The 2017 volleyball season was a year of breaking droughts for a couple of Bartholomew County programs.
Hauser made it to the state finals for the first time in school history before falling to Lafayette Central Catholic in the Class A title game. Columbus North, meanwhile, beat Columbus East for the first time since 2005 and only the third time ever.
Here is a look at those and other area teams going into the season:
Hauser
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The Jets won Mid-Hoosier Conference, sectional, regional and semistate titles, but extending their run of eight consecutive sectional crowns may be a challenge.
Hauser lost its top four players to graduation from last year’s 35-5 team that went 6-0 in the MHC, including The Republic Volleyball Player of the Year Sydney Schoen. The top returner, senior outside hitter Taylor Henderson, had hip surgery, and her availability this season is uncertain.
“It will be a little bit of a rebuilding year,” Hauser coach Jeff Case said. “It’s going to be the biggest challenge (in the sectional) we’ve had since we came back to 1A. Southwestern (Shelby) is going to be pretty good, and Oldenburg is going to be strong, and Rising Sun could be pretty good. It’s going to be an interesting year.”
Four players who figured prominently in the Jets’ run last season are back. Sophomore Hannah Johnson returns at middle hitter, and junior Melanie Taylor returns at libero. Juniors Kylie Lock and Shelby Fugate are moving from defensive specialists to outside hitters.
Sophomore Aunika Wasil will take over at setter and will be backed up by freshman Abby Branum. Also looking to fill roles are junior Olivia Wright in the middle, junior Mary Branum and freshman Andie Clark at defensive specialist, sophomore Marnie Schwarzkopf on right side and sophomore Sophia Mussilami at outside hitter
“We have some good kids,” Case said. “They’re giving me a lot more confidence than what I had going into the summer. They seem to have good team chemistry. It’s a fun group to coach.”
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs have high hopes after making it to the sectional finals last season and returning their top four players from a team that went 15-16, including 4-3 in Conference Indiana.
“I have very high expectations for this team,” North coach Caitie Greiner said. “We’re really strong, and the girls have really improved. I expect us to just keep pushing off the momentum from last year and continuing on.”
Four senior strarters return in outside hitter Agustina Fainguersh, libero Maddy Sebahar, setter Lily Meyercord and middle hitter Lauryn James. Junior middle and right side hitter Gabby Genth, junior outside hitter Emma Tynan and junior defensive specialist Carley Finke also were regular rotation players.
Junior defensive specialist Jalynn Reardon, junior setter Kate Whaley, junior outside hitter Lauren Opalka, senior setter Sophie McKinney and senior Andrea Corbeels in middle, right side or outside will look to crack the rotation, along with sophomore Maddy Roop on the right side freshman Sarah Bennett in the middle and freshman Reagan Kane at setter or the right side.
“We’ve been going hard all summer,” Greiner said. “The girls have been working hard.”
Columbus East
The Olympians had a down year last season, going 10-23 against a brutal schedule. They went 5-2 in the Hoosier Hills Conference, but saw their run of five consecutive sectional titles come to an end.
“It was definitely a year where we learned a lot from what took place,” East coach Stacie Pagnard said. “It’s been a very positive start with the kids that we have coming in and our upperclassmen. It’s been a refreshing start, but I have to give all the credit to my upperclassmen for setting that bar high.”
Seven players who played regularly last season return, led by junior outside hitters Allison Mack and Rilee Jessee and senior middle C.J. Clauson. Sophomore Regann Jessee also returns in the middle, and seniors Ashlynn Bergman and Keeleigh Kikendall are battling for the libero spot after being defensive specialists last season.
Junior Samantha Hutcheson saw action on the right side and in the middle. Junior Madyson Foster steps in at setter, and freshmen Cadence Gilley also will set if Pagnard opts for a 6-2 offense.
Freshman Reece Whitehead will play on the outside. Freshman Stella Kleffman on the outside and junior Kendall Schaefer and freshman Katy Jordan on the right side or setter also could see some varsity action.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of commitment from our girls as far as club volleyball,” Pagnard said. “They’ve been committed to our weight room, so they’ve came in hitting the ground running.”
Columbus Christian
The Crusaders will play in a conference this season. Columbus Christian has joined Dugger Union, Cannelton, Evansville Christian, Christian Academy of Madison and Medora to form the Southern Roads Conference.
Cannelton and Medora are two of the six IHSAA teams the Crusaders will play this season.
“I’m excited to play some more IHSAA teams,” Columbus Christian coach Sarah Stair said. “I think it will really challenge the girls a lot more. In the past, we’ve had some really good records, but I’m more concerned about developing the players.”
