We are so back! The 2026 Indiana high school volleyball season begins this weekend and with the new season upon us, it’s time to meet the area’s top players.
Here is this year’s IndyStar preseason ALL-USA Central Indiana Super Team for volleyball.
FIRST TEAM
Carsyn Comer
Westfield, sr., middle blocker
College: Louisville
About Comer: Widely regarded as the state’s top senior, Comer helped lead the Rocks to their first sectional and regional championships since 2011, clocking 244 kills on a career-best .525 hit%, 38 aces (career-high), 65 total blocks (46 solo) and 53 digs. The 6-footer enters her senior year with 732 kills and 236 blocks in three varsity seasons, and is looking to lead Westfield to its first state (and semistate) title in program history.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Softball. I played softball until high school, so I would continue doing that.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“We read ‘Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence in Sports’ for volleyball this year. I thought it was actually pretty good.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I’m a big ‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ person. (HOTD) finale this weekend, so we’ll see.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I went to Don Toliver in Columbus. That was the best concert I’ve ever been to.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“In light of ‘The Odyssey’ coming out, I want to go to Greece.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“I want to swim with whale sharks. They’re the nice ones.”
Is there such a thing as a nice shark?
“Yeah, they eat mostly plankton, not other fish.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“(Senior setter/DS) Kenna Robinson. She already has a few videos that have over a million views.”
Are you active on TikTok?
“With the new NIL stuff I’m trying to, but I’m not very good at it.”
Thoughts on the new NIL rules?
“I love it. I think it’s a great opportunity for athletes to get out there, especially starting early and not having to juggle it with school and athletics when you get to college. I’m still a little confused on the whole thing (at the high school level), but my parents have been helping me. I went to the National Team Development Program last week and they had a whole presentation on it that was really helpful.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“Don’t be afraid to be yourself. I was very timid my freshman year, especially being on varsity. It can be intimidating. But I think just being yourself is the best way you can help your team, honestly.”
How stressful is that first day college coaches are allowed to contact you?
“You can’t listen to what the media or these volleyball websites have to say about you beforehand. You know who you are. The right fit will find you. I was very nervous, but I think my parents were more nervous than I was, because they took my phone that night so I didn’t stay up — but they stayed up past midnight and kept checking my phone. They were nervous, but I had a really good experience.”
Were you able to sleep that night?
“I was. Our June 15 was a Sunday, so I got up and went to church. I didn’t check my phone until after 10 a.m. I was very zen, surprisingly. I thought I would be so nervous, like I have to check, but I wasn’t.”
London Evans
Carmel, sr., setter
College: Marquette
About Evans: The 6-foot Marquette commit maintained her upward trajectory, resetting her career-highs in assists (476), digs (303), solo blocks (13), total blocks (55), kills (221) and hit% (.244). She also served 28 aces and scored 143 service points. Evans, who has 1,123 assists and 365 kills for her career, helped the Greyhounds secure 16 wins, their most since 2022. She will look to cap her career with the program’s first sectional title since 2014.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Basketball. I still think I could be a hooper. I wish I did that.”
Did you play all the way up until high school?
“I stopped in sixth grade. I miss it. I still go in the driveway and play with my brother — and I still beat him in around the world, so I have that going for me.”
(London’s dad, Brian Evans, played at IU, then in the NBA.)
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I just saw the new Spider-Man, which was really good.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
Megan Moroney
What’s your dream vacation?
Turks and Caicos.
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“I don’t even know, maybe to see Coldplay in concert. It doesn’t matter where. I just want to see them.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“Maybe (junior libero/DS) Taylor Kamp.”
Do you agree with Lila that it could be you?
“Maybe for like a volleyball TikTok.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“It’s sad we’re getting asked this. Probably just be yourself on the court. Don’t be scared. Now that we’re seniors, don’t be scared of the seniors.”
Were you intimidated coming in even though you had an older sister on the team right before then?
“I feel like it was more of a ‘dominance’ with the seniors back then. Maybe it’s because we’re the seniors now, but I don’t feel that way any more.”
Anabelle Schembra
Center Grove, sr., setter
College: Central Florida
About Schembra: Schembra has two goals entering her senior season: To clear 4,000 career assists and break the school’s all-time record (4,009). And the UCF commit is well-positioned to accomplish both. Schembra upped her career-high to 1,151 helpers for the sectional champs with only 13 errors on 2,848 attempts. That pushed her career total to 3,025. Schembra also has 226 kills, 156 aces, 132 blocks and 877 digs in three varsity seasons.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Basketball. I wish volleyball was a contact sport. I love going up and — not beating people up, but I played basketball growing up and I could not shoot the ball. I was so bad. But defense? That was my thing. Blocking people and shoving people, that was my thing.”
Has CG girls basketball Kevin Stuckmeyer hit you up about joining the team?
