A number of IHSAA volleyball household names graduated last season, including Indiana Miss Volleyball Lauren Harden , but outside hitter remains arguably the deepest position group in Central Indiana with a number of Division I prospects and rising youngsters in the pipeline.
Here are some players you should know as preparations begin for the upcoming season.
Logan Bell, Roncalli
A standout on both the indoor and beach circuits, the Oregon commit really came into her own as a junior, racking up 409 kills on a .268 hitting percentage for the Class 4A regional champion Royals. A likely candidate for Miss Volleyball (947 career kills, .243 hit%, 105 aces, 879 digs, 82 blocks), Bell will close out her high school career in a new classification (3A) with a really strong supporting cast on the attack.
INSIDER: Having IHSAA beach volleyball decision overruled 'great for female sports.'
CLUB VOLLEYBALL: Munciana wins fourth straight 18 Open national championship
Raegan Durbin, Western Boone
The Middle Tennessee commit has proven unstoppable on the attack, racking up 1,300 career kills with a .381 hit%. She cleared 30 kills in five matches last season, including 39 in a 3-2 win over Lebanon, and was among the state leaders with 623 terminations. Durbin has a 2A state runner-up finish (freshman year) and a 3A regional championship (sophomore year) on her resume, the only thing missing is a state title.
Caroline Hanchar, Cathedral
A six-rotation hitter, Hanchar made a name for herself with her middle-back defense, garnering praise from her coach for her reaction speed and how she sees plays develop. Statistically, the 5-9 sophomore finished with 173 kills, 38 aces, 248 digs and 287 receptions.
Josie Imes, Zionsville
The Eagles pose a formidable threat to Hamilton Southeastern’s quest for 4A domination and having Imes on the outside is a big reason why. A 5-10 junior Alabama commit, she led the team with 279 kills last season, plus 316 digs, 53 aces and 10 total blocks over 100 sets played. She brings two years of varsity experience to a Zionsville team looking to build upon a 26-7 finish.
Abby Kaminski, Franklin Central
Kaminski, a 5-10 Kennesaw State commit, reset her career-high with 335 kills and 240 digs, and matched her career-best with 21 total blocks (eight solo) — impressive numbers vs. a gauntlet of a schedule. She’ll look to exceed those numbers as a senior, and will be working with a largely reconfigured lineup (primary setter and four of next five leading hitters all graduated).
Ania Kilburn, Avon
The Orioles return both their top attacker and starting setter from last year’s sectional championship team, a solid foundation for an already experienced group. The 5-11 Kilburn was drastically more efficient on the attack (.218) as a sophomore, and finished the season with 319 kills and 42 blocks. She enters her third varsity season with 578 career terminations.
Faith Kresge, Greenwood Christian
Kresge led the Cougars to their first regional championship in program history, tallying 258 kills, 49 aces and 85 digs. She had nine kills in a five-set win over Lutheran in the sectional semifinal and will play out her final season with sister Aiva at setter. Faith has 512 career kills.
Rose Mahin, Franklin
The Grizzly Cubs graduated eight seniors, including four off their attack, but Mahin totaled the second-most kills (308) and hit .246 as a sophomore. She cleared 20 kills twice (24 vs. rival Center Grove) and also picked up 52 aces, 23 total blocks (18 solo) and 251 digs.
Hayden Mandsager, Cathedral
Mandsager more than held her own as a freshman, picking up 216 kills on a .230 hit% with 43 aces, 103 digs and 24 solo blocks (29 total). She’s the team’s top returning attacker and will be playing with a new setter. Look for big things from the 6-1 pin this season.
Lindsey Mangelson, Hamilton Southeastern
Mangelson managed to establish herself on a Royals squad loaded with high-Division I caliber attackers, racking up 358 kills on a .322 hit% with 42 blocks and 125 digs over 99 sets. The Mississippi State-bound senior will move into an even more prominent role as a senior, highlighting the still-potent attack alongside Madison Miles.
Izzy Masten, Tri-West
The Pitt commit is closing in on 1,000 career kills (719) and is coming off a career year entering her third varsity season. Masten, who is also a standout beach player, racked up 454 kills with a .277 hit%, plus 75 aces, 39 total blocks, 45 assists and 386 digs for the regional champs.
Madison Miles, Hamilton Southeastern
Miles recorded 171 kills on a .371 hit% in her first full varsity season. She had a season-high 10 kills in a four-set win over Cathedral, and rounded out her season line with 32 blocks. The 6-1 junior was being heavily recruited before committing to Illinois in June, and will be a key piece to the HSE attack this fall.
Mallory Short, Speedway
Short led the Sparkplugs’ attack as a freshman, totaling 268 kills, plus 42 aces, 19 blocks and 288 digs. With two of the team’s next three kills leaders and setter Laney Jarrett all projected to return, look for Short to build upon her strong debut campaign.
Macie Smith, Hamilton Heights
The 6-0 Smith was listed as a team captain last season as a sophomore and will once again lead the attack in 2024 for the defending sectional champs. She averaged a team-best 4.9 kills per set (463 total) with a .272 hit%. She has 803 terminations, 439 digs, 107 blocks and 81 aces through her first two seasons.
Lydia Stahley, Roncalli
The Royals will have quite the attack this fall with Bell and the 6-1 Stahley. The junior Mizzou commit shined in her first full varsity season, raking in 224 kills on a team-best .293 hitting percentage. She also registered 30 blocks and 43 digs over 95 sets.
Delaney Steers, Brownsburg
The senior recorded 300 kills and 300 digs for a second consecutive season, registering 315 kills and 300 digs over 103 sets last fall. The 5-10 Steers also had 22 aces, 25 total blocks and 35 assists. The Bulldogs graduated their two kills leaders behind Steers, but do return setter Aysa Thomas.
Caroline Ward, Tri-West
It’s time to familiarize yourself with the 6-1 Ward if you haven’t already. Widely regarded among the state’s top 2027 prospects, she marked her first varsity season with 312 kills and 45 total blocks, including a career-high 24 terminations (.439 hit%) vs. Center Grove. The Bruins return Ward, Masten and setter Molly Garver.
Molly Welborn, Scecina
While she’ll be breaking in a new setter, the 5-8 senior has the Crusaders poised for another deep postseason run. Welborn hit .262 and racked up 567 kills — both marked improvements from her sophomore season — 62 aces and 444 digs over 115 sets. She enters her senior year 183 kills shy of 1,000 for her career.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA volleyball: Central Indiana's top outside hitters to watch in 2024
Local Indiana State
Most Popular
Comments / 0