Penn Kingsmen win second straight IHSAA boys volleyball sectional title

MIDDLEBURY — Penn won its second straight IHSAA boys volleyball sectional championship Saturday, May 16, just a few hours before the high school’s prom. That didn’t rush the Kingsmen on the court, but they did make quick work of their title match opponent, Elkhart, with a 3-0 sweep to claim the crown. A mix of personalities on the court isn’t an issue for Penn; in fact, it’s one of the Kingsmen’s biggest strengths.

There’s the confident, multi-sport athlete in senior Indiana Wesleyan University football commit Christian Bonner. There’s the little and loud freshman libero Caio Neto. There’s the reserved yet powerful junior Liam Carter.

The roster goes on, but these different people combine to create a successful team. One that has adjusted well to boys volleyball becoming an IHSAA-sanctioned sport as of last season. More: All South Bend area IHSAA boys volleyball sectional results, stats Since then, the Kingsmen are a combined 32-23 with two trophies to show for their efforts.

Although he may not show it much on the court, Carter said he feeds off of his teammates’ energy, which was evident by the way he played in the sectional semifinal and championship matches. “You have to have a lot of trust in your teammates, because everyone has their own part to play, and if you don’t trust your teammates or if you’re not loud enough to communicate what you need, it’s not going to work,” Carter said. “At the start of the season, we didn’t have very good communication or connection, but we’ve been able to pull it together.