(laughs) “No, actually my best friend (MacKenzie Pierce) plays and she’s committed to IU South Bend. We were joking about it, how my senior year I was going to play and she was going to play volleyball. That’s just, no. I want to focus on volleyball and the goals we have and going into college. That would have been so fun, but no, sadly.”
What’s the best movie or show you watched this summer?
“I don’t really watch shows. I cannot sit still and watch something. But I did watch the new Spider-Man movie yesterday and it was great. Really good.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I went to Riley Green, who’s so good. And I went to Morgan Wallen. He’s my favorite artist. Literally I listen to him for my hype music, for everything, all the time. And so we got front row. It was the craziest experience ever.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Bora Bora and staying in one of the bungalows over the water. That’s been my dream since I was five years old.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“I’ve never been out of the country. I just want to go see the world. Any place. I kinda want to go to Aruba, some place fun. I love the beach.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“I’m a TikToker. I post day in the lives, get ready with me, so that is my thing. I love social media. I love marketing. I think that is what I’m going to do in college, social media marketing, because I love everything social media. Everyone go follow my TikTok (anabelle.schembra). But yeah, probably me.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“My sister played on the team and she was a setter, too, so I knew what to expect going in. I already had an older sister to look up to and know what to be ready for, and then as a freshman, the older girls took me in. I don’t know, I think I was really prepared and I just stepped right in and felt at home. And I had always been playing for club, too, so I was already used to playing with the older girls. I think I was fine, honestly.”
Kendyl Strack
Westfield, sr., libero
College: Bowling Green
About Strack: A stabilizing presence in the back-row and ultra-reliable passer, Strack led the regional champion Rocks with her 362 digs, 62 aces and 230 points. She was charged with only 15 errors on 347 receptions, and had five matches with 20-plus digs, including a season-high 32 vs. West Lafayette Harrison, and five with four-plus aces (10 vs. Tri-West). Strack has 855 digs and 100 aces in her two-plus varsity seasons.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I’ve always wanted to play lacrosse. Not the running aspect, but everyone loves lacrosse and I’d really love to play.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“We read ‘Championship Behaviors: A Model for Competitive Excellence in Sports’ for volleyball this year. I thought it was actually pretty good.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“‘Voicemails for Isabelle’ on Netflix. That one was really good.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I went to Morgan Wallen. Nothing’s going to beat that.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Probably Fiji.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“I want to go to New York really bad and do everything in the city.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“(Senior setter/DS) Kenna Robinson.”
Thoughts on the new NIL rules?
“It’s a great opportunity, I just need to look more into it to see if it’s actually worth the time.”
Thoughts on the new rule allowing teams to dress two liberos?
“I think it’s good and bad, but also you can just switch whenever you want. You can sub them in. It doesn’t really make much difference.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“(Comer) and I going into college, we need to not be afraid of being ourselves and really showing who we are as athletes and people.”
How stressful is that first day college coaches are allowed to contact you?
“For me, I was not really nervous. But at the same time, yeah, it can be nerve-wracking, but you’re going to have a moment and the right school’s going to come to you. Yeah, I was stressed, but you just have to be yourself. Those phone calls, everyone was kind of stressed and I was just like, I just have to be me, because they’re going to take me as I am, not as someone I’m not.”
Do you pay attention to the individual rankings?
“I’ll look at it, but I don’t really take it to heart. I know who I am. My coaches know who I am. I can prove myself other ways than having the media show who I am.”
If Westfield actually had a mascot, what would it be?
“We had one. His name was ‘Rocky’ and it was a guy, but his head was really fat — like a rock. He had a weird hat. But he creeped people out, so they got rid of him. We tried bringing him back — I would walk around school and there were posters telling people who were interested in being the mascot to come to the office.”
Audrey Utterback
Plainfield, jr., outside hitter
College: UCLA
About Utterback: The highly rated 5-10 pin demonstrated her potential as a freshman. She broke out as a bonafide standout as a sophomore: 606 kills on .280 hitting, 52 aces (204 service points), 42 blocks, 349 digs, 22 assists and a starring role in the Quakers’ surprise run to the Class 4A state championship match. Utterback, who already has over 1,000 career kills, verbally committed to UCLA in July, a few weeks after her older sister Ava transferred there from Louisville.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I used to play softball, so I would probably still be playing if it weren’t for volleyball.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I started ‘Twisted Games’ and got about 50 pages in. I’ll read during school, but I didn’t get to finish anything this summer.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I watched ‘Obsession’ and ‘The Backrooms’. ‘Backrooms’ wasn’t super scary, but it was good if you knew the lore. … ‘Obsession was really scary. The way she was acting when she stood in the corner, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.'”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I didn’t. I’ve been so busy with volleyball.”
How do you balance club season and life?
