NorthWood’s Caroline Mullet was chosen as Second Team All-State by the IHSVCA. (Photos by Mike Deak)

INDIANAPOLIS – It was fitting that all three of the girls were in the same gym when their latest honor was announced.

Maddy Payne and Kendal Miller, currently wearing NorthWood basketball jerseys, along with Caroline Mullet, wearing her NorthWood letter jacket in the student section, all were in The Pit Tuesday night when Mark Mikel announced the three were among the All-State selections by the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association. Mikel announced the honors during the third quarter of NorthWood’s win over Mishawaka while Red Slam coaches Hilary Laidig and Mark Heeter were on the game broadcast above The Pit.

The IHSVCA released its choices Tuesday evening, with Payne earning First Team All-State in Class 3-A and both Mullet and Miller getting Second Team All-State honors. All three girls helped NorthWood to its finest season in program history, going 32-4 and a regional final after winning both the Northern Lakes Conference (first outright since 2002) and Wawasee Sectional titles (first since 2015).

Payne was just one of two athletes from the area to earn First Team All-State, the other being Elise Swiskck of New Prairie in Class 3-A. Three from Class 1-A earned Second Team All-State in Madison Blickenstaff and Olivia Brooke of Pioneer and Sadie Brenneman of Bethany Christian.

The IHSVCA also issued its All-District picks in addition to All-State.

In Class 4-A, the North District had a Penn duo in Kylee Hixenbaugh and Addy Kois.

In Class 3-A, the Northwest District had Swiskck and the St. Joe trio of Sydney Suth, Megan Madden and Katherine Schmidt. The Northeast District had Payne.

In Class 2-A, the North District had the Wabash trio of Mariah Wyatt, Haylie Faust and Alivia Short, the Rochester duo of Alivia Riegle and Kaitlin Rogers, the Winamac duo of Taylor Jennings and Maggie Smith, Fairfield’s Madeline Gawthrop and Whitko’s Morgan Howard.

In Class 1-A, Pioneer had six chosen in Blickenstaff and Brooke along with Hailey Cripe, Jara Esnal, Mackenzie Walker and Mackenzie Robinson. Northfield’s Addison Baker and Culver’s Madison Shedrow also were chosen.