The Duneland Athletic Conference will be crowded at the top as Chesterton, Lake Central, Valparaiso and LaPorte try to challenge defending champion Crown Point.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Crown Point (28-7): A roster full of veterans could make the Bulldogs the top dogs in the Duneland Athletic Conference again. Senior outside hitter Elle Schara, a Purdue recruit, was an All-American last season and will lead the offense. The defense is led by 6-foot-4 junior middle blocker Ivy Henderson, who had 58 blocks, and senior libero Bella Del Real, who had 501 digs.
2. Chesterton (25-10): The Trojans will be led by a trio of talented returners. Senior Tenley Davis (485 kills) and junior Luca Bombacino (325 kills) are two of the top outside hitters in the area, while senior setter Abigail Parrish (448 assists) will be responsible for directing passes their way. Junior Madison Gilliam will provide additional offense in the middle.
3. Lake Central (19-12): The Indians will be led by a familiar duo of outside hitters, junior Kailey Skurka (296 kills) and senior Alexa Iwema (265 kills), an Indiana softball recruit. Senior libero Brooklyn Barth (451 digs) anchors the defense.
4. Valparaiso (14-17): The Vikings are a more experienced group this season, led by senior outside hitter Avery Mullin (237 kills, 53 aces) and sophomore setter Nicole Bontrager (238 assists). Sophomore middle hitter Layla Yates also returns after taking advantage of a midseason promotion to lead the team with 53 blocks.
5. LaPorte (18-14): First-year coach Kevin Labaj arrives from Chesterton with excitement for an incoming freshman class that includes middle hitter Lauren Kirk and setter Evelyn Shirk. Veteran players leading the way include junior middle hitter Madison Copeland (144 kills), junior outside hitter Kaitlin Wilson (162 kills), senior setter Lilly Buckley (376 assists) and senior middle blocker Tessa Koepke (58 blocks).
6. Kankakee Valley (20-12): The Kougars will be led by the sibling duo of senior setter/outside hitter Gabrielle Diener (646 assists, 103 aces) and sophomore libero/outside hitter Avery Diener (246 digs, 149 kills). Sophomore Addison Koselke (45 blocks) will control the middle, while senior hitter Aubrey Stowers will provide additional offense on the outside.
7. Andrean (10-20): Three seniors top the list of returning players for the 59ers: outside hitter Dani Poskin, middle blocker Lizzie Cusick and middle hitter Kaylie Bradley. Coach Grant Bell is also excited about the emergence of some talented younger players, including sophomore middle hitter Maya Mastalski and sophomore outside hitter Miah Galambos.
8. Hanover Central (14-19): Multiple statistical leaders return for the Wildcats, including junior outside hitter Nora Edgerton (279 kills) and senior setter Gabi Esparza (597 assists, 125 aces). Underclassmen to watch include sophomore libero Liliana Chorba, sophomore outside hitter Natalie Kitakis and freshmen outside hitters Isabella Gonzalez and Dallas Bowen.
9. Munster (16-16): New coach Michelle Masny, a veteran of the club scene, inherits a much different roster than the one that won the Northwest Crossroads Conference last season. Senior outside hitter Arroya Mongerie and junior outside hitter Ally Compton have the most varsity experience. Players like junior libero Leah Selin, sophomore middle blocker Cadence Patterson and sophomore outside hitter Rachel Keefner will be learning on the job.
10. Illiana Christian (25-9): The Vikings lost six players to graduation, so senior setter Isabella Borrero (494 assists, 69 aces) will be relied on heavily. Senior libero Ava Bercot and senior outside hitter Dorothy Leep also will be key players for Illiana Christian, which should be a top contender in the Greater South Shore Conference again.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Luca Bombacino, Chesterton, junior, outside hitter
- Nicole Bontrager, Valparaiso, sophomore, setter
- Isabella Borrero, Illiana Christian, senior, setter
- Lilly Buckley, LaPorte, senior, setter
- Ally Compton, Munster, junior, outside hitter
- Lizzie Cusick, Andrean, senior, middle blocker
- Tenley Davis, Chesterton, senior, outside hitter
- Bella Del Real, Crown Point, senior, libero
- Avery Diener, Kankakee Valley, sophomore, libero/outside hitter
- Gabrielle Diener, Kankakee Valley, senior, setter/outside hitter
- Nora Edgerton, Hanover Central, junior, outside hitter
- Gabi Esparza, Hanover Central, senior, setter
- Brooklyn Gluth, Boone Grove, sophomore, outside hitter
- Ivy Henderson, Crown Point, junior, middle blocker
- Alexa Iwema, Lake Central, senior, outside hitter
- Tessa Koepke, LaPorte, senior, middle blocker
- Lucy McCollum, Merrillville, senior, setter
- Avery Mullin, Valparaiso, senior, outside hitter
- Tami Olusola, Bishop Noll, senior, outside hitter
- Abigail Parrish, Chesterton, senior, setter
- Dani Poskin, Andrean, senior, outside hitter
- Sierra Ricke, Morgan Township, junior, setter
- Elle Schara, Crown Point, senior, outside hitter
- Izabela Schumacher, Wheeler, junior, outside hitter
- Kailey Skurka, Lake Central, junior, outside hitter
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Dave Melton is a freelance reporter.