Manchester Volleyball Earns Thirteen Points In HCAC Conference Preseason Poll
August 27, 2021 at 1:05 a.m.
By Dillon Bender-
In a vote amongst league coaches, Transylvania University was slated to win the conference after receiving 97 points and seven first-place votes. The Pioneers enter the season ranked 11th nationally. The Lions of Mt. St. Joseph were picked second in Wednesday’s poll after earning one first-place vote and 85 points. Earlham College received the two other first-place votes and 80 points.
Hanover College (66 points) and Bluffton University (57 points) rounded out the top half of Wednesday’s poll.
Manchester earned 13 points.
Head Coach Ivan Matos will enter his fourth year at the helm of the Manchester volleyball program this fall. Coach Matos will return a bulk of his core rotation in 2021.
Six Spartans garnered “Athlete to Watch” honors from the HCAC office on Wednesday.
Senior Samantha Campbell (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) will provide leadership for the Spartans, both on and off the floor, this fall. Campbell will also help anchor Manchester’s front line. An Honorable Mention All-HCAC performer a year ago, Campbell has 131 career total blocks to her credit.
Returning outside hitters Joy Maze (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood Community) and Helaina Walters (Marion, Ind./Eastbrook) were also named “Athletes to Watch.” Maze saw significant playing time during her first year in a Black & Gold uniform, finishing the 2020-21 campaign with 158 kills, 130 digs, and 18 total blocks. Walters has played in 32 matches in her Manchester career and has posted career totals of 237 kills, 279 digs, and 31 total blocks.
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unior right side Halle Planck (Gas City, Ind./Mississinewa) was an Honorable Mention All-HCAC performer a year ago. Planck also garnered First Team All-HCAC honors, as well as All-HCAC Freshmen Team honors back in 2019. Entering this fall, Planck has tallied career totals of 434 kills and 83 total blocks.
The final two Spartans that were named “Athletes to Watch” by the HCAC office on Wednesday were sophomore setter Jordan Holland (Osceola, Ind./Mishawaka) and newcomer Erika Kramer (Greensburg, Ind./North Decatur). Holland saw significant playing time last year, appearing in 18 matches. Holland dished out 248 assists while collecting 98 digs. Kramer joins the Manchester program after transferring from IUPUI. Kramer is a graduate of North Decatur High School where she was a two-time section MVP and champion.
The Spartans will open play next week on Wednesday September 1 at home against Olivet College. A JV match will begin at 5 pm with the varsity match following at 7 pm.
HCAC play will begin on Friday October 1 with a road trip to Hanover.
In a vote amongst league coaches, Transylvania University was slated to win the conference after receiving 97 points and seven first-place votes. The Pioneers enter the season ranked 11th nationally. The Lions of Mt. St. Joseph were picked second in Wednesday’s poll after earning one first-place vote and 85 points. Earlham College received the two other first-place votes and 80 points.
Hanover College (66 points) and Bluffton University (57 points) rounded out the top half of Wednesday’s poll.
Manchester earned 13 points.
Head Coach Ivan Matos will enter his fourth year at the helm of the Manchester volleyball program this fall. Coach Matos will return a bulk of his core rotation in 2021.
Six Spartans garnered “Athlete to Watch” honors from the HCAC office on Wednesday.
Senior Samantha Campbell (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) will provide leadership for the Spartans, both on and off the floor, this fall. Campbell will also help anchor Manchester’s front line. An Honorable Mention All-HCAC performer a year ago, Campbell has 131 career total blocks to her credit.
Returning outside hitters Joy Maze (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood Community) and Helaina Walters (Marion, Ind./Eastbrook) were also named “Athletes to Watch.” Maze saw significant playing time during her first year in a Black & Gold uniform, finishing the 2020-21 campaign with 158 kills, 130 digs, and 18 total blocks. Walters has played in 32 matches in her Manchester career and has posted career totals of 237 kills, 279 digs, and 31 total blocks.
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unior right side Halle Planck (Gas City, Ind./Mississinewa) was an Honorable Mention All-HCAC performer a year ago. Planck also garnered First Team All-HCAC honors, as well as All-HCAC Freshmen Team honors back in 2019. Entering this fall, Planck has tallied career totals of 434 kills and 83 total blocks.
The final two Spartans that were named “Athletes to Watch” by the HCAC office on Wednesday were sophomore setter Jordan Holland (Osceola, Ind./Mishawaka) and newcomer Erika Kramer (Greensburg, Ind./North Decatur). Holland saw significant playing time last year, appearing in 18 matches. Holland dished out 248 assists while collecting 98 digs. Kramer joins the Manchester program after transferring from IUPUI. Kramer is a graduate of North Decatur High School where she was a two-time section MVP and champion.
The Spartans will open play next week on Wednesday September 1 at home against Olivet College. A JV match will begin at 5 pm with the varsity match following at 7 pm.
HCAC play will begin on Friday October 1 with a road trip to Hanover.
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