Club Team Previews: Union 17-1 and Circle 17-1
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On Sunday, January 9, the club season begins for many Indiana clubs at the Circle City Shootout, hosted at Capitol Sports Center in Plainfield, IN (among other sites). In the coming days, I’m going to touch on a few players…
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Continue ReadingOn Sunday, January 9, the club season begins for many Indiana clubs at the Circle City Shootout, hosted at Capitol Sports Center in Plainfield, IN (among other sites). In the coming days, I’m going to touch on a few players you need to know going into this tournament, and the teams to watch.
UNION 17-1 UA
The most well-rounded team in Union’s arsenal, coached by Providence HS head coach Terri Purichia, will make a ton of noise this club season, starting with this Sunday. Her daughter, Grace Purichia Grace Purichia 5'7" | S Providence | 2023 State #149 Nation IN (’23, committed to Jacksonville State), is an exceptional locator of the ball and has the tools to play indoor as well as outdoor ball at the next level. But whom will she set? On this side of the Ohio River, look no further than Caroline Hilbrich Caroline Hilbrich 5'9" | OH Floyd Central | 2023 State IN (’23, 5-10 DS/OH, Floyd Central), who is another indoor/outdoor stud and should never come out because of her excellence in ball control. A person who can crush it on both pins is Alexis Caldwell Alexis Caldwell 6'1" | OH New Albany | 2023 State IN (’23, RS/OH, New Albany), who brings size and length to the squad. I’m also fond of Libby Dippold Libby Dippold 5'11" | MB Columbus East | 2023 State IN (’23, 6-0 MB, Columbus East), who, along with stud middle Meredith Brown (’23, 6-4 MB, Mercy Academy, Kentucky), can make things difficult for opposing offenses both defensively and offensively.
CIRCLE CITY 17 PURPLE
On the top 17s team at Circle, there is a trio of committed studs to watch. Chloe Chicoine Chloe Chicoine 5'9" | OH McCutcheon | 2023 State #1 Nation IN (’23, committed to Penn State) and Quinci Thomas Quinci Thomas 6'3" | OH Brownsburg | 2023 State #138 Nation IN (’23, committed to Xavier), will dominate on the left pin regularly. Molly Urban Molly Urban 5'4" | DS/L Martinsville | 2023 State #122 Nation IN (’23, committed to Louisville) is one of the best first-contact players in her class in the state, and should never be served to under any circumstance. Who does that leave us with? A ton of big time talent, starting with Ella Chapman Ella Chapman 6'3" | MB Greensburg | 2023 State IN (’23, 6-4 MB, Greensburg), whose size and strength will give fits to opposing offenses and defenses. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the “other” middle is Emily Waddell Emily Waddell 6'0" | MB Carmel | 2023 State #137 Nation IN (’23, 6-0 MB, Carmel), who jumps just as high as Ella, but is faster on offense and can go pin to pin with the best of them. I’m a huge fan of Ava Smith Ava Smith 6'1" | OH Park Tudor | 2023 State #121 Nation IN (’23, 6-1 OH/RS, Park Tudor) who already jumps past ten feet and can hit from anywhere. But who’s going to set all of these athletes? Macy Hinshaw Macy Hinshaw 5'9" | S Hamilton Southeastern | 2024 State #75 Nation IN (’24, 5-9 S, Hamilton Southeastern) has always played up a year and will have arguably the best offense to set in the 17s division in the entire state. Her quiet and no-nonsense demeanor will drive this squad to multiple successes this season.