Four starters return from last year’s 19-10-1 team in senior Michaela Schundelmier outside, junior Lauren Hunnicutt and sophomore Mayah Schundemlier in the middle and sophomore Hannah Stair, who moves from libero to setter. Sophomore Madison Henderson, who played varsity as a middle schooler, is back at outside hitter after missing last season with a torn ACL.
Eighth-grader Kayla Jones will play libero and right-side hitter. Junior Ellie Ridder also will play on the right side.
“The core of the team has played together for a few years now,” Sarah Stair said. “I think we have a lot of talent.”
Brown County
Jessica Robertson, a former Brown County player and JV and varsity assistant coach, takes over as the Eagles head coach. She has been coaching at junior high and running the elementary program for the past several years.
Robertson inherits a team that went 17-9, including 4-2 in the Western Indiana Conference.
“A lot of the games they felt like they weren’t conditioned,” Robertson said.
Senior Maggie Redmond and junior Abigail Hollander return at setter. Senior Baelyn Koester at libero and seniors Mekenzie Dunnuck and Shea Keller in the middle also are back.
Senior Evie Crimmins moves from outside to the right side. Juniors Chloe Lee, who played some varsity last season, and Marley Nichols will play on the outside, and sophomore Macee Perry will be on the right side.
“They know how to play ball, but their skill set is not very disciplined,” Robertson said. “It’s like a higher barnyard volleyball. In tryouts, we just basically focused on the fundamentals of serve-receive. We have to be disciplined in our pass and our set to be able to do something with it.”
Jennings County
The Panthers have a new motto — “Work hard, play hard,” which they took from the Ball State team camp.
Jennings will be looking to improve on a 5-26 record, including 0-6 in the HHC.
“A lot of teams might be really good at hitting or good at setting, but the ones that play the hardest are the ones that are usually going to win,” Jennings coach Blakli Nading said. “This year, we’re going to be like a sneak attack on a lot of schools because we’ve really worked hard.”
The Panthers run a 6-2 offense, with senior Karlee Madinger and sophomore Liz Ertel returning at setter. Ertel also will play outside, while junior Abi Vogel is back in the middle and senior Marley Stearns returns on the right side and also will play in the middle this season.
Senior Mary Leahigh moves from the middle to outside, and junior Hannah Bertram returns at libero. Sophomore Karma Warren takes over at defensive specialist, junior Caitlin Hurley steps in on the right side and sophomores Shelby Wilson and Grace Ramey could see action on the outside or right side.
“I just think a lot of schools underestimate Jennings County,” Nading said. “They’re really put in a lot of hard work, and I think this year, it’s going to show up through their game play.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers have a small team with only seven players to begin the season.
But as coach Tina Bottorff points out, she has had teams of seven players win a sectional title.
“They all have a role, and I think they’ve really bonded in that concept,” Bottorff said. “There’s positives, and there’s negative. We’ve had some of our most successful years when we’ve had seven girls or nine girls.”
Edinburgh went 9-23 last season, including 4-2 in the MHC. Bottorff may run a 6-2 offense with juniors Emily Chappelow and Paige Burton at setter and middle hitter.
Sophomore libero Gracie Long and sophomore outside hitter Kalyee Swallows played some varsity last season. Sophomore Carly Cowan will play on the outside, and freshmen Chloe Clark and Angel Carman will play on the right side.
“We have to be a strong defensive team, so we’ve been focusing on improving defensively every practice to improve that,” Bottorff said.
South Decatur
The Cougars will look to improve on an 8-24 season, including 1-5 record in the MHC.
Seniors Madison Owens and Sam Goodfellow return in the middle, and senior Karah Biddinger is back at libero. Senior Hannah Ballard and junior Whitnye Burton, who played some varsity last season, will be setters in a 6-2 offense.
Senior Bri Collins steps in on the right side. Junior Kalie Fry will be a libero or defensive specialist, and sophomore Lana Bell and freshman Brook Summers will play outside hitter or defensive specialist.
“It’s a good group of girls, and I think it’s going to be a good season,” South Decatur coach Carrie Somers said. “Several of the girls played club ball in the offseason, and they’re jelling well and they’re excited to be back at volleyball.”
Trinity Lutheran
Former Columbus East coach Faith Wilder-Newland takes over the Cougars program, which went 21-14 and won a sectional title last season.
This summer, Trinity won the Edinburgh Summer League and finished fifth of 32 teams in the Muncie Tournament.
“For a 1A school, I felt like we did well,” Wilder-Newland said. “We were competitive with all the teams in there.”
