Hancock County’s four high school volleyball teams are having great seasons, but they won’t have easy routes to get out of sectional play.
The IHSAA announced postseason pairings Sunday.
Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon and New Palestine have a combined record of 85-24.
Two teams (Eastern Hancock at 22-6 and New Palestine at 26-3) have already hit the 20-win mark and the other two (Greenfield-Central at 19-6 and Mt. Vernon at 18-6) have time to do so before the regular season ends.
Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon will play in Class 4A Sectional 9 at Pendleton Heights.
The sectional includes long-time volleyball power Yorktown, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A’s Z-Ratings. The Tigers are 25-2.
The Cougars will begin play Tuesday, Oct. 15 with a 6 p.m. contest against Anderson. They beat the Indians 3-0 in a regular-season match Tuesday.
Mt. Vernon plays in the second quarterfinal match Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. against Richmond, following the 6 p.m. Yorktown-Pendleton Heights contest. A win over the Red Devils would send the Marauders into a Saturday, Oct. 19 semifinal against the Pendleton-Yorktown winner at 11:30 a.m.
If Greenfield-Central defeats Anderson, it will advance to the first semifinal match on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. against Muncie Central, it received the bye in the seven-team tournament. The championship game is later that evening at 6 p.m.
New Palestine has moved down to Class 3A this season and will play in Sectional 28 hosted by the state’s top-ranked team both in 3A and overall, Roncalli (26-0).
The draw, if the Dragons and Royals do their part, would put the two highly-regarded 3A teams in the Saturday, Oct. 19 championship match at 7 p.m.
The Dragons are ranked No. 5 in Class 3A. They open Tuesday Oct. 15 against Greenwood.
A win would put the Dragons into the Oct. 19 10 a.m. semifinal match against Indian Creek. Shelbyville, Rushville, Beech Grove and Roncalli are on the other side of the bracket.
In Class 2A Sectional 43, hosted by Scecina, Eastern Hancock opens with a Thursday, Oct. 17 contest at 7:30 p.m. against Irvington Prep.
A year ago, the Royals lost to Scecina in the championship match.
They are in opposite brackets again. The Crusaders are 20-7 on the season and ranked just outside the Top 10 in Class 2A.
A win over Irvington Prep would give Eastern Hancock a game against the Heritage Christian/Triton Central winner. The championship match is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 19.
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2024 IHSAA Volleyball Sectional Pairings
Class 4A Sectional 9
At Pendleton Heights High School
Tuesday, Oct. 15
6 p.m. – Greenfield-Central (19-9) vs. Anderson (0-14)
Thursday, Oct. 17
6 p.m. – Yorktown (26-2) vs. Pendleton Heights (15-14)
7:30 p.m. – Mt. Vernon (18-6) vs. Richmond (11-11)
Saturday, Oct. 19
10 a.m. – Muncie Central vs. G-C/Anderson winner
11:30 a.m. – York/PH winner vs. MV/Rich winner
6 p.m. – Championship match
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Class 3A Sectional 28
At Roncalli High School
Tuesday, Oct. 15
6 p.m. – New Palestine (26-3) vs. Greenwood (4-23)
Thursday, Oct. 17
6 p.m. – Shelbyville (5-19) vs. Rushville (9-17)
7:30 p.m. – Beech Grove (2-22) vs. Roncalli (26-0)
Saturday, Oct. 19
10 a.m. – Indian Creek (17-4) vs. New Pal/Greenwood winner
11:30 a.m. – Shelby/Rush winner vs. BG/Roncalli winner
7 p.m. – Championship match
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Class 2A, Sectional 43
At Scecina Memorial High School
Tuesday, Oct. 15
6 p.m. – KIPP Legacy (0-4) vs. Scecina (20-6)
Thursday, Oct. 17
6 p.m. – Heritage Christian (10-14) vs. Triton Central (15-9)
7:30 p.m. – Irvington Prep (12-11) vs. Eastern Hancock (22-6)
Saturday, Oct. 19
11 a.m. – Christel House (12-7) vs. KIPP/Scecina winner
12 p.m. – HC/TC winner vs. IP/EH winner
6 p.m. – Championship match