“I just get home as soon as I can from volleyball, shower and do whatever I want (laughs).”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Japan. It’s so diverse. There’s countryside, there’s city, there’s beach.
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Traveling the world. See a bunch of different places — and buy a lot of new clothes.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“(Junior setter) Charlee Groninger or (junior hitter/setter) Neela Nattam.”
What do you think of NIL being introduced for high schoolers?
“That’s so exciting, but also I don’t know how to take advantage. I would love to capitalize, but I don’t know how. If someone could give me a tutorial, I would appreciate it.”
What was your favorite thing about playing in state last year?
“The atmosphere and the support. Everything from the community was insane. And also, seeing Carroll’s community represent them and our community, the intensity — it was so much fun.”
Caroline Ward
Tri-West, sr., outside hitter
College: SMU
About Ward: Ward used her junior campaign to demonstrate the development of her all-around game. Fully healthy and playing as a six-rotation pin, the highly rated recruit tripled her kill from 2025 (681 on .258 hitting), upped her ace count to a career-high 63, blocked 60 shots (16 solo), doled out 14 assists and clocked a career-best 313 digs. Ward has 1,236 career kills, 121 aces, 167 blocks and 549 digs for her career.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Probably softball. I played softball for so long.”
How long did you play softball?
“Probably 7th grade. … I was a pitcher and first baseman.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“Book? Read? Me? (laughs) I started reading a book this summer, ‘Family of Liars’, because I watched ‘We Were Liars’. I read that and watched the show, so I figured I would read the second book, which is like the prequel, before I watched the next season.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“Love Island” and “‘Hawk’, the golf show with Will Ferrell. It’s really funny. I watched it in like two days.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I went to Kid Cudi and I want to go to Ke$ha still.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“I don’t know. I just want to go to a beach. That’s all I think about, often.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Probably be in a fashion week in Paris or New York, somewhere like that. But definitely not Miami.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
(Her teammate, Finley Dakin, answered Caroline, to which she pumped her fist.)
Do you agree with her answer?
“Um, I like to stay humble. But, actually, probably (senior DS) Anna Thompson. She’d do something silly and people would love it. She did go viral for a meme a few years ago.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“Don’t take any moment for granted. Everything’s coming to a close so quickly and I feel like I took so many moments with my friends and having so many different coaches for granted.”
SECOND TEAM
Emery Cardinal
Guerin Catholic, Sr., middle blocker
College: Iowa
About Cardinal: Though she hails from a basketball family, Cardinal has made quite the name for herself as a volleyball player. The former two-sport athlete (basketball, of course) committed to Iowa ahead of last season, then enjoyed a breakout junior campaign, setting new career-highs in blocks (73), kills (335) and hitting percentage (.424). Her rapid ascension corresponded with the Golden Eagles’ best season in over a decade.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Basketball. My whole family is a basketball family, so it took a lot of convincing to not play basketball. I did that my sophomore year. Definitely growing up in the whole basketball environment, I would do that if it wasn’t for volleyball.”
What got you on the volleyball track?
“I knew from the start I loved volleyball. From the very beginning. I genuinely just have so much love for volleyball. I knew right away it was my sport and I couldn’t pick it over basketball. I was great at both and had a lot of pressure from my family to keep playing basketball, but when I gave my parents this whole speech about why I was choosing volleyball, I knew it was my sport.”
Tell me more about the speech.
“It was hard, especially because my mom has been my coach my entire life and she’d just moved to Guerin to take over as girls basketball coach. I played for her my freshman year — it was amazing, it was great, but that was the point where I had to choose club and school volleyball to be fully devoted (to the sport). I had to be real, like this is my life, this is the sport that I love. I can’t keep playing both and being successful in both if I want volleyball to be my career. My parents were like, ‘Sadly you’re right.'”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“‘The Odyssey’, especially because I just watched it in theaters. Amazing. Best movie I’ve watched to date. And then aligning it with the book was great.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I’m a big rom-com girl, so I’ve watched every single rom-com known to man. And series, I’m a big ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Gossip Girl’ fan, so I watch those two a lot.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“Kid Cudi, then I’m going to Ke$ha, Don Tolliver and Pitbull later this year — I’m very excited for those.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Hawaii, definitely Hawaii. And it’s funny because when my sister was younger, she went there — and I’m actually still jealous, because she didn’t even know the experience that she got. Definitely Hawaii and going on a helicopter ride around the islands, all that.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Probably playing college volleyball. I’m super stoked and so blessed to have this opportunity and I’m super excited to play at Iowa. Definitely just finishing off high school, hopefully our season goes well, then heading off to Iowa.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“(Senior middle) Julia Easters. She has some good moves, I’m not gonna lie. Her and (senior setter) Claire Ducey for gamedays, they really get to dancing. Honestly on TikTok, we’ll hopefully get a couple views.”
Do you get invited into those videos?
