Joey Bennett
Tribune-Star Correspondent
TERRE HAUTE —
Terre Haute North’s volleyball program has made tremendous strides over the past few years, and the college ranks are starting to notice.
Three former Patriots played collegiately last fall — junior Casey Hayne at Oakland City, freshman Sara Baugh for the Naval Academy and freshman Bri Hill at Rose-Hulman — and they will be joined this fall by two graduating North standouts who dominate the school’s record books.
Outside hitter Katlyn Anderson will take her skills to Vincennes, while middle hitter/blocker Mary Kate Etling will suit up for the DePauw Tigers.
North Coach Kris Painter recognizes the contributions of the two college-bound standouts, and she knows they will be hard to replace.
“Both of these players had major impacts on our program the last four years,” said Painter, noting that senior Laura Mauer may be a third Patriot to continue her career. “We were 9-19 the year before they came in, and they really helped to turn things around.
“They have both worked on their games in the offseason by playing club volleyball every year since the fourth grade, which in turn has made our program better.”
Anderson and Etling were both four-year starters in guiding the Patriots to an 84-32 record over the past four seasons, the best four-year record in school history.
Anderson holds school records for most points in a match, most digs in a season, most aces in a career and most points scored in a career. She was an all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference choice last year.
“When I picked VU, I just felt it was a really good fit,” she said. “To be able to play volleyball during college is a dream come true.
“The VU coaches have told me that I will be a defensive player, and they have a huge need right now,” Anderson added. “At the next level I will need to work on my fundamentals; that’s an ongoing thing for all volleyball players.”
Painter expects Anderson’s success to continue as a Trail Blazer.
“Katlyn played outside hitter for us all four years, but will be used as a defensive specialist/libero at Vincennes,” she said. “I expect her to do very well there both as an athlete and student. She is a competitor and does anything she needs to do to help her team win.”
Etling holds most of the school records that Anderson doesn’t have — best service percentage in a season, best hitting average in a season, most solo blocks in a career, most assists/ blocks in a career and most total blocks in a career.
She likes DePauw not only for its outstanding volleyball program (22-14 record last year, 11-4 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) but also for its strong educational offerings.
“I was looking for a school with a strong academic reputation and a volleyball team that has the commitment and ability to win a national championship,” Etling said. “I also have a great deal of respect for the head coach, Coach [Deb] Zellers, because throughout the recruiting process she reiterated the importance of excelling both on and off the court.”
Etling is a rarity in today’s high school sports environment as a three-sport athlete, and will conclude her career with 11 varsity letters.
She was the team captain and Gold Medal Award winner in both volleyball and basketball this year, and set blocked shot records for season and career on the Patriot hardwood this winter.
Etling is currently in her fourth year on the North tennis team, and last year was an honorable mention all-state selection and all-district choice with partner Morgan Mills at No. 1 doubles.
“I am now finishing the remainder of my tennis season, and we are working hard to improve on last year’s performance and succeed in the state tournament,” Etling said. “While at DePauw, I will continue to play middle blocker.
“I plan on working hard in my months off until I begin at DePauw, so I can come in as a freshman and become an impact player.”
Painter also predicts success for Etling at the collegiate level.
“She is a true student of the game and understands the total picture,” Painter said. “She has the ability to make others around her better due to her work ethic and athleticism.”
Etling knows what she needs to do in order to continue her success in Greencastle.
“I need to continue to work on my strength and quickness, because the competition will only increase and I want to better myself individually so in the end I can help better my team,” she said. “I look forward to the next four years of being a DePauw Tiger!”
Anderson looks back on her high school career with positive reflections.
“My Terre Haute North career was fantastic,” she said. “It went by really quickly; I only wish we would have beaten Terre Haute South during my time.
“I’ve created memories that I will never forget, and Coach Painter gave me lots of opportunities.”
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollege report@yahoo.com.
