Top 10 Teams
1. Crown Point: A deep junior class leads the Bulldogs, who won a Class 4A regional title last season: setter Rachel Rossman (team-high 645 assists in 2019), middle hitters Hannah Keaveney (91 kills, 61 blocks) and Lilly Stoddard (team-high 119 blocks), and outside hitters Kendall Schara (123 kills, 46 aces) and Kyla Oppenhuis (128 kills). Add senior Erica Packwood (199 kills) on the outside and sophomore Vanessa Del Real at libero for another formidable Bulldogs lineup.
2. Munster: Junior Haley Melby, an Iowa commit who had 312 kills during a 2019 season in which the Mustangs won a 4A sectional title, leads another talented roster, but she’s far from the only veteran. Senior Lourdes Torres is back after posting 284 kills in 2019, giving Munster a strong 1-2 punch at the net. The Mustangs also will benefit from a healthy Sarah Morton. A junior, the Auburn commit was limited by injuries to just six matches in 2019.
3. LaPorte: Jessica (Dhoore) Ramirez, a 2008 LaPorte graduate, takes over as coach following the Slicers’ 2019 4A sectional title and inherits another lineup full of talent, including junior Aniya Kennedy (285 kills) and senior Paige Conklin (545 assists, 176 kills) at setter. Senior libero Olivia Voelker will provide additional depth along with a pair of newcomers: sophomore setter Hannah Joseph and junior Myrriam Dhoore on the outside.
4. Lake Central: Several of Lake Central’s most productive players return, including senior Emma Best, who led the team in digs (341) and kills (301) last season. Classmates Joie Mulligan (team-high 348 assists) and Kate Mahoney (164 kills) also return. Junior Caroline Krueger will provide additional attacking depth after an injury-plagued sophomore season.
5. Chesterton: Like its Duneland Athletic Conference rivals, Chesterton also has several veteran players on its roster. Junior Meghan Gaffigan is high on the list after a team-high 253 kills at outside hitter. Senior Maggie Vrahoretis will be responsible for getting the ball to Gaffigan after racking up 315 assists as a junior. Sophomore Katie Nelson (144 kills) is back on the outside, and junior Emma Ekblaw (98 kills, team-high 60 blocks) returns to the middle.
6. Valparaiso: Sophomore outside hitter Kennedy Wagner (350 kills in 2019) is one of the area’s top talents and was named to Prep Volleyball’s top 150 preseason watch list. Classmate Camryn Kreul (603 assists) returns at setter. The senior duo of Megan Gatz (236 kills) on the outside and Talyn Watkins (151 kills, 84 blocks) in the middle will provide additional net presence for the Vikings.
7. Andrean: A 2A sectional champion last season, Andrean will be led by junior setter Madi Kmetz and junior outside Angelina Majchrowicz, both third-year starters. Coach Grant Bell also raved about the potential of incoming freshman Marin Sanchez, whom Bell described as a “dynamic, six-rotation outside hitter.”
8. Morgan Township: Monica Handley is the new coach for the Cherokees, who are coming off their first-ever semistate appearance. Replacing the depth from a senior-laden team will be Handley’s biggest challenge, but she’ll have a familiar face at the top of the lineup: senior Emily Rastovski, a Purdue commit who led the team with 449 kills and 76 blocks in 2019.
9. Kankakee Valley: The Kougars won 25 matches and a 3A sectional title last fall, led by junior middle Alexis Broyles’ 369 kills and 116 blocks. Senior Taylor Schultz (83 kills, 71 blocks) provides another strong net presence for Kankakee Valley.
10. Michigan City: A pair of seniors on the verge of career milestones lead the Wolves this season. Setter Alexa Sparks is on the verge of 1,000 career assists, and libero Micah Ruhe is closing in on 1,000 digs. Michigan City will count on them for veteran leadership in the always-competitive DAC.
Top 20 Players
(in alphabetical order) Emma Best, Lake Central, senior, outside hitter; Alexis Broyles, Kankakee Valley, junior, middle blocker; Paige Conklin, LaPorte, senior, setter; Meghan Gaffigan, Chesterton, junior, outside hitter; Sophia Johnston, Highland, junior, outside hitter; Aniya Kennedy, LaPorte, junior, outside hitter; Madi Kmetz, Andrean, junior, setter; Caroline Krueger, Lake Central, junior, outside hitter; Abby Maier, Kouts, senior, setter; Angelina Majchrowicz, Andrean, junior, outside hitter; Haley Melby, Munster, junior, outside hitter; Sarah Morton, Munster, junior, libero; Carly Raab, Highland, junior, setter; Emily Rastovski, Morgan Township, senior, outside hitter; Rachel Rossman, Crown Point, junior, setter; Marin Sanchez, Andrean, freshman, outside hitter; Kendall Schara, Crown Point, junior, outside hitter; Alexa Sparks, Michigan City, senior, setter/opposite; Lourdes Torres, Munster, senior, outside hitter; Kennedy Wagner, Valparaiso, sophomore, outside hitter.
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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