“Uh, yes, but I actually opt out. I’m not very — good at dancing, so I try to just watch. But if there’s a cute one with a couple of moves, I’ll hop in there.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“I just wish I would trust myself and know everything is going to work out. It’s definitely stressful. I was double-rostered as a freshman, so I was between JV and varsity, and it was a juggle being pulled to JV, pulled to varsity. I was playing a lot of sets every game. It definitely took a toll on me, because I was just a little baby freshman. But I wish I knew it was all going to work out and all my hard work, my patience was going to pay off.”
Addie Doak
Hamilton Heights, sr., libero
College: Marshall
About Doak: Doak paid her dues as a freshman and sophomore, then shined in her first season wearing the libero jersey. She averaged 12.2 digs per match and 3.9 per set (389 total), and committed only 22 errors on 394 receptions. Doak was excellent in service, as well, posting 41 aces (92.4 serv%) and 220 points. She also dished out 99 assists, and enters her senior year with 523 career digs.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Growing up, I was supposed to go to college for softball. I played travel all around the country for the top travel teams my whole life up until my freshman year. I played for Heights and a travel team my freshman year. For school, we made it to semistate, but after that, it got really hard with club and I was starting to realize what I wanted to do more and what I enjoyed more. I love volleyball. It was just a different type of love for the sport. That’s when I made the switch to just volleyball and focused more on that.”
What position were you in softball?
“I played third. I was always getting blown up on the corner and that’s really helped with being a libero — I’m always getting blown up. It’s basically the same thing.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I love Colleen Hoover books. I love the Freida McFadden books. And I’m so excited all those types of books are coming out with movies.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I’m a ‘Love Island’ girl. I was binging that every single night. I’m always on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, then my mom and I love true crime, so we love Dateline and things like that. We’re always watching those together.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“No, but I have Don Toliver planned for about two or three weeks in Ohio. … It’s a Saturday night after practice. I’m very excited.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“I would love to go to Bora Bora. I think it’s just so pretty and the little huts that are on the water and everything, that’s so cool. I love that.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“I think I would get too scared in the end, but I think it would be so cool to go skydiving. That’s awesome. To say you jumped out of an airplane — what? I don’t know if I’d chicken out, but that would be so cool. … I’m not scared of heights. You just gotta make sure the parachute works.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“Probably (sophomore middle) Riley Suarez. She’s very aesthetic. I could see her doing day in the life, get ready with me type things.”
Are you a big TikToker?
“Here and there, yeah. I feel like any teenage girl can say they’re not on TikTok. I feel like everyone has their doomscrolling times.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“As a freshman, I wish I knew it would go by so fast. I know everyone gets to high school and they’re like, I just want this to be done and move on. Yes, that may be the case — I’m very excited for college and to get out for new experiences, but there’s also something about being in your hometown and in high school, mine especially. It’s a very small school and we’re all connected. Something along those lines. It will go by really fast, so just enjoy it. Don’t skip out on certain things.”
Caroline Hanchar
Cathedral, sr., outside hitter
College: Not committed
About Hanchar: Hanchar is distinguished by the variety of shots at her disposal and innate ability to impact a match in all phases. She fought through a mid-season injury to accumulate 251 kills, 35 aces, 26 blocks, 328 digs and 33 assists for the sectional champion Irish last fall, and enters her senior year with 763 kills in three seasons. Hanchar has battled various injuries throughout her career and does not plan on playing in college.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I played tennis my freshman and sophomore years, but it’s not very competitive at Cathedral, so I quit, because I didn’t really like it that much. But I’m playing lacrosse this year, hopefully — if I recover in time.”
What inspired the lacrosse pick?
“My friends all play it and that’s mainly it. I just like hanging out with my friends a lot. It seems like it would be really fun.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I didn’t read any books this summer, but my favorite book in general is ‘The Many Lives of Mama Love’. It’s an Oprah Book Club pick and it’s a really good read.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I’ve been watching ‘Gossip Girl’ for the first time. My friends finally got me to watch it and I’m hooked. I started maybe two weeks ago and I’m already on the fourth season — and there are 20 episodes in each one.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“No, every single good concert I’ve had volleyball. I went to Morgan Wallen, but that was the end of the school year.”
What concerts did you want to go to?
“Kid Cudi. I’m not a big fan but it’s a fun show and all my friends were going.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Probably Greece. I was going to go there — Cathedral does this thing called J-Term (January Term) after winter break and you can go places. I wanted to do that, but my friends were going somewhere else, so I went with them instead. But (Greece) is still a super cool place and I want to visit there some day.”
Did you see ‘The Odyssey’?
“No, I was in North and South Carolina visiting colleges and all my friends went, so now I don’t have anyone to go with. Maybe I’ll take my mom or something. But no, I haven’t seen it. I’ve read the book, though.”
How’s your college recruitment been?
