Latest news with #Marquette-bound
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
IHSAA girls volleyball preview: Central Indiana sleeper teams entering 2025 under the radar
There are a number of Central Indiana high school girls volleyball teams beyond those included in our preseason Fab 15 who are capable of challenging for a sectional title and potentially a deep state tournament run. Let's take a closer look at some of those teams — most of whom will probably appear in those area rankings later this season. The Orioles will be breaking in a new setter under the direction of a new coach next season. But coach Kyla Thomas has ample experience in her lineup, particularly on the attack, which returns kill leaders Avery Walter, Aniah Kilburn and Milyn Kirsh. The defense will likely transition leadership to an underclassman, sophomore Stella Hamood, who logged 306 digs (most among returners) and a team-leading 45 aces over 98 sets last fall. The schedule — which opens with Center Grove, Yorktown, Bellmont and Tri-West — will have this group ready for postseason play. IndyStar preseason Super Team: Get to know Central Indiana's best players Coach Jonni Parker returns a lot of talent in her second season, headlined by juniors London Evans, a Marquette-bound setter/right side, and Lila Bruszewski, a Charleston-bound outside hitter. The defense is also experienced with junior Tennie Anderson and senior Lexi Kedvesh both returning. Filling in the attack beyond Bruszewski will be key. Junior Emily Overbeck led the team in kills last season and there are a number of newcomers eager to make an impact: Freshman Caroline Far (outside) and sophomores Alaina Mclendon (middle), Sydney Clouse (outside) and Addison Kilroy (setter/right side). The Crusaders graduated just one senior and return an all-state honoree in outside hitter Kenzie Mann. That's a terrific foundation for a group that saw record turnout for tryouts (50 girls!) and has experience returning at middle hitter (Raven Russell) and setter (Kadison Oppy). Russell, a 6-3 senior, logged 109 blocks and 117 kills last season. Injuries may hamper the Tigers early on, but their overall depth, defensive prowess and talent on the block (see: 6-1 junior Lana Mays, who had 72 blocks in 2024) has them lurking as a potential party-crasher in Sectional 8. Setter Ava Tester and Ella Dragoo figure to serve as the battery on the attack, which first-year coach Kimberly Baker expects to play at a fast tempo and with more consistency. Look for newcomers Alana Kay — who's projected to start at middle blocker as a freshman — Caitlyn Gutt (opposite/setter) and Katie Brinkruff (DS) to have an impact this year, alongside senior outside Kylie Wilson. Junior outside Laila Love is recovering from a back injury. The graduation of record-setting hitter Abby Kaminski means the Flashes will have a more balanced offense this season, with middles Brenna Storz (Central Michigan commit) and Brooklyn Wake expected to take on more prominent roles. The team's talent on the outside raises expectations, as well, with returning sophomore Ryelle Koomler joined by incoming freshman Delaney Cooper. Tying together the offense: Setter Emily Williams, a rising junior whose ability to block and defend will help compensate for the loss of Kaminski. FC brings depth defensively, as well, with Katie Bailey and Kinley Huotari joined by Roncalli transfer Cicily Boarders. The Wildcats will be very inexperienced, but they have a few strong foundational pieces to build upon. Setter Kyra Joostberns picked up 743 assists (9.5 per set) and 45 aces as a sophomore, while Anna Joostberns and Addie Hammel provide depth behind senior libero Jayda Vanoskey, an IU-Columbus commit. Addie Knox, coach Nick Cox's "utility player," will occupy the outside opposite Amaya Zander, who hit .268 and picked up 133 kills as a freshman. Sophomore middles Micah Shanklin and Malia Norfleet will handle things at the net. The Saints graduated three critical seniors and lost their lone returning senior, Delaney Pass, to an ACL injury. So, yeah, there may be some early growing pains. But given time this has potential to be a dangerous group with outside hitter Lillian Pass and setters Reagan Crabtree and Shaefer Scearce ready to lead the retooled offense, and newcomer Sophia Levine poised to make her varsity debut. Coach Kathy Anderson is also high on the potential of junior outside/middle Faith King, who impressed through the first week of practice. The Marauders will be adapting the pace of their offense as they replace setter Ava Whitmore, but there is ample experience returning for this senior-driven group which returns 10 varsity players. Evansville commit Aubry Dowling anchors what should be a very solid defense, with Emersyn Llewellyn bringing additional depth. Seniors Alivia Morgan in the middle and Sierra Holverson on the outside (and DS), and transfer Da'aliyah Kemp will be key figures on the attack. Freshman Sophie Rahmany will likely step in as setter. Mt. Vernon poses the biggest threat to Yorktown in Sectional 9. Last season marked the Panthers' first sub-.500 finish since 2020. They're looking to get back to 20 wins this season and have the talent to challenge for a sectional title. They'll be strongest on offense with the core trio of Rose Strabala at setter, Maddie Follman on the outside and Maya Loy in the middle bolstered by the arrival of newcomers Sophia Reeves, Lily Orr and Kenleigh Schueller. Coach Wong Boodrasang expects his team to be stronger defensively, but it's unclear who will sport the libero jersey. A match to circle: Oct. 7 at Lawrence North, which will likely determine the MIC champion.
