Preseason 1A Top Five | Prep Dig (2024)

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We’re just under two weeks from opening day here in Indiana, so why not complete the four-class cycle of previews with a top five! Here are my top five, including a few who could legitimately compete for a state title in November.

1) Lafayette Central Catholic

A recent move to 1A, the Knights are the favorite to win it all for multiple reasons. Their history, for one, always has them in the 20+ win category since I can remember. Secondly, the offense that they have returning, Carley Barrett Carley Barrett 5'7" | OH Lafayette Central Catholic | 2025 State IN and Lauran Johnson, will bring over six kills per set and see the bulk of the sets go their way. Third, there just aren’t enough 1A teams to compete with the firepower and overall volleyball skills in the northern half of the state to keep up with LCC. I’m aiming for the first weekend in November to feature the Knights and…..

2) Trinity Lutheran

….the Cougars. It’s one thing to bring back a ton of offense from one season to the next. Such things happen all the time for those year-in, year-out programs that are always in the discussion. But athletes who’ve already committed to schools? Laura Roeder Laura Roeder 5'5" | DS/L Trinity Lutheran | 2025 State IN (IU Indianapolis) is an anchor on defense and serve receive for TL. Plus, big and physical attacker Carson Bowling Carson Bowling 6'0" | MB Trinity Lutheran | 2025 State IN (IU Southeast) has no equal in 1A. I’ll get a first-hand look at the Cougars when they visit 4A power Center Grove in a couple of weeks, so expect more to come from these young ladies.

3) Faith Christian

The Eagles got the raw end of the deal when LCC dropped to 1A this year. Unfortunately for them, they’re in the same sectional, and I bet the girls even know each other from club ball as well. Nearly everyone comes back from their amazing season last fall, including libero Caya Stillings Caya Stillings "5'4""" | DS/L Faith Christian | 2026 State IN and setter Olivia Barber Olivia Barber 5'8" | S Faith Christian | 2026 State IN . Having the first two contacts returning, with experience and skill, will be key for the Eagles this fall.

4) Greenwood Christian

This tiny school of barely over 200 in grades 9-12 have placed themselves firmly on the athletics map in multiple sports, including volleyball, in the last few years. Winning their first regional ever last fall was huge, and the semi state taught them that the Cougars aren’t that far off from the top of the volleyball mountain. I like what attackers Faith Kresge Faith Kresge 5'8" | OH Greenwood Christian Academy | 2025 State IN and Addisyn Yoder Addisyn Yoder 5'11" | MB Greenwood Christian | 2025 State IN bring to the table, along with their ball control and overall volleyball acuity. Replacing Tec*mseh with Trinity Lutheran in the regional or semi state might be the only major change within their schedule, and a possible appearance in Worthen would be an amazing story for this young, up-and-coming squad.

5) Vincennes Rivet

Speaking of small schools, Rivet has just under 100 in grades 9-12, but find themselves in the conversation in the top five in 1A for one BIG reason, Mary Herman Mary Herman 6'1" | MB Vincennes Rivet | 2025 State IN (Bellarmine). Big and physical, Mary can take over matches against smaller teams and can out-muscle the bigger programs. Avoiding Springs Valley in their sectional is huge, and now makes it winnable for the Patriots. I expect Mary to be a big part of everything that makes the Patriots successful—good ball control, accurate and timely setting, and an innate ability to terminate on command.