“Well, after a lot of time of thinking, I’ve decided I’m not going to play in college. Volleyball’s been a big part of my life, but I’m ready for my next path and want to be able to focus on my academics in college. With all my injuries, I thought it was the best decision for myself.”
Was it easy to make that decision?
“No, it took me so long. I really thought about it. Even when I wasn’t injured, I thought about it, then once I got injured (over the summer) I had even more time to think. … But it wasn’t easy. Everything happens for a reason.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“I want to travel a ton when I’m out of college. I definitely want to go abroad. I want to travel the world. I love traveling and going places. That’s definitely something I want to do.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“Probably (senior middle) Chloe Moss, either with a volleyball video or relatable stuff.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“Coming in, I didn’t know we had practice every day and how intense it was. I wish I would’ve known that, because that freaked me out. And knowing the upperclassmen like you and not to be scared of them.”
Brooklyn Sigler
College: Gustavus Adolphus
About Sigler: The 5-11 Sigler is poised for a breakout season. The Royals’ top returning attacker — and one of only three with significant varsity experience — she registered 209 kills on .352 hitting as a junior. Sigler cleared 10 kills in three matches, including a career-high 18 on .359 hitting in a five-set loss to Center Grove in October. She rounded out her season line with 77 digs, 50 total blocks, 16 aces and 12 assists.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“My family and I, we’ve gotten into pickleball recently, so maybe pickleball or tennis. I don’t know if pickleball is a real sport, but I think it is. So I would say pickleball.”
You pretty good?
“I don’t mean to brag, but I think my game’s gotten better over the past couple weeks, so I would love to play someone who’s — around my level, too.”
Where are you at in the family rankings?
“I’m one of the top. My dad and I are neck-to-neck. I beat him sometimes. We go back-and-forth.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I read a lot of Colleen Hoover books. My mom’s gotten me into her novels. I read ‘Reminders of Him’, because the movie just came out.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“We got last minute tickets to Hilary Duff. They were free, VIP box. That was pretty fun.”
Were you familiar with her before the show?
“I only knew her from the Cinderella movie and Lizzie McGuire, but my friends and I, we didn’t sing some of the songs because we had no idea what they were. But it was fun, a great experience.”
What’s your dream vacation?
Turks and Caicos. “Somewhere with really pretty blue water.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
Skydive. “My mom did it and she talks about it all the time. So I think that would be at the top. Skydive with my family.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
Junior setter Maggie Sliwa. “She’s just so funny. I think she would do something funny and it would go viral.”
Do you have a TikTok?
“I do, but I don’t post on it. I just have it so I can watch TikToks. But some of the girls have TikToks and they’re always doing dances in the locker room.”
Are you a big social media person?
“Yes, but I feel like the only ones I usually use are TikTok and Instagram. But apparently I’m on it a lot, according to my friends and family.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“Be more confident in yourself. I had a tough couple of years with school, getting cut in seventh and eighth grade, then walking into HSE — which is one of the best high school (programs), not even in the state but in the country — so I would just tell myself to be more confident and to talk to more people; get to know more people. I was really scared and in the corner, at the start of my freshman year. Then once I met all those girls, it was so easy to become friends and be so comfortable there. And the program, the culture is amazing.”
Marley VanWanzeele
Plainfield, sr., middle blocker
College: Northern Illinois
About VanWanzeele: A two-year standout at Mooresville, VanWanzeele was an immediate (and pretty perfect) fit with the state runner-up Quakers. Statistically, that translated to a career-best 340 kills on .364 hitting, 55 blocks (11 solo), 49 digs, a couple aces and 15 assists in 117 sets. She collected five blocks in the semistate semifinal vs. Castle, then logged 13 kills that night vs. Yorktown. VanWanzeele has 675 kills and 234 blocks for her career.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I played basketball up until my freshman year, then volleyball just took over. So I would definitely say basketball.”
Any thoughts of picking up basketball after volleyball season?
“I’m graduating at semester. They asked me to play last year, but I’m just kind of over basketball.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“The only movie I watched was ‘Obsession.’ I didn’t think it was that scary.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“The last concert I went to was Olivia Rodrigo.”
How do you balance club season and life?
“I focus on maximizing my days off, because we don’t get very many of those.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Germany or Italy. Experiencing different cultures is interesting and learning about those and different languages.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Traveling the world. That’s literally all I want to do.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“(Junior setter) Charlee Groninger or (junior hitter/setter) Neela Nattam. They’d lip sync or be a brand ambassador.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“From moving schools, I wish that I would really appreciate the time I do have, because it — and this sounds typical and cringy, but it does go by so fast. I remember my freshman year like it was yesterday. I’m just taking everything in and not taking anything for granted.”
What was your favorite thing about playing in state last year?
“The atmosphere. Through semistate and the whole tournament, we just had so much support. It was crazy seeing our whole community come together and support us.”
