Plenty of stars at the Mizuno Showcase at the Wisconsin Dells this past weekend and for me, it’s always exciting seeing new players. There were plenty of athletes that were new for me, but also athletes that I hadn’t seen play in quite some time that showed great improvement. The 15s and 16s age group is always fun to see the progression because teams and individuals improve so quickly. If athletes are in the right gym with high quality training they make some major gains. With these new names on the radar, it will be exciting to keep tabs on this whole age group the rest of the season.
Xada Johnson – CIA 16 Black
Johnson is a physical presence on her CIA squad where she has a big arm and has a lot of tools that show the potential for her to be a big time attacker. CIA 16 Black had a huge weekend, finishing 5th. They have the Iowa Regional Tournament at Drake University this upcoming weekend where they will have their first chance to snag a USAV bid.
Ava Dean – Madtown Juniors 16 National
Dean is an extremely dynamic athlete where she is a three sport star for McFarland High School outside of Madison. She’s already snagged a state soccer title and a state runner up finish in volleyball. Dean is a setter/right side combo where her athleticism allows her to help the team in multiple ways. She has a great court savvy and feel for the game where she knows how to make the right play at the right time.
More 16s coming your way from the JVA showcase
McKenna Oetzman – @MadJuniors
Ava Thomas – L2 (Michigan)
Catherine Flaharty – L2 (Michigan)
Teagan Sullivan – @ClubIowa
L2 made the trip over from Michigan and their 16-1 and 16-2 squad finished tied for 5th with a combined record of 13-3, making a major statement against some top teams out of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. Flaharty and Thomas were two key outsides for the L2 16-1 squad with different styles. Thomas is more of a ball control outside where she has all the shots on the pin where she takes what the defense gives her. Flaharty is long, strong and athletic. Her ceiling is incredibly high with a physical style that she can split or hit over the block. She is trending up among the 2024 outsides.
Brooklyn Tortorice – Madtown Juniors 16 National
Uber athletic, so smooth. Tortorice is also a standout basketball athlete and with her footwork and ability to make plays happen, it adds an X Factor to the Madtown 16s who finishes third overall. Tortorice is one of those fast twitch middles who can close the block on each pin and transition to score points. Her game is really going to expand on this squad.
Ava Goldsberry and Macy Wente – RVA 16 Florence
Roots Volleyball Academy out of Central Iowa is in their first year as a club with some top athletes out of the Des Moines Metro and beyond. Goldsberry and Wente are two outsides that are key point scorers for this team. They can find the open spot and score when their team needs it.
Paige Guld – Wisconsin Ice 16 National
Guld is the gritty setter for Wisconsin Ice 16 National who finished tied for 5th. Guld may not be very big, but she is tough and scrappy. She is also an athlete who has really improved from one of the last times I saw her play at the Prep Dig Resolution in January. She’s quick where she can get her feet to the ball and put her attackers in position to score. This Ice team definitely has a spark to their play they’ve won some tight matches this season.
Lot of strong performances out of the 16s power pools.
Peters plays with a fire, an intensity out of the middle where she has a high motor and explosive game. This Kokoro 16-1 team finished second overall and Peters is a key part to their offensive and defensive scheme. She works hard to be available in the middle and has great hand contact hitting it square and isn’t afraid to go for a big swing.
Sophie Robinson – Kokoro 16-1
Robinson is a dynamic player that could play multiple positions, but she was one to watch on the pin this past weekend. She can go line, cross, or sharp cross going zone four to four. She is part of an exciting group from Chippewa Falls (WI) who is having a big offseason after falling to perennial power River Falls in a five set sectional final loss.
Carlie Willis and Ellery Luhring – CIA 16 Black
Willis and Luhring are high school teammates from Grundy Center just outside of Cedar Falls. Willis is a high IQ six rotation player who can swing and score on each pin. She is so steady and consistent. Luhring is a setter for her high school team, but for CIA she holds it down in the backrow. She is under control, great platform awareness and sees the court extremely well. Take the position label off, she’s an athlete, a great all around volleyball player.