McCutcheon boys volleyball reveals progress in 2025 season

[ad_1] LAFAYETTE ― McCutcheon boys volleyball coach Keith Crisler noticed his gamers meld collectively after two years of studying the game collectively.

Boys who picked up the game for the primary time two seasons in the past grew to become a formidable group that discovered to go, digs and rating factors collectively as a unit.

McCutcheon was swept within the first IHSAA sectional boys title title on Saturday afternoon to Zionsville 25-19, 25-14, 25-18, however this system summitted after going 11-20 in 2023 and 6-18 in 2024.

For Crisler, ending with a 15-10 file in 2025 was a breakthrough for his Mavericks.

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"One phrase I'd say is progress," Crisler mentioned. "Development as people, as athletes and as a program within the sport. Boys volleyball and males's volleyball in Indiana has (a while) to develop, however I really feel like we have had a profitable season as a result of we took that pioneering step to be taught one thing new and that is not a simple factor to do."

The variety of boys volleyball groups expanded from 35 in 2022 to the 133 competing within the IHSAA playoffs this spring.

Because the competitors grew, so did McCutcheon.

"I do not suppose anybody ought to depart this season with their head down and their shoulders slumped," Crisler mentioned. "They're pioneer males and left their mark of their first official yr in Indiana."

The expansion of McCutcheon volleyball was headed by graduating starters senior libero Khelan Patel, center blocker Jayden Heygood, setter Kieraan Jordan, outdoors hitter Josh Madsen and out of doors hitter Malachi Kenner.

Patel, Heygood, Jordan, Madsen and Kenner had been the "founding fathers of McCutcheon boys volleyball," per Crisler.

Extra: IHSAA boys volleyball sectional semifinals: McCutcheon advances to championship towards Zionsville

"They're the true pioneers," Crisler added. "Plenty of what we did this season is due to them. With experiences they'd and the way they led the youthful boys in our program, they need to in all probability have a statue or one thing like that."

Patel was a constant libero who attacked and positioned shot receives in playable instructions for his offense.

"It simply reveals the trouble and drive we had for the sport," Patel mentioned. "I do know all of us who've been taking part in, we go play throughout the offseason due to how a lot we love the game. We actually took it upon ourselves to develop the sport, construct this system and construct what we had inside our neighborhood at McCutcheon volleyball."

Jordan distributed the ball as a setter however might additionally present an additional physique on the internet to make blocks or earn kills and factors for his group.

"It is really one thing particular to be there throughout the first yr and construct this factor from the bottom up when it wasn't a totally sanctioned sport," Jordan mentioned. "It is simply superior to see it blossom into this and see it develop like soccer and baseball."

Jordan and Patel noticed the tradition develop at McCutcheon by their exercise, setting an instance for future gamers to return.

"It reveals how a lot we have grown from March 10 and the primary day of the season to now," Jordan mentioned. "We have been actually centered and acquired into this system and this was our objective, to make it to the championship. It confirmed there was a lot focus put into this group."

Ethan Hanson is the sports activities reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He may be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.