Emily Williams
Franklin Central, sr., setter
College: Southern Indiana
About Williams: Williams runs a fast and smooth offense, giving the Flashes a huge boost whenever she’s in the driver’s seat. The senior tallied 952 assists last season, leaving her with 1,987 for her career. She’s well-positioned to break the school’s all-time assists record and could reach the 3,000-assist milestone. Williams, who logged 197 digs, is also in line for the career aces record (she has 115, currently), but will be competing with teammate Katie Bailey (108) for that mark.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Probably tennis, honestly. I used to play in middle school and I loved it, so maybe that.”
Tennis has been a popular answer today. Is there like a skills crossover with tennis?
“I’m not sure. Serving is very close to hitting, so that might be something, some of the movements are similar. It’s very competitive, which also carries over.”
Have you played tennis in high school?
“Not in high school. It’s been a minute, but I’d love to try it again.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I read the final book of the ‘The Inheritance Games’ series. I started that one a while ago, but that’s been pretty fun. I really like that one. I also read ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’. That one is really good.”
What’s the best movie or show you watched this summer?
“I’m a big shows person, but honestly I haven’t been watching as much this summer. I’ve been trying to do different things, like being outdoors more.”
What sort of outdoor activities?
“Just walking. I like to go on walks with my family and my dog. That’s pretty much it.”
How do you strike a balance between club volleyball and enjoying your offseason?
“I think just taking the time I have to rest and reset. I went to church camp — that was really fun. I had like two weeks between the end of school season and start of club season, and one of those weeks I used for church camp. The other I went on vacation with my family and that’s all I needed to reset before coming back to it.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“I want to go across Europe. Multiple places. Probably (Norway) because they have the fjords and I also really want to go to Italy.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Probably to just travel as much as I can. I really want to travel the world. Another thing is — I really want to be mic’d up. That’s on my bucket list. I’ve never done that before and I think it would be really fun for practice.”
Are you super chatty during practice?
“Oh yeah.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“I wanna say (senior outside hitter/setter) Jenna Chappell or (senior middle) Brooklyn Wake, because they do TikToks together sometimes. … (Or sophomore outside) Delaney Cooper and (sophomore outside) Tenley Sharp.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“It’s OK to not be perfect. I think I’m very hard on myself, very self-critical, so I sometimes will see a mistake and overthink it instead of learning from it and moving on. That’s definitely something I’ve gotten better at over the years.”
How have you improved on that?
“I tell the other girls it’s OK to make mistakes and if I’m telling them that, I have to believe that’s true for myself, too.”
THIRD TEAM
Lila Bruszewski
Carmel, sr., outside hitter
College: Charleston
About Bruszewski: The 6-1 six-rotation hitter stepped out for a career year on the attack, totaling 308 kills in 103 sets. She was impactful in service (43 aces, 145 points), as well, and was a steady defensive presence, logging 99 digs and 21 total blocks. Bruszewski had double-digit kills in 18 matches, including a season-high 21 (.298 hit%) in a five-set win over Noblesville. She has 574 kills for her career.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“Probably dance, honestly. I could maybe be a ballerina, I don’t know.”
Did you dance at all growing up?
“I did. I used to do gymnastics, ballet, tap, all of it. But not anymore. I used to do basketball, too, but my aunt (Becca Bruszewski) played and I didn’t want to have to follow in her footsteps. … She played at Wheeler High School, then at Notre Dame where they played for a national championship.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I watched ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’ on Netflix. It was so good. I was in the car with my mom, though, so I couldn’t fully cry. But it was really good.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“Not yet, but I’m going to see Bruno Mars at Lucas Oil.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Somewhere in Europe. Anywhere in Europe, really.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Bungee jumping or skydiving. Anything like that.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“Probably London — or (junior libero/DS) Taylor Kamp. So yeah, either London or TK. I can see it for London with a volleyball video or a slideshow, maybe a dance.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“Oh gosh. Why are we old? Have fun and be confident. Don’t be scared of the seniors. Talk to them. We’re not scary. … Actually playing with the seniors on varsity, that was scary.”
Marlee Chafin
Southport, sr., setter/outside hitter
College: Ashland
About Chafin: A lurking offensive menace both as a setter and an attacker, Chafin compiled 286 assists and 324 kills (.269 hit%) while splitting time between setter and outside hitter last season. She enters her senior year with 1,168 career assists and 388 career kills. Chafin, who also logged 58 aces and 317 digs (583 career), has helped the Cardinals secure a winning record in each of her first three seasons.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I did competitive dance for 10 years of my life, so I would probably still be dancing if it wasn’t for volleyball.”
When did you give it up?
“I decided to go full volleyball my freshman year of high school. It was really hard to balance both dance and volleyball, so I chose volleyball. … I had something every night.”
