Indian Creek senior Faith Wiseman registers a kill in the match against Whiteland earlier this season.
Daily Journal file photo
The element of surprise won’t be part of Indian Creek’s arsenal at any time this week.
All but one of the seven teams feeding into the Class 3A sectional at Northview are members of the Western Indiana Conference, meaning the Braves must be on top of their game to advance to regional for the first time in 26 years.
Then again, familiarity does have its pluses.
“I think it’s an advantage. We’ve already seen all these teams,” said first-year coach Daisha Holt, whose Braves take an 18-4 record into Thursday’s first-round match against Edgewood (23-6). “We’re going to be ready, and adjust where we need to adjust.”
Indian Creek defeated league foes West Vigo, Edgewood and Owen Valley during the regular season, but dropped 3-0 decisions to the host Knights and Sullivan. The latter, however, is part of the 2A sectional at North Daviess, meaning Holt’s team is done game-planning the Golden Arrows for this season.
Northview is the slight favorite by virtue of being ranked 17th in 3A — the Braves are 21st and Edgewood 27th — but its match against Indian Creek featured 25-22 wins in the first two games. Senior Faith Wiseman had 11 kills for the Braves, while teammate Mattie Key added eight kills and 13 digs.
Tournament bracketing has the host squad possibly squaring off against Indian Creek in Saturday morning’s 11:30 semifinal.
Junior Kendall Eden led the defensive effort for the Braves in the first meeting with 16 digs. Another junior, Ava Myers, chipped in eight. Indian Creek’s other senior starter, setter Grayson Burkett, has 360 assists so far this season, while sophomore hitters Adriana Williams and Gabie Francis have been factors as well.
Junior Jasmine Day had 168 assists in the regular season, while Alexa Sichting provided 62 kills and 31 blocks.
“Last year, there was a lot that went on,” Burkett said. “This season, we’ve had a lot of people step up and create a more positive attitude. This year has been a blast just with how well everyone gets along.”
Holt, who hopes to lead Indian Creek to its third sectional championship and first since 1997, admits she sought to change the work habits and culture of Braves’ volleyball upon being named coach.
The process might have initially led to some side-eyeing from players during preseason practices, but over time the coach’s lofty expectations evolved into the norm.
“I’m hard on them,” Holt admits. “I also feel we are building relationships, but I love them. They get annoyed with me, but they get over it. When I came in, I set a precedent. Now they know what I expect.”
The blueprint worked. A victory over the Mustangs on Thursday would give Indian Creek its most victories in a season since the 2017 squad finished 25-9.
“We really try to keep it positive. A lot of girls have stepped up, and everyone is more of a threat this year,” said the 6-foot-4 Wiseman, who leads the Braves in kills with 248 and has 1,101 for her career.
“I feel last year we would get down on each other, so I would say the positivity makes us play better, too.”
