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Indiana high school volleyball: Indy-area's top outside hitters to watch in 2023

brian haenchen, indianapolis star
·3 min read

IndyStar is highlighting Central Indiana's top returning volleyball players by position before unveiling the 2023 preseason ALL-USA Super Team prior to the Aug. 12 start of the season.

Today's position group: Outside hitters.

Logan Bell, Roncalli

Roncalli volleyball player Logan Bell
Roncalli volleyball player Logan Bell

Bell, an Oregon commit, followed an impressive debut campaign by netting 274 kills on a .242 hit%, both of which were up from her freshman season. The 5-11 junior also had 307 digs, 22 blocks and 29 aces. She has 538 kills and 656 digs for her career.

Raegan Durbin, Western Boone

Western Boone's Raegan Durbin (2) reacts after the team scores against Park Tudor, Aug. 30, 2022, at Western Boone High School.
Western Boone's Raegan Durbin (2) reacts after the team scores against Park Tudor, Aug. 30, 2022, at Western Boone High School.

Durbin led the Stars back to semistate as a sophomore, tallying 458 kills on .399 hitting with 322 digs, 24 total blocks (14 solo) and 94 aces. She cleared 20 kills in five matches (27 vs. Tri-West in the sectional championship), and posted 14 kill-dig double-doubles.

'She's just a one-of-a-kind player.' WeBo's Raegan Durbin ready to make history

Lauren Evans, Carmel

Carmel Greyhounds Lauren Evans (8) watches the ball Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers. The Hamilton Southeastern Royals defeated the Carmel Greyhounds.
Carmel Greyhounds Lauren Evans (8) watches the ball Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers. The Hamilton Southeastern Royals defeated the Carmel Greyhounds.

The 6-foot senior Butler commit did a bit of everything for the Greyhounds. She tallied 295 kills, 59 aces, 24 total blocks, 48 assists and 332 digs, and was charged with only 18 errors on 548 receptions.

Hadleigh Filipovich, Lutheran

Filipovich starred alongside a senior core for the Class A state semifinalist Saints last season. The multi-sport standout notched 199 kills, 32 aces, 16 blocks and 224 digs over 82 sets.

Lauren Harden, Hamilton Southeastern

Hamilton Southeastern Royals outside hitter Lauren Harden (24) celebrates a point during the second set in the IHSAA Class 4A State Finals against the Yorktown Tigers, Nov. 5, 2022, at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana.
Hamilton Southeastern Royals outside hitter Lauren Harden (24) celebrates a point during the second set in the IHSAA Class 4A State Finals against the Yorktown Tigers, Nov. 5, 2022, at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana.

Harden helped lead the state champion Royals' attack, hitting .317 with 337 kills. She also blocked 69 shots, and recorded 95 digs, 12 aces and 15 assists. The Florida commit has 879 career kills and a .276 hitting percentage.

Taylor Lewis, Cathedral

Cathedral's Taylor Lewis (12) prepares to hit the ball during the IHSAA regional semifinals on , Oct. 22, 2022, at Greenfield Central
Cathedral's Taylor Lewis (12) prepares to hit the ball during the IHSAA regional semifinals on , Oct. 22, 2022, at Greenfield Central

Lewis set career-highs in kills (395), aces (38) and digs (239), and totaled 23 blocks (11 solo). A Villanova commit, her efforts helped Cathedral nab its fifth consecutive sectional championship.

Alexis Maesch, Avon

Maesch, an Indiana State commit, totaled 325 kills — nearly twice as many as the year before — and tallied 50 aces, 53 total blocks and 114 digs. She has 304 digs, 84 blocks and 122 aces for her career.

Lindsey Mangelson, Hamilton Southeastern

Hamilton Southeastern outside hitter Lindsey Mangelson (3) hits the ball , Oct. 13, 2022, at HSE.
Hamilton Southeastern outside hitter Lindsey Mangelson (3) hits the ball , Oct. 13, 2022, at HSE.

The highly-recruited junior played a starring role in HSE's state run as a first-year varsity player, totaling 232 kills on .257 hitting. Mangelson also blocked 35 shots (five solo) and recorded 62 digs.

Sophia Mayo, Perry Meridian

The Florida International commit notched 377 kills, 65 total blocks and 102 digs — all career-highs — last season. The 6-1 senior has 730 kills, 146 blocks and 222 digs through three varsity seasons.

Lauren Paska, Lapel

An all-state honoree, Paska accumulated 306 terminations, 69 aces and 215 digs over 81 sets. She also scored 16 blocks (four solo) and 17 assists. Her efforts helped the Bulldogs to a 17-win campaign, their most since 2018.

Isabelle Poehlein, Zionsville

Poehlein registered 253 kills with a .280 hit%, 18 aces, 42 total blocks and 176 digs. The Boston College commit's performance, which also included four assists, helped Zionsville to a 20-12 finish.

Alaleh Tolliver, North Central

Tolliver led North Central to a winning record for a second consecutive season, tallying 299 kills, 33 aces and 163 digs. The Butler commit also blocked 21 shots and registered 22 assists.

Ava Utterback, Plainfield

Plainfield Quakers Ava Utterback (3) sets the ball on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at Martinsville High School in Martinsville. Plainfield Quakers defeated the Martinsville Artesian in 3-1.
Plainfield Quakers Ava Utterback (3) sets the ball on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at Martinsville High School in Martinsville. Plainfield Quakers defeated the Martinsville Artesian in 3-1.

Though her junior season was cut short by injury, Utterback still registered 82 kills with a .287 hit% over 25 sets, with 14 aces, 21 blocks, and 97 digs. The Louisville commit has 714 kills through three varsity seasons.

More: Ava Utterback makes volleyball look effortless — and she's only getting better

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA girls volleyball: Meet Central Indiana's best outside hitters