Fort Wayne Carroll remains the standard at No. 1 despite seeing its 71-match winning streak snapped by Marist. The Chargers responded with a win over Yorktown, while Westfield has climbed into the No. 2 position ahead of Hamilton Southeastern and Yorktown.
Further down the board, Floyd Central makes the biggest move of the week, Plainfield answers a difficult stretch with three consecutive victories and Tri-West breaks into the rankings for the first time.
Here is the Indiana Preps Girls Volleyball Top 15 for the week of Sept. 27.
1. Fort Wayne Carroll
Record: 25-1 | Previous: 1 | Movement: —
The streak is over, but Carroll’s place atop Indiana volleyball remains intact. The Chargers’ first loss in 71 matches came against Illinois power Marist, then Carroll responded by beating Yorktown 3-1 in one of the most important in-state matches of the season. Senior outside hitter Sarah Stegall continues to anchor the offense, averaging 4.9 kills per set while hitting .396. Setter Elli Oskey has directed the attack, while junior libero Cala Haffner continues to be one of the state’s top back-row players at 4.2 digs per set.
2. Westfield
Record: 21-2 | Previous: 4 | Movement: ↑2
Westfield has built one of the strongest résumés in the state and earns the move to No. 2. The Shamrocks own a five-set victory over Yorktown and have continued stacking wins, including a 3-0 sweep of Tri-West on Oct. 1. Westfield’s combination of quality victories and strength of schedule gives it the narrow edge over HSE and Yorktown entering the postseason.
3. Hamilton Southeastern
Record: 21-3 | Previous: 3 | Movement: —
There isn’t much separating HSE from Westfield. In fact, the Royals own a 3-2 victory over the Shamrocks from Sept. 17. Senior Brooklyn Sigler has been the primary offensive option at 3.7 kills per set, while senior middle Malea Oliver has been highly efficient, hitting .392 with 45 blocks. Junior setter Maggie Sliwa has surpassed 580 assists for an HSE team that remains firmly in the state championship conversation.
4. Yorktown
Record: 21-2 | Previous: 2 | Movement: ↓2
Dropping two spots says more about the strength of the top four than it does about Yorktown. The Tigers have beaten Providence, Cathedral, Plainfield and New Palestine, with their only losses coming against Westfield and Carroll. Yorktown followed the Carroll loss by going on the road and sweeping a 24-win New Palestine team, another reminder that this remains one of Indiana’s most dangerous postseason teams.
5. Center Grove
Record: 23-3 | Previous: 5 | Movement: —
Center Grove remains steady at No. 5 with one of the deeper résumés in the field. Sophomore Gabby Gilliard has emerged as a major offensive weapon, averaging 4.6 kills per set. In the Trojans’ five-set comeback victory over Plainfield, Gilliard delivered 25 kills and 16 digs while Anabelle Schembra ran the offense with 42 assists, 11 digs and three aces. Center Grove erased a 2-0 deficit to win that match.
6. Plainfield
Record: 22-5 | Previous: 6 | Movement: —
The Quakers responded exactly how a Top 10 team should. After an uneven stretch, Plainfield put together three straight victories over Danville, Franklin Community and Carmel. The Carmel win was the statement: Audrey Utterback finished with 23 kills and 11 digs, while Charlee Groninger produced 47 assists, 10 digs and four aces in the 3-1 victory. Utterback has surpassed 400 kills and is averaging better than five kills per set.
7. Carmel
Record: 18-5 | Previous: 8 | Movement: ↑1
Carmel moves up one spot from last week, although the Greyhounds’ five-match winning streak ended against Plainfield. The loss shouldn’t obscure the production Carmel received from Lila Bruszewski, who put down 23 kills, while London Evans filled the stat sheet with 49 assists, 14 digs and three solo blocks. Carmel has the offensive firepower to be a difficult out when tournament play begins.
8. Penn
Record: 24-4 | Previous: 7 | Movement: ↓1
Penn’s rise over the second half of the season has been one of the more notable developments in the rankings. Senior Anna McCullough leads the Kingsmen at 4.3 kills per set and has surpassed 300 kills. Junior libero Kyla Hurley has accumulated more than 350 digs at five per set, while sophomore Emily Noto gives Penn a presence at the net with 48 blocks. Penn also owns a 2-0 victory over Southwood.