(Members of class of 2011 unless noted
otherwise)
Casey-Westfield
Kara Repp, softball, Illinois State
Clinton Scott, football, Eastern Illinois
Clay City
Lynsey Higgins, volleyball, Vincennes
Greencastle
Kayla Downing, softball, Lincoln Trail
Local connections
Kyle Funkhouser (’12), Oak Forest (Ill.), baseball, Louisville (son of Terre Haute native Dennis Funkhouser)
North Central
Megan Stone, softball, Indiana State
Ashli Scott, softball, Indiana State
D.J. Danner, cross country, John Brown University
Craig Bell, baseball, Lake Land
Brandi West, basketball, Rochester
Connor Strain (’12), baseball, Evansville
North Vermillion
Hailey Aukerman, softball, Bethel
Northview
Trent Lancaster, football, Indiana State
Hayley Miller, golf, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
Kaylee Clark, volleyball, Vincennes
Zac Niehaus, baseball, Olney Central
Seth Lunsford, baseball, Lincoln Trail
Lizzie Emmert, volleyball, Kentucky Christian
Austin Akers, basketball, Eastern Illinois (transfer from Olney Central)
Paris
Josh Griffin, football, Eastern Illinois
Riverton Parke
Tim Johnson, baseball, Southeastern Illinois
Haley Chambers (’12), softball, SIU-Edwardsville
Sarah Burnham (’12), softball, Indiana State
Robinson
Braden Welsh, golf, Parkland
A.J. Woods, football, Greenville
Ellen Wilson, rugby, Eastern Illinois
Austin Dart, cross country, Danville Area CC
Cierra Rains, softball, Lincoln Trail
Kelsey Dirks (’12), basketball, Murray State
Rockville
Beth Mahurin, basketball/volleyball, Murray State
Lindsay Greene, softball, Illinois State
Matt King, baseball/football, Siena Heights (transfer from Indiana State)
Kayla Wilson, softball, IU-Southeast
Shakamak
Holli Moore, volleyball, Lake Land
South Putnam
Seth Arnold, football, Kentucky
Brooke Boetjer (’12), softball, Arizona State
South Vermillion
James Craigmyle, football, Harding (Ark.)
Amanda Payton, soccer, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
Mandy Kelly, basketball, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
Michael Thompson, football, Wabash
Briana Harvey, volleyball, Rose-Hulman
Sullivan
Kelsey Burr, soccer, Mountain State (W.Va.) University
Mikaela Chagnon, volleyball, Cincinnati Christian
Lara Benningfield, basketball, Kaskaskia
Rhett Smith (’12), basketball, Indiana State
Terre Haute North
Justin Gant, basketball, Indiana State
Will Pollock, golf, Hanover
Daniel Gabbard, football, Indiana State
Katlyn Anderson, volleyball, Vincennes
Sarah Potter, tennis, Marian
John Mascari, cross country, Indiana
Mary Kate Etling, volleyball, DePauw
David Knight, football/baseball, Marian
Bryan Nacke, baseball, Wabash Valley
Rachel Helt, golf, Hanover
Molly McKee (’12), soccer, Indiana State
Rachel Welker (’12), golf, Eastern Kentucky
Terre Haute South
A.J. Reed, baseball, Kentucky
Thomas Goss, golf, Dayton
Addison Bray, swimming, Louisville
Haley Seibert, basketball, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne
Cristina Elliott, swimming, Grand Valley (Mich.) State
Logan Buske, football, Indiana State
Nathaniel Schuster, football, Indiana State
Zach Lewis, football, Indiana State
Matthew Collier, cross country, Vincennes
Katie Moon, volleyball, Indiana State
Taylor Hayne, volleyball, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Tre Stephens, football, Earlham
Taylor Head, cross country/track, Troy (Ala.)
Caylee Walburn, golf, St. Francis (Ind.)
Hannah Lee (’12), basketball, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne
West Vigo
Scott West, baseball, Indiana State
Zack Kent, baseball, Olney Central
Dylan Aff, football, Rose-Hulman
Alicyn Woodward, softball, Olney Central
Jessica Coombs, volleyball, Wallace State
