Invite, 9 a.m. Sept. 16: South, 7 p.m. Sept. 20: at Lafayette Jeff Tournament, 9 a.m. Sept. 25: at Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Sept. 27: at Martinsville Artesian Classic, 9 a.m. Sept. 30: Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: Edgewood, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Southport, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: Center Grove, 7 p.m. Oct. 11: at Conference Indiana Tournament at Columbus North, 10 a.m. Oct. 16: at Clay City, 7 p.m. Oct. 18: Bedford NL, 11 a.m. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH Aug. 19: at Edgewood, 7 p.m. Aug. 21: at Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Aug. 23: at Kokomo Tournament, 9 a.m. Aug. 26: Terre Haute North, 7 p.m. Aug. 28: Brown County, 7 p.m. Aug. 30: at Brownstown Central Invitational, 9 a.m. Sept. 2: Franklin Central, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: at Southport, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: at Terre Haute South, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: at Bloomfield, 7 p.m. Sept. 16: at North, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: at Bedford NL, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: Center Grove, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27: at Greenfield-Central Tournament, 9 a.m. Sept. 30: at Columbus East, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: at Martinsville, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: Columbus North, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: Seymour, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11: at Conference Indiana Tournament at Columbus North, 10 a.m. Oct. 14: Franklin, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: Mooresville, 7 p.m. EDGEWOOD Aug. 19: South, 7 p.m. Aug. 23: w/West Vigo at Brown County, 10 a.m. Aug. 25: at Bedford NL, 7 p.m. Aug. 26: South Vermillion, 7 p.m. Aug. 28: Northview, 7 p.m. Sept. 2: Shakamak, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: Terre Haute North, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: at Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: at Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 13: at Bedford NL Invitational, 10 a.m. Sept. 15: Greencastle, 7 p.m. Sept. 16: at Cascade, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23: Greenwood Christian, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: Bloomfield, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: at North, 7 p.m. Oct. 4: Edgewood 6-Way Invitational, 9 a.m. Oct. 7: Linton, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: at Sullivan, 7 p.m. Oct. 11: at Barr-Reeve Invitational, 9 a.m. Oct. 14: at Mitchell, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: at Terre Haute South, 7 p.m. BLOOMFIELD Aug. 18: at Terre Haute South, 7 p.m. Aug. 19: at Shakamak, 7 p.m. Aug. 21:North Daviess, 7 p.m. Aug. 22: Barr-Reeve, 7 p.m. Aug. 26: Bedford NL, 7 p.m. Aug. 30: w/West Vigo at Clay City, 10 a.m. Sept. 3: at North Central, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: at Sullivan, 7 p.m. Sept. 8: Cloverdale, 7 p.m. Sept. 10: at Washington, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: South, 7 p.m. Sept. 15: Washington Catholic, 6 p.m. Sept. 16: White River Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: Clay City, 6 p.m. Sept. 23: at Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Sept. 24: Vincennes Lincoln, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: at Edgewood, 7 p.m. Sept. 29: South Knox, 7 p.m. Sept. 30: at North Knox, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: at Loogootee, 7 p.m. Oct. 6: at Linton, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Lighthouse, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: Brown County, 7 p.m. Oct. 13: Springs Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 15: at Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: Shoals, 7 p.m. BROWN COUNTY Aug. 20: at Triton Central, 7 p.m. Aug. 21: Bedford NL, 7 p.m. Aug. 23: Edgewood, West Vigo, 10 a.m. Aug. 28: at South, 7 p.m. Aug. 30: Brown County Invitational, 9 a.m. Sept. 2: Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: South Decatur, 7 p.m. Sept. 6: Greensburg, 11 a.m. Sept. 11: at Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Sept. 13: at Sullivan, noon Sept. 16: Hauser, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: at Edinburgh, 7 p.m. Sept. 20: Linton, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: at Greenwood, 6 p.m. Sept. 27: at Northview, 11 a.m. Oct. 2: at Southwestern, 7 p.m. Oct. 4: South Verrmillion, 11 a.m. Oct. 7: Waldron, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: at Bloomfield, 7 p.m. Oct. 14: Indian Creek, 7 p.m. EASTERN GREENE Aug. 18: Springs Valley, 7 p.m. Aug. 21: South, 7 p.m. Aug. 23: Eastern Greene Round Robin, 10 a.m. Aug. 26: at White River Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 