Season outlook: How do Bloomington area volleyball teams stack up?

Edgewood got a jump on the area's volleyball season by going 3-0 at the Mooresville Invitational on Saturday.

Here's a look at how the Mustangs, Bloomington North, South, Lighthouse Christian and Eastern Greene lineup for 2022:

Bloomington North

2021 record: 21-8 overall, 3-2 Conference Indiana

The lineup: Just two main figures are back from last year, sophomore libero/outside hitter Avery Freeman, who had a strong off-season with her Circle City club team, and junior middle Mia Robbennolt, an All-Area basketball player last season. The rest have moved up from JV and varsity so it’s a young team with seven sophomores and four juniors and the search for the best combinations is ongoing. Patience, as head coach Disney Bronnenberg said, will be key.

Sophomores Claire Hodson and Morgan Barrow, along with Eastern Greene transfer Kenli Sullivan are working the outsides. Senior Leah Brown and junior Sydney Pitner join Robbennolt in the middle. Needing a new setter with Mallorie Elliott moving to Eastern, sophomore Ava Moore and senior Ella Sokeland are the new candidates. They’re new but a lot will be asked of them in every category. Freeman will lead the back row.

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The outlook: There are likely to be some growing pains with so little varsity experience. This will be a much different Cougar team by the time October arrives. "We knew going into this year that there was going to be an interesting shift as we worked to fill those nine vacant spots,” Bronnenberg said. “This is our first big rebuild and the expectations have been high. What has been most striking is the hunger in the players to rise to the level of play we are demanding of them. They aren’t timid, they aren’t wearing the badges of newbies, wanting us to go easy on their development into these roles.”

The schedule: North jumps out of the gate with Columbus East and Brownstown. Bloomington South awaits on Sept. 13. The last week of the season includes tourneys at Castle and Columbus East and a matchup with Edgewood.

Bloomington South

2021 record: 9-21, 3-2 Conference Indiana

The lineup: A new coaching staff led by Melissa Smith takes over and inherits an experienced squad with seven seniors and six juniors. Starters back include OH Cadence Ast, MB Caitlin Heim, setters Paige Washington and London Mitchell, MH Raine Rolen, and libero Riley Walker along with OH Ellis Clark. Heim moves in from outside. Washington and Mitchell rotated in a 6-2 lineup.

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The outlook: The 21-loss season is a bit deceiving given the rough schedule South faced, but this will be the third coach and third different coaching style in three years for the juniors and seniors. That leaves a few questions as to how this season will play out.

The schedule: Tournaments at Brownstown, Providence and Carmel will be the usual toughest tests of the year for the Panthers. South will open Tuesday vs. Kaiden Harrington and Edgewood. Crosstown rivalry match is Sept. 13. Sectional now includes Center Grove, Greenwood, Martinsville and Mooresville.

Edgewood

2021 record: 21-7, 8-2 WIC

The lineup: The Mustangs bring back half of their starting lineup and several other regulars. The biggie, literally, is 6-2 senior middle Kaiden Harrington, last year’s H-T Player of the Year and the school record holder for most kills in a season. She’s also ready over 1,000 for her career and has a boatload of blocks, aces and digs to go with it as a steady all-arounder.

Also back are junior middle Gracie Farmer and senior libero Alayna Flynn, as well as senior setter Adia May and senior RSH Ella Hayden. Senior Kendal Ash and freshman Olivia Edgeman are listed at outside hitters, with frosh Madison Bland joining juniors Emily Whaley and Lydia Baugh at DS.

The outlook: Coming off their first 20-win season since 2013, the Mustangs are hoping to make another run at a WIC title after coming up just short last year. The next step is to finish off a sectional title. If Edgewood continues to build on the confidence it gained last year, it should happen.

The schedule: Big matches include South (Aug. 16), Northview (Aug. 25), Sullivan (Sept. 13) and North (Sept. 29). New sectional lineup includes Indian Creek with Brownstown dropping to 2A.

Lighthouse Christian

2021 record: 4-17, 3-3 Southern Roads

The lineup: Graduation took away four seniors, hitting the backrow hard, and starting setter Abagail Rousey is not returning as a junior. Returning varsity players include seniors Lizzie Billingsley (RSH), Morgan Thomas (OH) and Charlotte Wiser (OH); junior Victoria Mann (MH), sophomores Claire Beretta (S), Ava Fritz (libero), Emilee Suprlock (MH) and 5-9 Marissa Webb (MH).  Joining them are junior Faith Rasmusen (DS), who is also running cross country, and freshman Jane Holdeman (DS/S).

The outlook: The Lions continue to have good numbers out as they build up the program to compete at the IHSAA level heading into Katie Kaufmann’s third year as head coach. The next step is to raise their level of competitiveness against potential sectional foes and compete for the Southern Roads title.

The schedule: LCA has been switched out of the Loogootee area sectional to the one at Clay City.

Eastern Greene

2021 record: 8-19 overall, 3-4 SWIAC

The lineup: Middle Kenli Sullivan is a big loss, moving to North, but junior OH Mallorie Elliott, who was a setter, also transferred in from the Cougars and has the ability to help the T-Birds all over the floor. Returning are junior setter Keylee Hudson, who missed most of last year due to injury and COVID, seniors Mallory Shelton, Bayden Inman and Kaylyn Criger. Loogootee transfer Mayson Simmons is also a new addition to the lineup, having sat out last year due to injury. Juniors back include Bailee Tieman and Emma Fleener on the back row.

The outlook: Head coach Kelsey Frye heads into her second year and is looking for her program to take another step toward restoring their winning ways. Having Hudson back will be a big deal with her skills and athleticism, toward making things run smoother. This group should have better vocal leadership and energy than it has had in the past.

The schedule: The new sectional lineup includes Linton, North Daviess, North Knox, South Knox and Sullivan.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: How do Bloomington area volleyball teams stack up for Fall 2022?