Indiana

State finalists & record-setters: Meet Central Indiana’s top sophomore volleyball players

Published

3 months ago

November 18, 2025

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State finalists & record-setters: Meet Central Indiana’s top sophomore volleyball players

Meet Central Indiana’s top performing volleyball players from the Class of 2028

The Class of 2028 was heavily involved in a number of deep volleyball state tournament runs this fall, including a pair of state finalists.

Let’s meet the top Indy-area sophomores from the 2025 IHSAA high school volleyball season.

FIRST TEAM

Blaine Adams, Cathedral, OH-OPP

The 5-9 attacker led the Irish with 276 kills. She reached double-digit kills in a dozen matches (14 in a five-set win over Roncalli) and tacked 110 digs and 25 blocks onto her season line.

Charlee Groninger, Plainfield, S

Groninger established herself among the area’s best at her position, piling up 1,249 assists — quadruple her total from a season ago — across 117 sets for the Class 4A state runner-up Quakers. She added 98 kills, 34 aces, 38 total blocks and 244 digs.

Caitlyn Gutt, Fishers, S

The 5-10 sophomore worked in tandem with senior Ava Tester, registering 416 assists with only 16 errors on 1,205 attempts. She also picked up 146 digs, 36 aces and 17 kills. Gutt reached 20 assists in five-set decisions vs. Hamilton Heights and Center Grove, and had 19 in three other outings.

Ryelle Koomler, Franklin Central, OH

The 5-10 attacker led the sectional runner-up Flashes with 382 kills on .226 hitting. She added 222 digs, 39 aces, 11 blocks and a couple aces to her season line. Koomler’s campaign was highlighted by a pair of 22-kill performances, and she had 19 terminations in a five-set loss to Center Grove in early September.

Sophie Orlando, Brownsburg, OPP

The right-side hitter shined in her first full varsity season. 36 of her 60 total blocks were solo efforts and she hit .253 en route to her 248 kills. Orlando, who rounded out her line with 51 digs, set a career-high with 20 kills on .293 hitting in a five-set loss to Roncalli.

Maggie Sliwa, Hamilton Southeastern, S

Sliwa split time running the Royals’ offense with senior Jasmine Daniels, recording 378 assists and 94 digs in 96 sets. The 6-2 setter clocked double-digit assists in 20 matches, including 25 against both Westfield and Center Grove.

Rosanna Spearing, Roncalli, OH

One of the state champion Royals’ top attackers, Spearing finished the year with 262 kills, plus 43 aces, 255 digs, 20 total blocks and 13 assists. The 5-8 rising standout cleared double-digit kills in 12 matches, including 17 vs. Brownsburg in October.

Audrey Utterback, Plainfield, OH

A prolific attacker, the 5-9 outside cleared 1,000 career kills, totaling 606 (.280 hit%) in her second varsity season. She also served 52 aces, blocked 42 shots, racked up 349 digs (591 career) and setting a career-high with 22 assists.

Amaya Zander, Lawrence North, OH

Zander enjoyed a record-setting fall, recording 449 kills (single-season record) on .222 hitting, leaving her with 582 for her career. She had 37 terminations (.301 hit%) in a five-set loss to Hamilton Heights in August, one of five matches with 20-plus kills. Zander recorded 17 aces, 18 blocks, 89 digs and 10 assists across 107 sets.

SECOND TEAM

Karis Barnes, Lawrence Central, OH

Barnes shined on the Bears’ attack, racking up 327 kills (3.4 per set) on .230 hitting. She also set career-highs in aces (87) and digs (244), and matched her previous high with 12 kills. Barnes set her season-high with 20 kills on .224 hitting against Warren Central, one of her eight outings with 15-plus kills.

Caroline Brown, Lebanon, S

Brown recorded a career-high 893 assists in her second season running the Tigers’ offense, with only 14 errors on 2,174 attempts. That highlighted a well-rounded line by the sophomore setter, who also registered 58 aces, 145 digs, 19 blocks and 72 kills.

Alaina Darlage, Triton Central, L-DS

The sophomore libero was excellent in her first full varsity season, averaging 10.8 digs per match (336 total). She also served 56 aces and 246 points, and logged 92 assists. Darlage has 361 career digs entering her junior year.

Harper Drzakowski, Danville, L

Drzakowski accumulated 419 digs, 30 aces and 69 assists in her first full varsity season. She was charged with just 31 reception errors on 407 attempts, and set her season-high with 37 digs in a five-set loss to Hamilton Heights in early September.

