Live Eye – 20 Athletes Who Had a Huge January
With a lot of my articles, I like to give a peak behind the scenes as to what I look for when I’m in the gym. Most, if not all of my writing is done from what I see live. College coaches can probably relate that video is nice, but to get the full effect of what athletes can do there is no better view than courtside. I can only be one place at a time and this past month was our own Prep Dig Resolution in Appleton, WI and Central Zone in Indianapolis. Some of these athletes are committed to top tier programs, others who are just getting started at the 15s level, and others who are soon to commit, just committed to multiple divisions – everything in between. Here is a look at plenty of athletes to know from January.
@TNTechVball commit Jordan Karlen and @MarquetteVB commit Natalie Ring having a day. @CapitalVbAll 18 Adidas outlasts @FCEliteVB 17 Navy 19-17 in three sets. Love it! #pdresolution pic.twitter.com/iidxUYTq2R
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 22, 2022
Jordan Karlen – Capital 18 Adidas
Class of 2022 – Committed to Tennessee Tech
Prep Dig Resolution
Tennessee Tech in the Ohio Valley Conference is getting one dynamic setter. Karlen may not be the setter who is going to turn and burn, but the 5’9 Senior out of Milton, WI is one who is a catalyst for her squad getting her hands on the ball and consistently finding the open hitter to terminate (most likely Natalie Ring, a Marquette commit). Karlen plays with a sense of creativity. She just finds a way to keep the ball up as a really solid defender and keeps the other side of the net off balance with how she can hold a blocker and distribute to anyone (or taking it herself), she is such a highlight.
Jurnee Robinson – A5 Mizuno 17 Jing
Class of 2023 – Committed to LSU
Central Zone
I was watching A5 this past weekend and they were in a tight match and all of a sudden Jurnee Robinson goes off, their up four, and timeout to the other team. Robinson is 6’0, but she is definitely touching a basketball rim when she attacks. A really physical athlete, Robinson is a scoring threat from the front or backrow. She is able to hit over the block, through the split, or come through on a two ball and go left or right. She is going to be a Bayou Bengal and add even more talent to the SEC which is on the rise.
Alyssa Nelson – Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite
Class of 2024
Central Zone
Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite will be one of the top teams in the nation this year. They have a really interesting combination of athletes where so many of their athletes can play multiple positions, especially their front row players who can all score, block, and even pass. However, athletes who deserve some more recognition would be the 6-2 setters. Nelson is one of the setters for Rockwood Thunder and she’s all of 5’6, but has a major impact on her team. She keeps it simple, she knows what hitters are available and makes them look really good.
Billie Reiter – Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold
Class of 2025
Central Zone
Sting 15 Gold is going to be a team that is going to go toe for toe with some of the top squads in the country. What I really like about this squad is how they just continue to fight for every point. Reiter is a bit of a swiss army knife where she can set, swing, pass, and defend. So fun to see athletes who can do a little bit of everything. She has a competitive spark to her game where everyone feeds off her.
Campbell Flynn – Legacy 15-1 Adidas
Class of 2025
Central Zone
Flynn has a scary upside to her game where she is long, athletic, and provides a lot of positive attributes for the Legacy 15 Adidas squad. This Legacy team was right there, points away from getting into the final four which will fuel their fire when they head to Triple Crown. With a physical setter in Flynn, she can do a lot of things the opposing side of the net will not be accustomed to. They are a threat to contend with.
Sydney Nolan – NKYVC 17 Tsunami
Class of 2023 – Committed to North Carolina
Central Zone
Huge Sydney Nolan fan. I was able to watch Nolan and her Notre Dame Academy squad this fall at the Asics Challenge. She was playing out of the middle where she was finding the deep corner, hitting multiple tempos, and was deadly on the slide. This past weekend she was playing on the outside and showed what she could do in serve receive and hitting a higher ball. Her upside is huge and her versatility is tough to match.
Emerson Van Lannen – FC Elite 16 Navy
Class of 2024
Prep Dig Resolution
Van Lannen is another one who has a really interesting skill set. She will set and hit for FC Elite 16 Navy who will be heading to Triple Crown in a couple weeks. The Class of 2024 setters in Wisconsin are really strong which includes Van Lannen. A really solid defender in right back, can run a 5-1, but Van Lannen also plays right side. They can also put her on the outside in certain situations to score points with a big swing.
Zoe Behrendt – MKE Sting 17 Gold
Class of 2023 – Committed to North Carolina
Central Zone
I knew Behrendt would swing from the outside during the high school season, but this was the first time I have seen her play on the pin for the club season. Behrendt is one of the top setters out of Wisconsin in the Class of 2023 and will head to North Carolina. This past weekend, she helped lead Sting 17 Gold to the elite eight at CZ, losing a tight three set battle to A5. Behrendt is on point with her setting, but is really high IQ and explosive hitting from the right side.
Ashley Sturzoiu of @a5volleyball 17 Jing is soooo good out of system. Heavy top spin to the corner. Plays with so much fire! #centralzone pic.twitter.com/R8dzC5c0je
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 29, 2022
Ashley Sturzoiu – A5 Mizuno 17 Jing
Class of 2023
Central Zone
Violent approach and arm swing. Sturzoiu plays an aggressive style and knows how to hit the split or use the hands of the blocker. She brings an intensity to the court where her teammates can feed off the energy she brings. There are a lot of pieces to this A5 team that has very little weakness. After a final four finish at Central Zone, they will be hungry for a Triple Crown title and will also be in the hunt for the best club title as well.