2: Orleans, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: Edgewood, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: Brown County, 7 p.m. Sept. 13: at Loogootee Invitational, 9 a.m. Sept. 16: at Mitchell, 7 p.m. Sept. 17: Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: at Linton, 7 p.m. Sept. 20: Eastern Greene Tournament, 9 a.m. Sept. 22: at Wood Memorial, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: Bloomfield, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: North, 7 p.m. Sept. 29: Bedford NL, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: at North Daviess, 7 p.m. Oct. 6: at Shoals, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Clay City, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: at North Central, 7 p.m. Oct. 13: at Shakamak, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: at Monrovia, 7 p.m. LIGHTHOUSE Aug. 16: at Martinsville Tabernacle Invitational Aug. 19: Cornerstone, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21: Columbus Christian, 6 p.m. Aug. 23: Horizon Christian, 11:30 a.m. Aug. 26: Martinsville Tabernacle, 5 p.m. Aug. 28: Fortune Academy, 5 p.m. Sept. 2: at Medora, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5: at Madison Christian, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12-13: at Cross Pointe Invitational Sept. 16: at Columbus Christian, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: at White River Valley, 5 p.m. Sept. 22: at Suburban Christian, 7 p.m. Sept. 26: Indianapolis Lighthouse, 5 p.m. Sept. 30: at Baptist Academy, 6 p.m. Oct. 3: Horizon Christian, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6: at Providence, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 7: Bloomfield, 6 p.m. Oct. 10: Madison Christian, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13: Cristel House South, 5 p.m. Oct. 14: at Columbus Crush, 6 p.m. LINTON Aug. 18: Monrovia, 7 p.m. Aug. 20: at White River Valley, 7 p.m. Aug. 21: Eminence, 7 p.m. Aug. 26: at Loogootee, 7 p.m. Aug. 28: Washington Catholic, 6 p.m. Sept. 2: at Clay City, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: at Northview, 7 p.m. Sept. 6: at Barr-Reeve Invitational 9 a.m. Sept. 9: at Washington, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: South Knox, 7 p.m. Sept. 13: at Princeton, noon Sept. 15: Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Sept. 20: at Brown County, 7 p.m. Sept. 22: North Central, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: at North Knox, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: at North Daviess, 7 p.m. Sept. 27: at Speedway Invitational, 9 a.m. Sept. 30: Sullivan, 7 p.m. Oct. 1: at West Vigo, 7 p.m. Oct. 2: at Shakamak, 7 p.m. Oct. 6: Bloomfield, 7 p.m. Oct. 7: at Edgewood, 7 p.m. Oct. 13: at Vincennes Lincoln, 7 p.m. Oct. 14: Terre Haute South, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: at Cloverdale, 7 p.m. OWEN VALLEY Aug. 18: at Cascade, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20: Terre Haute South, 7 p.m. Aug. 26: Danville, 7 p.m. Aug. 30: at Brown County Invitational, 9 a.m. Sept. 2: at Brown County, 7 p.m. Sept. 3: West Vigo, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: at Clay City, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: at Cloverdale, 7 p.m. Sept. 10: at South Putnam, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: Edgewood, 7 p.m. Sept. 15: at Linton, 7 p.m. Sept. 17: at Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Sept. 18: at South, 7 p.m. Sept. 22: Sullivan, 7 p.m. Sept. 30: at North, 7 p.m. Oct. 1: Monrovia, 7 p.m. Oct. 6: White River Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: at Northview, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: at South Vermillion, 7 p.m. Oct. 11: at North Daviess Invitational, 9 a.m. Oct. 13: Greencastle, 7 p.m. Oct. 15: Bloomfield, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: Shakamak, 7:30 p.m. WHITE RIVER VALLEY Aug. 19: Sullivan, 7 p.m. Aug. 20: Linton, 7 p.m. Aug. 26: Eastern Greene, 7 p.m. Aug. 28: Shoals, 7 p.m. Aug. 30: at Mitchell Invitational, 9 a.m. Sept. 2: at Wood Memorial, 7 p.m. Sept. 4: at Shakamak, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: at North Knox, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: West Vigo, 7 p.m. Sept. 13: at Loogootee Invitational, 9 a.m. Sept. 16: at Bloomfield, 7 p.m. Sept. 23: Eminence, 7 p.m. Sept. 24: Vincennes Rivet, 7 p.m. Sept. 25: at Vincennes Lincoln, 7 p.m. Sept. 30: Washington Catholic, 6 p.m. Oct. 6: at Owen Valley, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: at North Central, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: at North Daviess, 7 p.m. Oct. 11: at Paoli Invitational, 9 a.m. Oct. 14: Clay City, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: at Bedford NL, 7 p.m.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 13:13:21 +0000
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