Academy Summer League: Week 4 Teams To Watch

<p>Finally! We’re done with moratorium week and have an opportunity to hop back in the gym with all of the kids that are now home from nationals, either on the USAV side or the JVA side. In the past few weeks, my focus has been on teams that I won’t be able to see this fall. This week, my attention is squarely on three teams that can and will compete for their respective conference and sectional titles.</p> <p><strong>Lawrence North</strong></p> <p>Nick Cox’s club always seems to be in the mix year in and year out, and the fall of ’21 will be no exception. We chatted a few weeks ago, and pointed out that the majority of their talent will be rising seniors, but youth will also be in the mix, along with a TON of athleticism. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85838" first="Ariel" last="Helm"] (’22, 5-11 MB), [player_tooltip player_id="85836" first="Kaitlin" last="Fasbender"] (’22, 6-0 MB) </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85849" first="Audrey" last="Sass"] (’22, 6-1 RS/MB)</strong> might make up the bulk of the size for the Wildcats, and all three can play either middle position or right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85831" first="Kimora" last="Whetstone"] (’22, 5-9 UT)</strong> can play middle, simply because she jumps over everyone, but might be best suited for a pin at the next level. The pair of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110377" first="Kamryn" last="Utley"] (’24, 5-6 S/DS/L) </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110491" first="Leah" last="Richmond"] (’24, 5-7 S) </strong>could possibly run a 6-2, with both hitting in the front row as needed. There’s just a ton of options for LN this fall, and I’m looking forward to their first steps.</p> <p><strong>North Central</strong></p> <p>Slightly west of LN on the north side of Indianapolis is another highly athletic squad that has a ton of seniors. However, youth will dictate the Panthers direction this fall. My favorite in the bunch is setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110513" first="Emery" last="Moore"] (’24, 5-9 S), </strong>who just finished up a successful club run as the primary setter for Circle’s 15-1. I’m also interested to see <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110512" first="Alaleh" last="Tolliver"] (’24, 5-11 OH)</strong> and her development. Her run on Academy’s 15-1 was quite successful, and her serve receive has improved dramatically since last fall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110514" first="Whitney" last="Scherrer"] (’24, 5-10 S) </strong>might not be setting a ton with Emery’s skills, but she can definitely fill in as a solid pin attacker that will be much needed in their fall schedule. </p> <p><strong>Fishers</strong></p> <p>This is the enigma. I honestly have zero idea of what to expect from the Tigers. They’re always in the mix for a conference title, they play in arguably the toughest sectional in the state, and they always have a ton of talent. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99590" first="JaNyah" last="Henderson"] (’23, 5-11 MB) </strong>is where my focus will be, since the middle position will be so important this fall after the pin graduations. Opposite her should be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85826" first="Ava" last="Vickers"] (’23, 6-0 MB), </strong>whose length and speed will frustrate a ton of opponents. I’d like to think <strong>Margo Hernandez (’23, 5-9 S)</strong> will be one of the setters running the show, but at last count, there are three setters in the ’23 and ’24 classes alone for Fishers, not to mention the 16 (!!!) other returning players from both varsity and JV. </p>