Josie Hunt, Eastern Hancock, OH

The 5-7 pin scored 25 kills against Shenandoah, 23 vs. Greenfield-Central and 21 vs. Lapel. Those outings highlighted a strong sophomore campaign, wherein she racked up 375 kills, 195 digs, 51 aces and 15 blocks for the 25-win Royals.

Maddison Judge, Greenwood, MH

The 6-foot sophomore led the Woodmen with 320 kills on an impressive .384 hitting. She also blocked 81 shots, served 19 aces and dug out 61 shots. Judge set her season-high with 20 kills (.375 hit%) vs. Perry Meridian in late September, then eclipsed that mark with 22 (.553 hit%) in a four-set win over Southport in early October.

Adria Jump, Sheridan, S

The multi-sport athlete registered 599 assists to move past 1,200 for her career. She was also the sectional champions’ second-leading attacker with 126 kills on .261 hitting. Jump also recorded 95 aces, 26 blocks (15 solo) and a career-high 363 digs.

Lainey Mendenhall, Sheridan, OH-MB

Mendenhall set career-highs in kills (404), aces (46), digs (264) and assists (32), and notched 30 total blocks (18 solo). She matched her season-high in the sectional championship match vs. Lapel, accumulating 26 kills on .258 hitting (she also logged 20 digs).

Brooke Neale, Westfield, DS

The 5-6 defensive specialist averaged 8.4 digs per match, totaling 235 over 94 sets. She scored a kill for the consecutive season and exceeded her previous high for aces (44) and service points (202). Neale had 23 digs in a five-set win over HSE in the sectional semifinals.

Cecilia Prather, Danville, S

Prather totaled 820 assists over 95 sets in her first varsity season. She cleared 20 assists in all but five matches, with 40-plus in four. Prather set her season-high with 51 assists in a five-set win vs. Franklin, and rounded out her season line with 60 kills, 39 aces, 34 blocks and 251 digs.

Larkin Prosser, Mooresville, S

The second-year starter maintained her progression in year two, improving both her assists total (530) and efficiency (seven in 1,606 attempts). Prosser, who has 941 career assists, tallied 262 digs, 18 blocks, 75 aces and 87 kills across 85 sets played.

Krosley Riggs, Lapel, OH

Riggs clocked 208 kills and 304 digs in her second varsity season, leaving her with 400 kills and 567 digs for her career. She also added 72 aces (223 points), five blocks and 10 assists. Riggs had 34 digs and eight kills in the sectional championship match vs. Sheridan.

THIRD TEAM

Chloe Canada, Tri-West, OPP

Canada tallied 197 kills on .226 hitting and 36 blocks in her first varsity season (she played two sets as a freshman). She added 234 digs, two aces and seven assists. Canada recorded 21 digs at semistate vs. Jasper, and 11 kills on .333 hitting against Plainfield in September.

Myra Finnity, Greenwood Christian, MB

The 6-1 sophomore recorded 84 blocks, 35 of which were solo efforts. She reached seven blocks against Perry Meridian and Scecina, and logged five in both matches vs. 3A’s New Palestine. Finnity rounded out her line with 99 kills on .227 hitting, eight aces, 44 digs and 10 assists for the regional champions.

Evaana Galbreath, Lawrence Central, S-OPP

Galbreath accumulated 571 assists, 198 digs, 52 aces and 12 blocks over 92 sets. She had four matches with 30-plus assists, including a career-high 40 in a four-set win over Speedway in August.

Stella Hamood, Avon, L-DS

Hamood scored 466 digs across 88 sets, averaging 16.6 per match. She posted 30 aces and seven kills, as well, plus 69 assists – three more than her total from 2024. Hamood reached a season-high 31 digs in a four-set loss to Bellmont.

Allie Kizzee, Monrovia, OPP-DS

Kizzee recorded 71 aces and 167 service points across 101 sets. She had seven aces in a three-set sweep of Beech Grove, and has 84 for her career. Kizzee picked up 221 digs, as well.

Mckenna Muncy, Danville, MB

The second-year middle reset her career-high with 231 kills on .351 hitting. She also racked up 49 blocks, 26 digs and eight assists. Muncy had nine matches with 10-plus kills, led by 17 on .400 hitting vs. Terre Haute North.

