Indiana 2021 Rankings Breakdown: Top DSs Still Available
<p>We complete our breakdown of top kids available by position with our top five DS/L available in the 2021 class in Indiana.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85681" first="Taylor" last="Lauri"], 5-8, Hamilton Southeastern, Circle City 18 Purple, Prep Dig #16</strong></p>
<p>How is this kid still available? She was the only junior on Circle’s flagship team, and for good reason. Smooth and athletic, her length helps her touch everything coming her way. Used as a three-rotation DS for most of the truncated club season, she’s fully capable of wearing the special jersey, and her leadership in such a role is apparent. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85689" first="Lexi" last="Brehl"], 5-8, Carmel, Academy 17 Elite Tsunami, Prep Dig #22</strong></p>
<p>One of my favorite players at any position in this class, Lexi got a chance to play all three positions on defense and even donned the libero jersey for a few matches this past spring. Her anticipation and willingness to do the dirty work makes her a viable candidate for any program, and I look forward to seeing her progress in her senior year in the fall.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85710" first="Delaney" last="Needham"], 5-6, Avon, Circle City 16 Black, Prep Dig #46</strong></p>
<p>I’ve seen this kid play for years now, and her athleticism and anticipation sets her apart from most of the DS candidates in Indiana. Most play tiny and don’t have much range in their defense or their serve receive. In multiple matches this past spring, Delaney had to pass half the court on her own in SR and always seemed to be the first contact on any hard-driven ball. Her nose for the ball is easily apparent. </p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85711" first="Bella" last="Schumacher"], 5-7, Brebeuf Jesuit, Academy 17 Elite Tsunami, Prep Dig #47</strong></p>
<p>I’d like to say that Bella and her teammate, Lexi, are interchangeable. I’d be wrong. Where Lexi is versatile, Bella perfected her craft. I like Lexi’s length and willingness to do what no one else will, but Bella doesn’t have to; she’s always in the right spot at the right time. Need a side-out? Bella contacted the first ball. And her serve receive had to be perfect: there wasn’t a clear-cut six-rotation OH on her club team, making Bella responsible for much more than she’s given credit for.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85713" first="Anna" last="Ballengee"], 5-10, DS/OH, Barr-Reeve, Circle City 17 Purple, Prep Dig #49</strong></p>
<p>I’m immediately going to get hate mail over Anna being this low on the list. The only All-State kid on this list, the only state champ on this list, and the only six-rotation kid on this list (she was 6-rotation on her high school team, full-time libero on her club team). I would love to see her dedicate her entire volleyball experience to being a true full-time libero, but at her high school, that’s just not possible; she’s too important to their success for her NOT to be an OH. Nevertheless, this is yet another kid that should have received at least SOME love from colleges by now.</p>
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