Chicago Tribune
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
With Chloe Birch's new perch on the pitch, Metea Valley can feast. She's ‘hungry' after 2 knee injuries.
Metea Valley's Chloe Birch was drawing a lot of interest from college soccer coaches earlier in her career. That dried up when Birch suffered a torn meniscus in November 2022. Then she tore it again in February 2024. 'The injury fully brought recruitment to a halt for a couple of years,' Birch said. 'It was hard, very mentally draining, very tough. 'But I knew with hard work my time would come and I just had to be patient. Eventually I was going to get my chance.' That chance finally came when Birch, a senior forward who played club soccer during her first two seasons, made her debut for the Mustangs one year later than planned. She was with the team as a junior but could only watch and cheer. 'It was obviously very frustrating,' Birch said. 'I wanted to make an impact, but I knew my place and I knew the only thing I could do was make the best of it. 'I knew cheering them on and motivating them to be the best would just make me better in the end.' Birch, who recently committed to North Dakota State, is already making a veteran team even better. She scored the game-winning goals in Metea Valley's back-to-back victories against Benet and Glenbard West last week. Birch also assisted on senior forward Lily Senese 's game-winning strike in the Mustangs' 2-1 victory over host Wheaton North on Tuesday. 'It's amazing,' Birch said. 'I love the girls. I love the team. I love the competition. I'm so happy to be back.' The Mustangs (3-1) are happy to have Birch in the lineup. She joins Senese, a Northern Michigan recruit, and senior Isabelle Leofanti, a Kent State recruit, to make one of the most potent forward lines in the state. Those three, along with Marquette-bound senior midfielder Olivia Hernandez, are what Hernandez calls 'the fantastic four.' They have been friends since second grade and have played with each other off and on for school and club teams ever since. 'Oh, it's so nice,' Hernandez said. 'We're close off the field, so it's easy to be close on the field.' Birch's presence on the field is a difference-maker for the Mustangs. 'We definitely need a powerful forward, and she gives us that on the wing,' Hernandez said. 'She can play anywhere, but it's really nice to have somebody to cross it because as you can see, she can cross it, and Lily can head it.' That's exactly what happened against Wheaton North. Senese headed home a cross from Birch to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead with 2:07 left in the game. That provided a crucial cushion because the Falcons scored off a corner kick with 43 seconds left. Birch prefers to play on the wing, but Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley knows he can utilize her elsewhere too. 'We think her best position might be center forward,' Whaley said. 'But we try to move people around quite a bit just to see how it works.' Whaley is confident things will continue to work out for Birch. 'She is very motivated,' Whaley said. 'She's a pretty competitive kid and really loves the game and wants to do really well — not prove herself, but kind of show everybody what she's capable of. 'She's just hungry from being hurt. I think sitting out that long was tough. She's anxious to contribute.' Indeed, Birch doesn't mind where she plays on the field as long as she's actually on it. 'I'm just trying to do what I can do, get other players involved, make other players have opportunities,' Birch said. 'Playing on the wing, I try to get crosses off for them to finish and let them have the goal if I need to, and then sometimes be selfish, take it myself, and just play based on what the game is giving us.' Hernandez is intent on giving Birch passes in space. 'I like to find Chloe a lot on through balls,' Hernandez said. 'I can easily find her down the field, and she can get a cross on it. She's good at finding the ball and taking 1v1s.' Birch, an aspiring pediatric nurse, is taking nothing for granted in her only high school season. She's relishing every moment and has high hopes for the Mustangs. 'I think we can go far,' Birch said. 'When we're hot, we're good, and we're going to work together, use our strengths and really pick defenses apart.'
Washington Post
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
With one last stop, Bullis is too much and makes it three straight IAC titles
Adrien Stevens watched the frenzy unfold from the seat of his shorts. After tumbling to the court while fighting for a rebound on the final play of the Interstate Athletic Conference championship game, the Marquette-bound conference player of the year remained seated as Bullis students stormed from the bleachers to meet the Bulldogs at midcourt. When Stevens got to his feet, he avoided the scrum as he walked to the scorers' table to join a developing handshake line.