How do you find space for yourself during club season?
“On my off days I try to do some stretching and recovery things. I also do some agility outside volleyball, which has helped a lot. I really use those off-days.”
What non-volleyball hobbies do you enjoy?
“I like hanging out with friends and family. I like to read, as well. I also like to shop.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I’m reading ‘Project Hail Mary’ right now. It is very good. I want to see the movie.”
So you’re the type to wait to see the movie until you’ve read the book?
“Yeah, it’s another incentive.”
(Chafin was less than 100 pages from being done with PHM.)
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“Right now I’m watching ‘Modern Family’ and then I also saw ‘The Odyssey’ not too long ago and it was really good.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I went to Noah Kahan at Wrigley Field. It was so good.”
What’s your dream vacation?
Italy
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Probably traveling the world with the people I love. Or just going to a bunch of different concerts and things.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“(Junior DS) Natalie Vaeth for a fail in a sport, like a flop or something. (laughs)”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“To be more confident and trust the process. It might feel really hard at times, but it’s all going to work out.”
Finley Dakin
Tri-West, sr., libero
College: Not committed
About Dakin: The three-year varsity letterwinner has been the Bruins’ primary defensive anchor the past two seasons. She reset her career-high in digs in 2025, accumulating 498 in 122 sets (956 career), and completed her season line with 33 aces, 80 assists and three kills. Dakin was charged with 33 errors on 428 receptions, and will be looking to help Tri-West win a fourth consecutive regional title.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I would say, honestly, I’d go back to softball. I played basketball for a while, but softball — I would thrive in that now.”
How long did you play softball?
“We played until we were 13 or 14. … I was shortstop and center field.”
Any thoughts of playing softball in the spring?
“Not really. I thought about tennis before, but that would just be for fun.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I would say in general, ‘It Starts with Us’ that was a good book.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“’Love Island’ that was every day this summer. It was something to watch every night.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I went to Kid Rock, Jon Pardi and Morgan Wallen.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Hawaii. I want to go there so badly.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Skydiving. I really want to go. My mom doesn’t want me to, but I think my brother and I are going to make a trip of it when I turn 18.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“Caroline. For sure, Caroline.”
What do you think she would go viral for? Besides drawing bears, obviously.
“Honestly, it would be a day-in-the-life.”
Are you a big Tik Toker?
“I’m definitely a doom scroller.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“Don’t be scared. Have confidence through everything. And everything’s going to be OK.”
Milana Mays
Fishers, sr., middle blocker
College: Princeton
About Mays: Mays followed a breakout sophomore season with an even more impressive junior campaign. The Ivy League-bound middle posted 105 blocks, 216 kills (.350 hit%), 44 aces and 55 digs — all career-highs. She will be a key presence at the net for an experienced Fishers team that does not have much height. Mays has 178 blocks, 359 kills and 81 aces in two-plus varsity seasons.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“First sport, tennis, which is super similar. And if I was shorter, I would want to be a ballerina.”
Did you do ballet growing up?
“I did it for two months, then they told me I was too tall.”
What about tennis? Do you play it on the side?
“I don’t. I just enjoy watching it. My entire family, we all love sports so I watch everything. You have to be so athletic. It’s insane.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I’ve been stuck on the same book forever, because I don’t have time to read, unfortunately. But I’m currently reading ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë. I’m trying to finish it up. It’s so good. I’ve gotten into classics as I’ve matured and grown up. I’m really enjoying those.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I’m a big movie person. This summer, I saw ‘Backrooms’, ‘The Odyssey’ — that one was so good — there are a few others I want to see, like the new Spider-Man.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I’m not a huge concert person, but I am going to TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and somebody else with my mom here soon.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“That’s so hard. I have this huge list in my Notes app of places, but I guess if I had to pick one it would probably be Spain. It’s beautiful and there’s so much culture. I love learning about different cultures.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“Currently right now, I’m obsessed with ballet flats. I’m a huge fashion person and I have a ton of shoes on my list.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“(Senior) Katie Brinkruff, our libero/DS. She does a lot of TikTok dances. I’m not into that. I’m terrible at them. I’m not good. But yeah, she’s good at them.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“I think about this a lot. I wish I got more involved, honestly. With athletics, it’s hard to want to go to clubs and all these different meetings, but just get involved with as many things as you can outside of your sport. It’s really good to meet more people in that way and explore your interests.”
Have you started doing that more as you’ve gotten older?
“Yeah, definitely. Obviously I don’t have a lot of time with schoolwork and volleyball, but 100%, yeah.”