9. Floyd Central
Record: 21-4 | Previous: 15 | Movement: ↑6
No team makes a bigger move this week. Floyd Central jumps six positions as its overall body of work catches up with its ranking. Senior Keylee Kruer leads the Highlanders offensively at 3.4 kills per set, while senior middle Riley Roberts has been extremely efficient, hitting .450. Junior Autumn Engle has provided the defensive foundation at 4.4 digs per set. Floyd Central has earned its place inside the Top 10.
10. Providence
Record: 19-7 | Previous: 9 | Movement: ↓1
Providence’s record requires context. The Pioneers have played one of the state’s more challenging schedules and remain the top-ranked 3A team in MaxPreps’ classification rankings. Junior Hadley Hasselbring leads the attack with 277 kills, while sophomore setter Rylie Neal has accumulated 781 assists and 312 digs. Junior middle Isabella Manos has added 240 kills and 59 blocks, giving Providence production across the front row.
11. Southwood
Record: 18-1 | Previous: 11 | Movement: —
Southwood continues to be the small-school representative nobody should overlook. The Knights’ only loss came against Penn, and senior Shania Rhamy has been one of the state’s most productive attackers at five kills per set while also contributing 3.1 digs per set. Southwood’s résumé may not feature the schedule strength of the teams immediately above it, but an 18-1 record keeps the Knights firmly in the Top 15.
12. Harrison (West Lafayette)
Record: 24-3 | Previous: 10 | Movement: ↓2
Few teams have accumulated wins at Harrison’s rate. Sophomore Gia Stokes has been at the center of it, recording 297 kills and 226 digs while averaging 4.6 kills and 3.5 digs per set. Junior Stella Snider adds another 213 kills and 42 aces, while freshman setter Story Nixon has already distributed 717 assists. Harrison’s balance makes the Raiders a team worth watching closely when the bracket takes over.
13. Chesterton
Record: 23-4 | Previous: 13 | Movement: —
Chesterton holds its position behind one of the state’s most productive outside hitters. Senior Luca Bombacino has 355 kills and is averaging 5.6 kills per set while also contributing 159 digs. Senior middle Madison Gilliam has added 163 kills, 52 blocks and a .400 hitting percentage. Junior setter Reese Dilbeck has 630 assists. That’s a legitimate three-player foundation for a team carrying more than 20 victories into October.
14. Bloomington South
Record: 23-2 | Previous: 14 | Movement: —
Bloomington South remains planted at No. 14 after quietly putting together one of the state’s better records. The Panthers haven’t generated the same collection of high-end wins as the teams near the top of the poll, but 23 victories and only two losses demand respect. With tournament play approaching, Bloomington South will have an opportunity to turn that record into a deeper postseason statement.
T-15. New Palestine
Record: 24-3 | Previous: 12 | Movement: ↓3
New Palestine takes its biggest hit of the season after consecutive losses to Franklin Central and Yorktown, but the Dragons’ complete résumé keeps them in the rankings.
The Franklin Central loss went five sets, with New Palestine rallying from 8-2 down in the fifth to reach match point before falling 17-15. Elena Cook finished with 12 kills, six blocks and two aces, while Adelynn Crispin had 11 kills and nine digs. Against Yorktown the following night, Caylee Brown hit .467 with seven kills, matching Crispin’s team-high seven kills. Two losses change New Pal’s position, but a 24-win résumé still belongs on the board.
T-15. Tri-West Hendricks
Record: 23-5 | Previous: NR | Movement: NEW
Tri-West enters the Indiana Preps rankings after building a résumé that became increasingly difficult to ignore. Senior Caroline Ward has been one of Indiana’s highest-volume attackers, surpassing 400 kills while averaging 5.6 kills per set. Senior middle Blair Benner is hitting better than .400 and leads the Bruins at the net with 54 blocks, while senior libero Finley Dakin has more than 350 digs. The Bruins now get their first place on the Top 15 board.
The Top 15
- Fort Wayne Carroll — 25-1
- Westfield — 21-2
- Hamilton Southeastern — 21-3
- Yorktown — 21-2
- Center Grove — 23-3
- Plainfield — 22-5
- Carmel — 18-5
- Penn — 24-4
- Floyd Central — 21-4
- Providence — 19-7
- Southwood — 18-1
- Harrison (West Lafayette) — 24-3
- Chesterton — 23-4
- Bloomington South — 23-2
T-15. New Palestine — 24-3
T-15. Tri-West Hendricks — 23-5