Malia Norfleet, Lawrence North, MB

The 5-9 middle averaged over a block per match, totaling 47 (15 solo) over 106 sets played. She also registered 145 kills, four aces, 12 digs and three assists. Norfleet had seven blocks in a three-set loss to two-time defending Class A state champion Trinity Lutheran in August.

Lillian Pass, Lutheran, OH-OPP

Pass built upon a strong freshman campaign, recording 277 kills on .209 hitting, 55 aces, 134 digs and eight assists — all career-highs. She completed her line with 24 blocks, two off her total from a year ago.

Kenleigh Raby, Western Boone, S

Raby ran the Stars’ retooled offense at a high-level, averaging 7.4 assists over 84 sets (620 total). She also notched 192 digs, 22 aces, 26 kills and 14 blocks. Raby tallied 45 assists in a five-set win over Frankfort and 40 in a five-set loss to Cascade.

Olivia Reeves, Greenfield-Central, OH-OPP

Reeves will be the Cougars’ top returning attacker next season. She scored 279 kills, second most on the team, as a sophomore, and rounded out her line with 38 aces, 107 digs, eight blocks and eight assists.

Olivia Schiffli, Hamilton Heights, OH

Schiffli shined alongside Macie Smith on the Huskies’ attack, piling up 279 kills in 95 sets. She also recorded 173 digs, 44 aces, 16 blocks and eight assists for the regional champions, and will be a cornerstone for this program entering next season.

Genevieve Schroeder, Greenwood, OH

Schroeder picked up 149 kills, 43 aces, eight blocks and 129 digs in her first full varsity season. She had four matches with 10-plus terminations, led by 12 in a four-set win over Southport. She also tallied 11 kills on .400 hitting in a three-set loss to New Palestine.

Micah Shanklin, Lawrence North, MB

Shanklin led the Wildcats with her 49 blocks, 14 of which were solo efforts. She set her season-high with six blocks against Warren Central and had four against Trinity Lutheran. Shanklin logged seven kills in three matches, and finished the season with 114 terminations (.303 hitting).

Stella Short, Pendleton Heights, L

The second-year libero averaged 6.5 digs per match and 2.2 per set, with 206 over 95 sets. She was among the team leaders with 61 aces and logged 75 assists. Short had five aces in two matches, and cleared 10 digs on eight occasions.

Tay Walker, Greenfield-Central, OH-OPP

Walker logged 218 terminations, 15 blocks, 13 aces and 118 digs in her first varsity season. She reached double-digit kills in four matches, tallying 15 apiece against Shelbyville (.429 hitting) and Lawrence Central.

Regan Ward, Pike, OH-MB

The 6-foot attacker put together a career year with the Red Devils, notching 229 kills on .251 hitting. She also collected 21 aces, 56 total blocks (19 solo), 98 digs and 14 assists. Ward had 10-plus kills in 10 matches, led by 13 on .500 hitting in a 2-1 loss to Rising Sun. She had a season-high five blocks against Seymour and logged four in three sets vs. Zionsville.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Brynn Baker, Fishers, MB; Izzy Bigelow, Speedway, S; Jordyn Blair, Westfield, MB; Anna Cope, Covenant Christian, DS; Addison Corn, Beech Grove, MB-DS; Emmi Custer, Pendleton Heights; Brooklyn Deppe, Danville, DS-OPP; Rachel Filimoeulie, Lawrence Central, OH-DS; Reagan Futa, Cathedral, DS; Amelia Hartman, Perry Meridian, RS; DeAsia John, Pike, OH-MB; Landry LePage, Lebanon, DS; Alexa Massingill, Western Boone, OPP-OH; Madelynn Matelic, Speedway, MH-fRS; Reese Morrow, Pendleton Heights; Sydney Reed, Pike, OH; Emily Shepherd, Western Boone, OH; Ava Stone, Roncalli, MB; Molly Tucker, Danville, OH

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.

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Highlights: Beech Grove at Whiteland; February 27, 2026

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Highlights: Beech Grove at Whiteland; February 27, 2026

WHITELAND, Ind. (WISH) — “The Zone” featured highlights from eight high school boys basketball games from across central Indiana on Friday.

Watch highlights of Beech Grove at Whiteland above.

Final Score: Whiteland 89 Beech Grove 61

“The Zone” airs each Friday at 11:08 p.m. Click here to watch ‘The Zone’ for basketball highlights on February 27, 2026.

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Is Darryn Peterson Trying to Avoid Indiana?

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Is Darryn Peterson Trying to Avoid Indiana?