Ella Mensch
Heritage Christian, sr., right side
College: Ferris State
About Mensch: After steadily developing through her first two seasons, Mensch constructed a career year as a junior. She racked up 383 kills on .285 hitting (both career-bests), 49 aces, 260 digs, 19 blocks (eight solo) and a career-high 22 assists. She had five matches with at least 20 kills for the sectional runner-up Eagles, including 20 in both matches vs. eventual regional champion Triton Central. Mensch has 869 kills, 104 aces and 452 digs for her career.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I gotta say dance. I danced for a long time when I was younger and I probably would’ve stuck with it if I didn’t switch over to (volleyball).”
What’s the most important position on the floor?
“I have to say setter. They run everything, never leave the court. If you have a pretty good, consistent setter who’s confident and knows how to lead each other and all your teammates, that can really make or break the team, because your hitters can’t be anything without a good setter.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“I’m reading ‘The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe’. It’s about Christianity and finding identity and worth within that. It’s really good. It’s from Target.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“Not yet. I’ve been to smaller ones, but I’m really excited to go to Bruno Mars in September.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“Probably one of the islands — or Mexico. Some place really warm.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
Skydiving.
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“Oh gosh. Probably Quinn Ralston. She’s a junior and she’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. It might just be something dumb that she’s doing and she just decides to post it anyway and it just happens to go viral.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“I’d probably tell my freshman self to not compare yourself to others, because I feel like so much can change within a certain amount of time. Just continue to have faith in yourself. As long as you’re putting in as much work as you can and giving your all, it’ll show up even if it’s not on the same timeline as everyone else.”
How’d you learn to do that yourself?
“I definitely had a lot of important mentors in my life who have helped me with realize that just because you’re on a different timeline from everyone doesn’t mean your timeline is wrong. But just focusing on my own success and growth vs. comparing that chart to other people’s has really helped me stay confident in that area.”
Is that something you dealt with a lot when you were going through the recruiting process?
“Yeah, because I committed later than some of my friends and teammates, but I don’t regret committing when I did or waiting. Obviously it shows I found my right fit.”
Did you ever get in your head?
“I don’t think I was ever worried about anything. I never rushed anything, because I knew what was meant for me would find me. So I didn’t get in my head too much. I was just more calm about it, which I was grateful for.”
Kinley Young
Lebanon, sr., outside hitter
College: Dayton
About Young: Young was at the forefront of a resurgent season for the Tigers, tallying 443 kills, 46 aces, 181 digs and 35 assists — all new career-highs — plus 31 blocks. Her efforts helped Lebanon to a 18-12 finish, its best since 2015. The Dayton-bound Young has 790 kills, 97 blocks and 83 aces over the past three seasons, and will try to lead her school to its first sectional championship in program history as a senior.
What would your main sport be if it wasn’t volleyball?
“I’ve actually thought about this before. Mine would be tennis, because I got into it freshman year and as you can guess, a lot of it is the same motions. I think that’s why I fell in love with it.”
Have you thought about playing for Lebanon’s team or at any competitive level?
“I’ve never played competitively or even had lessons, but I played high school my freshman year and that was really fun. That was probably the most competitive I got. I made it to first flight singles and that’s the best you can be. But we’re also a small school, so I don’t know how much that says.”
What’s the best book you read this summer?
“‘Beach Read’ by Emily Henry. It was so good. I love romance books — as you can guess, teenage girl.”
Seen any good TV shows or movies?
“I love ‘Little Women’, the newer one. I like the slower vibe it has to it.”
Did you go to any good concerts over the summer?
“I didn’t get to any, unfortunately.”
Who did you want to see?
“Noah Kahan.”
What’s your dream vacation?
“I really want to go somewhere outside the country. I don’t think it matters, I just really want to hike. I went to Switzerland before and that was really cool, but besides that, I don’t know.”
What’s the No. 1 item on your bucket list?
“I have a bucket list going. One item would definitely be making food that’s specifically for the culture somewhere else, like pasta in Italy or something would be really cool. … Taking one of their classes would be really fun.”
Who on your team is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
“Probably Mayli Folden, she’s one of our (senior) defensive specialists. She loves doing dances and has a really fun personality that draws people in.”
Are you a big TikToker?
“Yes. (laughs) I love TikTok dances.”
What’s been your biggest one?
“I made one with our old setter last year that was really fun. It was just a dancing one during the preseason, but we love our dances.”
What’s something you wish you knew as a freshman?
“To stand my ground. Obviously coming in your freshman year you’re not super confident and you have to learn the ropes, but it’s OK to be yourself and stick up for yourself. Just because you don’t like the same things as everyone else, it’s OK to be who you are. … Just because you’re new doesn’t mean you just have to go with the flow.”
When did you find your voice?
“I think after I made my commitment post to Dayton. That really brought the confidence to me and I was able to instill it in myself and know from other people that I was good. It’s hard to be the only one to tell yourself you can do this, so being able to make that post and allow other people to see you for who you thought you were from the beginning is such a big stride.”
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.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2026 volleyball preseason Super Team: Get to know Central Indiana’s best players
Reporting by Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
