What we're looking for at Bloomington area volleyball sectionals
Volleyball sectionals will get going on Thursday for four of the five area squads with Bloomington South getting a bye into the semifinals on Saturday.
Here's what we're looking for from all five teams in their search for at a title. It's been a while. South was the last one to do it in 2018. Edgewood and Eastern Greene have gone without one since 2012 and North since 2005. New sectional assignments also kick in this year so new challenges await.
Edgewood: Get through Northview
Brownstown Central was the nemesis the past two seasons, and now, with the Braves dropping to Class 2A, Northview is back as the top team standing in Edgewood's way.
The Knights reigned from 2015-18 and come in this time 25-5 and as Western Indiana Conference champs after sweeping all 10 matches. That included a 25-22, 25-6, 25-15 whipping of a Mustang team that had started the year 7-1.
First things first: Northview opens with Owen Valley (3-16) on Thursday while host Edgewood follows against South Vermillion (13-11), which played the 292nd strongest schedule in the state.
The winners of those games will meet at 11:45 on Saturday. If it's Northview and Edgewood, the winner will be a strong favorite in the final.
Edgewood (25-5) is hoping that showing was an aberration, but it will have its hands full with 5-10 sophomore outside hitter Keira Lucas, who has piled up 493 kills this year, leaving her a mere 71 short of 1,000 already. Edgewood has its own big hitter in senior middle Kaiden Harrington (429 kills this season, 1,500-plus for her career), but her outsides are going to have to produce.
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Waiting in the final will be either Brown County (10-13) or Indian Creek (14-12). The Braves won their conference match 3-2. Their top hitter is junior Faith Wiseman, who recently committed to the Indiana University women's basketball program.
Indiana Prep Volleyball Rankings: 10. Northview; 20. Edgewood; 57. Brown County (10-13); 64. Indian Creek (14-12); 74. South Vermillion (13-11); 94. Owen Valley (3-16); 101. West Vigo (0-26).
Overcoming Center Grove
At Bloomington South, Center Grove, (16-15) comes into its new sectional home having won 33 titles, including seven in a row. And despite the record, the Trojans would appear to be, as Columbus East, East Central and Martinsville have been the past decade, the hill Bloomington South and North must get over to move on.
Center Grove has played the 15th toughest schedule in the state, South the 31st and North the 67th, so all of them are well tested. South has played 11 teams ranked in the top 65 overall.
Center Grove will open with Greenwood while North will tangle with Martinsville (7-22) for a third time. The Arties won the regular season meeting 3-1 but the Cougars got some revenge in Martinsville's tourney with a 2-1 win. But North has some injury issues, with Kenli Sullivan out.
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The winner gets a Mooresville team that finished 8-1 over its last nine.
South awaits Center Grove in the semifinals, having lost twice, 2-0 and 3-1, and three of the sets went 25-21, 25-20 and 25-23. Sophie Sabol was CG's main weapon in both meetings but the Trojans had three other hitters reach double-digits in kills in the four-setter and keeping up with that kind of production is the challenge.
Indiana Prep Volleyball Rankings: 32. Center Grove (16-15); 41. Bloomington North (19-12); 44. Greenwood (17-10); 52. Bloomington South (8-16); 62. Mooresville (12-16); 75. Martinsville (7-22)
Northview/Owen Valley winner vs. South Vermillion/Edgewood winner, 11:45 a.m.
Eastern Greene on up swing
Emotions might be one of the toughest challenges Eastern Greene (9-15) faces this week, with the passing of multi-sport junior athlete Jedd Cummings Sunday morning.
More:Death of teammate takes Eastern Greene's focus away from IHSAA draw
The T-Birds will open against Sullivan (20-10), a team they didn't have much luck against early in the season while getting out to a 1-7 start. Eastern has been more competitive since then, taking the first set of a 3-1 loss to Linton and beating South Knox 2-1, reversing a 2-1 tournament loss to North Daviess with a 3-2 SWIAC win and beating 4A Bedford North Lawrence 3-2.
If Eastern can flip its result with the Arrows, a semifinal rematch with South Knox awaits, while Linton, the defending champ, faces either North Daviess or North Knox.
Indiana Prep Volleyball Rankings: 8. Linton (23-5); 29. Sullivan (20-10); 44. South Knox (13-8); 53. North Daviess (12-14); 55. North Knox (11-15); 56. Eastern Greene (14-15).
Lighthouse looking for No. 1
Lighthouse Christian finds itself with its best record in a while and in a new sectional, escaping the loaded field at Loogootee.
Every team at its new sectional in Clay City is struggling to be .500, so things are wide open. The host Eels are the highest rated but have lost to White River Valley and LCA's opening foe, North Central (14-16).
The Lions (12-10) have been more competitive this year but have still struggled with potential sectional foes, and that includes the Thunderbirds, who won their August meeting, 25-7, 25-9, 25-12, so this match can be a marker for how much improvement the program continues to make in search of its first postseason win.
The winner meets the winner between WRV (11-12) and Shakamak (10-15) in the semifinals. The Wolverines beat the Lakers 2-1 and 3-1 and North Central 3-2 this season.
Indiana Prep Volleyball Rankings: 39. Clay City (12-12); 43. White River Valley (11-12); 50. North Central (14-16); 51. Shakamak (10-15); 56. Bloomfield (5-23); 74. Lighthouse Christian (12-10); 77. Dugger Union (5-19).
Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com or 812-331-4381 and follow on Twitter @JimGordillo.
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH SECTIONAL (4A)
Thursday, Oct. 13
Martinsville vs. Bloomington North, 6 p.m.
Greenwood vs. Center Grove, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Mooresville vs. Martinsville/Bloomington North winner, 11:30 a.m.
Bloomington South vs. Greenwood/Center Grove winner, 1 p.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.
EDGEWOOD SECTIONAL (3A)
Tuesday, Oct. 11
Indian Creek d. West Vigo, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21
Thursday, Oct. 13
Northview vs. Owen Valley, 6 p.m.
South Vermillion vs. Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Brown County vs. Indian Creek, 10 a.m.
Northview/Owen Valley winner vs. South Vermillion/Edgewood winner, 11:45 a.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.
EASTERN GREENE SECTIONAL (2A)
Thursday, Oct. 13
North Daviess vs. North Knox, 6 p.m.
Eastern Greene vs. Sullivan, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Linton vs. North Daviess/North Knox winner, 11 a.m.
South Knox vs. Eastern Greene/Sullivan winner, 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.
CLAY CITY SECTIONAL (1A)
Tuesday, Oct. 11
Clay City d. Dugger Union, 25-15, 25-16, 25-19
Thursday, Oct. 13
Shakamak vs. White River Valley, 6 p.m.
Lighthouse Christian vs. North Central, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Bloomfield vs. Clay City, 11 a.m.
Shakamak/WRV winner vs. Lighthouse/North Central winner, 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: IHSAA Volleyball: Sectionals analysis Bloomington, Edgewood, Greene