The Indiana Pacers are hoping to retain their 2026 first-round pick, which is protected 1-4 and 10-30. If the selection lands between 5 and 9, it conveys to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac–Bennedict Mathurin trade.

At the top of the 2026 NBA Draft class, three names are consistently labeled as generational talents: AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson.

Indiana would welcome any of the three. The bigger question is whether that feeling would be mutual.

On a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons was joined by draft analysts Tate Frazier and J. Kyle Mann. During the discussion, Mann shared an interesting note about Peterson.

“I’ve gotten the impression from talking to people close to Darryn,” Mann said, “that Darryn is more likely to say, I’m interested in being the full on brain of this team. I don’t really want to play with another superstar, I want to be the center of the universe.”
J. Kyle Mann on The Bill Simmons Podcast
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If that perception holds weight, it creates an intriguing dynamic.

The Pacers were one game away from an NBA championship last season and already feature two established stars in Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Indiana is not a franchise searching for a singular identity, it already has one.

To be clear, Mann’s comments reflect conversations and impressions, not a public statement from Peterson himself. Still, the fit is worth examining. Indiana’s backcourt rotation already includes Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell. If Peterson were the pick, the Pacers would find ways to get him on the floor. He is that talented. But Indiana could not offer him an immediate “face of the franchise” role the way a Brooklyn, Sacramento or Washington might.

Mann also offered insight into how Dybantsa may view a situation like Indiana’s.

“AJ, people that know them both have told me that AJ is probably more likely to fit in with an Indiana,” Mann said. “Which is interesting because AJ likes to have the ball. Is he willing to be quick off of the ball with Haliburton? I just think that’s an interesting wrinkle in this.”
J. Kyle Mann on The Bill Simmons Podcast

The contrast is fascinating.

Hearing that Dybantsa would fit in more than Peterson is intriguing. Play style wise, I would lean more towards Peterson’s fitting how Indiana likes to play, especially with how Dybantsa has been utilized at BYU.

Jan 24, 2026; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) looks to pass against BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) during the first half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

If we’re talking locker room fit, I think Dybantsa would embody what a Pacer is all about. Comes from a small market. Wants to win and doesn’t need the big city to do it in. He’s confident but won’t let his ego interfere with the success of the team. Just a levelheaded kid with a desire to be great, and would have one of the best playmaking point guards alongside him to help maximize his talent.

These two are the most polarizing and often mentioned names amongst NBA draft circles when looking at the top two in the class. If the comments made by Mann come to be true, the Pacers would be better off drafting the uber talented 6-9 forward, Dybantsa, than drafting a 6-6 elite shooting guard who would rather be “the guy” than a guy.

You can follow me on X @AlexGoldenNBA and listen to my daily podcast, Setting The Pace, wherever you get your podcasts.

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Mother demands justice after woman killed in wrong-way crash on I-65 in Northwest Indiana

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Mother demands justice after woman killed in wrong-way crash on I-65 in Northwest Indiana

HOBART, Ind. (WLS) — A wrong-way crash left one woman dead and two others seriously injured in Northwest Indiana earlier this week, police said.

The mother of the 20-year-old who was killed spoke exclusively with ABC7 Chicago as she is demanding justice.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Just before 2 a.m. Saturday, the Hobart Fire Department responded to the horrific crash on Interstate 65 involving two vehicles, north of 61st Avenue near Merrillville, Indiana.

Rylee Hanson, 20, was killed in what investigators says was a head-on collision with a wrong-way vehicle in the northbound lanes.

“I had Rylee when I was 20 and she made me who I am,” mother Karen Hanson said. “She made me want to be a better person and she made me strive, to reach goals, so I could set examples for kids… She was half of my life. I don’t know how to be me without her.”

Her family says Rylee was a ray of light who graduated from Kankakee Valley High School in Demotte, Indiana where she earned her EMT certification from Ivy Tech Community College. She was headed to criminology studies at Indiana University.

Her parents are appalled nobody has been charged in the crash.

“We want to see change with how drinking is handled,” Karen Hanson said. “There’s gotta be a better way for how people drink or get served or more punishment for impaired drivers out on the road where they’re not getting so many chances.”

Troopers said they believed that the driver of the car going the wrong way was impaired at the time.

“We are going to make her as proud as she made us,” Karen Hanson said. “Because she did… there are no words to tell you about the pain. It is indescribable.”

The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with footage of the crash, or of the vehicles prior to the crash, has been asked to contact Indiana State Police.

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