"Live Eye" High Level 2023's On The Rise

To the Class of 2022 and 2023, there is no need to press the panic button in regards to recruiting right now. Colleges are busy with their season getting into the heart of their conference schedules and as high school athletes, stay focused on your high school team. If schools are not getting back to you immediately, it's ok. There is a lot of volleyball left to be played and for a lot of these colleges who are carrying large rosters, they need to evaluate what their needs are in regards to recruiting. I did take a weekend off this past weekend, a Saturday without volleyball was a bit odd. Since the beginning of August I've been covering or coaching (shout out to those 9th Grade and JV coaches out there). This article is based on what I've seen with the “Live Eye”. This is not from coach or parent input, its just what I see. The live eye don't lie. With top tournaments in Indiana and Wisconsin, there are some 2023's rising high and ones that programs at a high level will need to take note. Up Next For Coverage: Asics Challenge - Chicago Beast of the East - Livonia, MI <img class=" wp-image-153136 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC08936.jpg" alt="" width="455" height="303" /> [player_tooltip player_id="85896" first="Quinci" last="Thomas"] - Brownsburg (IN) Outside Hitter Thomas has the size, length, athleticism and physicality. She is a special player to watch on the court in all rotations as she is a solid six rotation outside hitter for Brownsburg who packs plenty of power. Thomas plays for Circle City out of the Indianapolis area and she has to be at the top of the list for plenty of schools where she is in the heart of MAC, Horizon, and even Big Ten Country. She would also be one the MVC and OVC would be looking at as well. What you wouldn't see on a stat sheet is how well she interacts with her teammates. Consistent body language, she smiles, she has positive interactions, she's a treat to watch!   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The evolution of [player_tooltip player_id="82916" first="Sylvie" last="Zgonc"] from watching her as a 15s to now as a Junior has been so fun. She always had an explosive approach, but now taller, stronger, and an IQ where she can score from anywhere. Big part to the success of <a href="https://x.com/HHSChargerVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HHSChargerVB</a> <a href="https://t.co/umrTGFbnlo">pic.x.com/umrTGFbnlo</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1439272780135026690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="82916" first="Sylvie" last="Zgonc"] - Sussex Hamilton (WI) Outside Hitter I've seen Zgonc play since she was 14 or 15 years old, but when I saw her at the Adidas Charger Challenge, the top state in Wisconsin I had to do a double take. She's gotten taller which I don't say often about high school athletes. She looks stronger, she is thumping balls at a sharper angle and is a big time attacking outlet from the backcourt. There was a major improvement in her game that is giving her team a major spark and is gearing up for a big time club season.   [player_tooltip player_id="91876" first="Cordelia" last="Kearns"] - Oconomowoc (WI) Pin Attacker There are a lot of athletes who can play outside and right side (but not very well). Kearns is efficient and terminal from the right side and left side as an attacker and is also an outlet from the backrow. She has an aggressive approach and fast arm swing where she is tough to block and keep her swing in system for the other side. She is part of a high-powered offense for Oconmowoc who is consistently a top team in Wisconsin's largest class. She has been playing club for [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] out of Rockford, IL. <img class=" wp-image-156423 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC09243.jpg" alt="" width="449" height="299" /> [player_tooltip player_id="82915" first="Autumn" last="Flynn"] - Luxemburg-Casco (WI) Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter With an injury for her high school team early in the season, Flynn filled a void moving from the middle to the outside. I think this is a glimpse of what her future could look like at the next level. She's always been a powerful player out of the middle, but seeing her swing from the outside without a lot of experience was exciting and eye-opening. She has a huge arm, plenty of power, and just plays with a swagger and confidence where she will find a way to score points. What adds value to her game is how terminal she is off of one foot. There are plenty of ways Flynn can be used in an offensive scheme. <img class=" wp-image-153128 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC09033-e1629218324603-300x262.jpg" alt="" width="422" height="370" /> [player_tooltip player_id="107706" first="Vanessa" last="Del Real"] - Crown Point (IN) Libero The “Real Deal” Del Real. Can we please normalize this nickname? [player_tooltip player_id="107706" first="Vanessa" last="Del Real"] is big time. I really try not to glorify liberos diving all over the place because usually its making up for lack of being able to read the offense or poor footwork. Del Real makes it look easy and that starts with her feet and platform awareness. She is so smooth with how she gets to the ball and put her offense into system with a clean pass to Oakland commit, [player_tooltip player_id="123700" first="Rachel" last="Rossman"]. Crown Point is really fun team to watch and plenty of their athletes have had success playing club in the Chicagoland area. <img class="alignright wp-image-153130" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC08990-e1629218487747-300x249.jpg" alt="" width="353" height="293" /> [player_tooltip player_id="85907" first="Mallory" last="Dills"] - Cathedral (IN) Setter Dills is the maestro. A Munciana setter who knows how to run the middle and set a quick tempo is her second nature. I was able to see Dills play at the Crown Point Tournament where she puts her attackers in a position to succeed. Fundamentally, Dills is incredibly solid. She takes the ball high and knows how to hold the middle blocker so her outsides get a one-on-one opportunity. By the second set the frontline is guessing because she is so unpredictable.   [player_tooltip player_id="82921" first="Kaitlin" last="Schulz"] - Kimberly (WI) Outside Hitter Schulz is extremely springy and has such a snap on her swing. The progress that Schulz has made over the past two seasons has been impressive. She is now one of the top attackers in her class and finds a way to score points. She's been on the right side for blocking purposes, but she is most effective from the outside and middle back where she can just be aggressive and score points.   [player_tooltip player_id="92019" first="Morgan" last="Kealy"] - River Falls (WI) (Title Photo) Setter Super high IQ. Kealy was an All Tournament team member for the Adidas Charger Challenge where her River Falls squad finished tied for 5th. Kealy keeps it simple, makes it easy for her teammates. She has a great understanding of the game where she is so efficient from when she attacks, to when she sets the middles, and when to go to the outlet. Defensively, she is strong at the net and from right back. There are not a lot of gaps to her game and she is a flat out winner. [caption id="attachment_117113" align="aligncenter" width="386"]<img class=" wp-image-117113" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/Alivia-Jeanquart-300x222.jpg" alt="" width="386" height="286" /> [player_tooltip player_id="91939" first="Alivia" last="Jeanquart"], 2023, S.[/caption] Liv Jeanquart - Green Bay Preble (WI) Jeanquart is an underdog. She might be a little undersized at the net, but she is so gritty. She works extremely well out of system with efficient footwork and a smooth release. There are plenty of athletes like a Jeanquart who may be a little under the radar who are going to really make a statement this club season and show the major improvements since she made in 2021.