Addison Tindall – Team Pineapple 17 Black
Class of 2025
Central Zone
What impressed me most about Tindall was how she was able to take a swing out of system. For an athlete at the 15s level, that can be tough to execute. She is well trained, disciplined, and knows how to take advantage of the situation. Even if Tindall would miss, she would still swing away. Some attackers will go the safe route and tip or roll which at the Open level just leads to a free ball. That shows maturity on her part and plenty of positive with the ability to still go for it, even after a near miss.
Laurence Abraham – Legacy 17-1 Adidas
Class of 2023 – Committed to Yale
Central Zone
Are we allowed to call middle blockers graceful? Abraham is a defensive and offensive threat out of the middle where she just hangs in the air. She has great body control where she knows how to use her hands above the net without being out of control. A really fun player to watch with the composure and athleticism she plays with.
Margo Hernandez – Rev 17-1 Raptors
Class of 2023
Central Zone
Hernandez needs to be on the radar for plenty of college coaches. A 5-1 setter who can run the show, she plays with a high motor and gets her hands to the ball. A high release, she remains neutral without giving away her sets to the other side. A real athletic style at the net, she just finds a way to make things happen for her Rev team.
Raegan Burns – Academy 17 Tsunami
Class of 2023 – Committed to Kansas
Central Zone
Burns committed to Kansas this past offseason and the Jayhawks will be getting a libero who just quietly makes things happen. There is no wasted movement with Burns, she anticipates well and is always under control. Sure, she can make the diving play, but she also makes the really difficult plays look easy. This is a really talent 17 Tsunami team who has some key pieces that will a threat to plenty of teams this offseason.
Kenna Wollard – Illini Elite 17 Cardinal
Class of 2023 – Committed to Purdue
Central Zone
Wollard continues to show she will be an attacker to know when she heads to the Big Ten. A Purdue commit, Wollard is a physical attacker who can really hit a variety of angles. Seeing her go against the big block of KIVA in early Saturday play showed she can score in creative ways going from a big cross swing to a roll shot, keeping the defense completely off balanced. She is still a big time threat to score from the backcourt as well.
Gabriella Durham (Ella) with a real heavy swing for @MintonetteSport 71. Real competitive match vs MVA #centralzone pic.twitter.com/97VI3t4FHQ
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 29, 2022
Gabriella Durham “Ella” – Mintonette m.71
Class of 2023
Central Zone
This Mintonette team has the makings to be really dangerous. They have solid ball control and a big front line that is really physical. An uncommitted 2023 who had a big weekend was Ella Durham. She was swinging from the outside and hits such a heavy ball. She is so close to breaking to that next level. Her upside is scary and when she continues to develop into a six rotation player she will be tough to stop.
Ivey Stocks – Tri State Elite 17 Blue
Class of 2023
Central Zone
I saw Stocks at Central Zone last year and was amazed by her jumping ability. Fast forward to this past weekend and she is still really explosive out of the middle and is stronger with her swing. Stocks is one of those fast twitch middles who is touching over ten feet while being 6’0. She connects extremely well with her high level setter in Luca Fickell.
Taylor Cripe – Boiler Juniors 15 Gold
Class of 2025
Central Zone
I saw Cripe at the Indiana Top 250 in December with plenty of her teammates and this squad was very impressive this past weekend with a final four finish. Cripe is another outside hitter who plays with no fear and packs a heavy swing from the outside. Boilers just seem to have scrappy teams across the board and 15 Gold is no different. Cripe definitely represents that and will continue to find new ways to score points.
Reese Dunkel – Circle City 15 Purple
Class of 2025
Central Zone
Extremely active. I think that is something every coach wants their middle to be. Dunkel is a piece of a really talented 15 Purple team who will win a lot of matches this year. Seeing her play this past weekend, she was working extremely hard out of the middle where she’s getting her hands up and going right into transitioning to be available as an attacker. Textbook. She plays with a fire as does the rest of their team. A strong early season start like this definitely is motivating what could be for this team the rest of the season.
Chloe Smith and Kayla Channell – ECJ 15-1
Class of 2025
Central Zone
Eastside Cleveland 15s were a treat to watch this whole weekend. They just don’t let the ball drop and the longer the rally, the better chance they had to score. They defeated Circle City in Saturday night pool play and dropped a tough three setter to NKYVC. Sunday morning they had another dramatic pair of dramatic finishes, defeating MKE Sting 15 Gold 24-22 in set three and dropping a three set match to MI Elite 15 Mizuno in three sets. Smith and Channell are two big scorers for this team, they are also a major blocking presence at the net. I think the picture above says it all about this squad and how they play.
Abigail Li – A5 Mizuno 15-Bob
Class of 2025
Central Zone
Li does it all for A5 Mizuno 15-Bob, she is a really physical athlete who sets and plays right side. She just finds a way to get it done for this team in all facets of the game. A pattern I saw over the weekend is the number of really good “volleyball players”. They are just really good at having an all around skill set. This is attributed to solid training, but also relentlessly working to make it their craft.