LAFAYETTE – Harrison, Lafayette Jeff and Crawfordsville each competed in the Indiana Boys Volleyball Coaches Association sectional quarterfinals Thursday at Lafayette Jeff High School.
Lafayette's Jeff and Harrison each earned a sweep and will meet in the semifinals at noon Saturday, while McCutcheon, who won a sweep over Kokomo in Tuesday's game, will face Westfield at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Here are three takeaways from the men's volleyball quarterfinal match.
Lafayette Jeff dances to semifinals
The Bronchos, who have reigned supreme in men's volleyball for 30 years, had little trouble handling the challenge from Crawfordsville, a freshman program.
Senior Gabe Brandenberg had eight of his game-high 13 kills in the first half, leading Athens to a 25-11, 25-6, 25-6 victory. At 6-foot-1, Brandenberg has the swing and power to play in college. His timing and the way he swings his shoulders to drive through the ball is important to the Lafayette Jeffs, which includes standout outside hitter Kevin Braxton, junior setter Eric Gallardo and defensive specialist Brody Bettag. It has become a weapon.
2. Blevins – soft-spoken leader
Meanwhile, Harrison's senior setter Connor Blevins plays a key role as both a passer and back row.
He's not a high flyer, he's not flashy. Blevins is calm, level-headed, and his goals work from point A to point B. Backpedaling back to the receiving position, he transitions and sets up his shot, swinging to outside hitters Ludwig Taavanainen and Andrew Hostetler.
3. Coach McCutcheon gives guidance to underclassmen with no track record.
Coach Keith Crisler's Mavericks took a big step forward by sweeping Kokomo and advancing to the IBVCA semifinals against Westfield.
Sophomore outside hitter Corbin Vannett is developing into one of the top back row players in the area. Chrysler is looking to turn a team that started off slow with 10 underclassmen into a program that can more compete with established programs Lafayette Jeff and Harrison by next year.