Senior Abby Schult and junior two-time AAU All-American Hannah Sabotin return in the middle, and senior Savannah Harweger is back on the outside. Sophomore Bailey Reynolds, a two-time AAU All-American as hitter and passer, moves to setter.
Sophomore Kennedy Hoffman will play the outside, and sophomore Sydney Jaynes will be on the right side. Freshman Kamzi Gross could contend for the libero spot, while sophomore Elly Carter will be a defensive specialist and freshman Ruthie Bingham could see action on the outside.
“We want to contend for a state title,” Wilder-Newland said. “But you can’t obviously do that until you win one match at a time, one game at a time, one point at a time. We have to execute to the best of our ability. We feel if we do those things that we can contend for a state title.”
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2018 volleyball schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Tuesday;at Bloomington North;7 p.m.
Aug. 18;Jeffersonville;11 a.m.
Aug. 21;at Seymour;6:30 p.m.
Aug. 25;at Yorktown Tournament;9 a.m.
Aug. 28;Jennings County;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 1;at Providence Early Bird Invitational;6 p.m.
Sept. 6;Providence;6 p.m.
Sept. 11;at Bedford North Lawrence;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 13;at New Albany;5:30 p.m.
Sept. 20;Floyd Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 22;at Cathedral Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 25;at Bloomington South;7 p.m.
Sept. 27;at Columbus North;7 p.m.
Sept. 29;North-South Invitational at Hamilton Southeastern;10 a.m.
Oct. 2;at Madison;7 p.m.
Oct. 4;at Roncalli;7 p.m.
Oct. 6;East Invitational;9 a.m.
Columbus North
Tuesday;at Seymour;7 p.m.
Aug. 16;Shelbyville;7 p.m.
Aug. 21;at Perry Meridian;7 p.m.
Aug. 23;Roncalli;7 p.m.
Aug. 28;at Bloomington North;7 p.m.
Aug. 30;Martinsville;7 p.m.
Sept. 1;at North Central Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 4;Southport;7 p.m.
Sept. 11;Franklin Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 13;at Brownstown Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 15;at New Albany Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 22;at Muncie Central Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 25; at Bedford North Lawrence;7 p.m.
Sept. 27;Columbus East;7 p.m.
Oct. 2;at Bloomington South;7 p.m.
Oct. 6;Terre Haute North;11 a.m.
Oct. 6;Terre Haute South;1 p.m.
Columbus Christian
Saturday;Dugger Union;5 p.m.
Aug. 17;South Central;7 p.m.
Aug. 18;South Decatur;10 a.m.
Aug. 20;at Christian Academy of Madison;7:15 p.m.
Aug. 22;at Southside Christian;6 p.m.
Aug. 28;Horizon Christian;7 p.m.
Aug. 31;at Crothersville;6 p.m.
Sept. 4;Martinsville Christian;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 6;at Colonial Christian;6 p.m.
Sept. 10;Medora;6 p.m.
Sept. 11;Bloomington Lighthouse;7 p.m.
Sept. 15;at Pleasantview Christian;TBA
Sept. 15;at Evansville Christian;TBA
Sept. 17;at Southside Christian;7 p.m.
Sept. 20;Christian Academy of Madison;7:15 p.m.
Sept. 22;at Calumet Invitational;TBA
Sept. 24;Suburban Christian;6 p.m.
Sept. 25;at Columbus Hawks;6 p.m.
Sept. 28-29;at Southern Roads Conference tourney;TBA
Oct. 15;Columbus Hawks;6 p.m.
Hauser
Tuesday;at Jennings County;7 p.m.
Aug. 16;Jac-Cen-Del;7 p.m.
Aug. 18;at Henryville Invitational;9 a.m.
Aug. 21;New Palestine;7 p.m.
Aug. 23;Indianapolis Lutheran;7 p.m.
Aug. 25;at Scottsburg Invitational;10 a.m.
Aug. 30;at Madison Shawe;7 p.m.
Sept. 4;Morristown;7 p.m.
Sept. 6;at Shelbyville;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 10;at Seymour;7 p.m.
Sept. 11;at Brown County;7 p.m.
Sept. 13;South Decatur;6 p.m.
Sept. 15;at Lawrenceburg Tournament;9 a.m.
Sept. 18;at Southwestern (Shelby);7 p.m.
Sept. 20;at Trinity Lutheran;7 p.m.
Sept. 21;Waldron;6:30 p.m.
Sept. 25;at North Decatur;7 p.m.
Sept. 26;Greensburg;7 p.m.
Sept. 27;Oldenburg Academy;7 p.m.
Oct. 2;at Edinburgh;6 p.m.
Oct. 4;Greenfield-Central;7 p.m.
Oct. 6;at Edinburgh Tournament;9 a.m.
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