15 2023’s, 8 States With Noteworthy Windy City Performances
At this point in the season, people around the club volleyball scene know most of the names. Athletes like Harper Murray of Legacy and Chloe Chicoine of Circle City as well as the athletes on 1st Alliance 17 Gold are…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAt this point in the season, people around the club volleyball scene know most of the names. Athletes like Harper Murray of Legacy and Chloe Chicoine of Circle City as well as the athletes on 1st Alliance 17 Gold are definitely household names (or they should be with the talent and success they’ve had). This past weekend there was a deep pool of talent of 17s across all divisions. My goal this past weekend was to get on as many courts as possible to see athletes from across the country. I know the Junior year can be stressful for any student and for a lot of these athletes it’s a matter of sorting out what they need academically, athletically, and an overall fit for where they want their next stop to be. Here is a look at some 17s/2023’s to note from the Windy City Qualifier.
Was able to get to some 17s courts. I can never stay in one place. Some more names to know.
Ava Hoying – @MintonetteSport
Mercedes Motton – @MintonetteSport
Allison Berent – L2
Megan Grose – L2 #wcnq— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 15, 2022
Allison Berent – Libero – L2
Megan Grose – Setter – L2
L2 out of Michigan had a really athletic team that went toe to toe with some of the traditional powerhouses of the tournament. They missed out on advancing to Day 2 with a tiebreaker going 2-1 and scored a big win over AVC Cleveland. Grose is a really physical and athletic setter where she can command the offense and has a lot of positive intangibles. Berent seems like the type of athlete who can step on any field or court and be one of the top players. She has great range, solid energy, and a spark for her teammates. This is a group to really keep an eye on the rest of the season.
Ava Hoying – Outside Hitter – Mintonette m.71
Everytime I watch Mintonette play, it seems like I see new players who stand out. Hoying was one who stood out from the front and backrow. She was playing middle back and showed that she could score points from the backrow with really solid hand contact where she could go to both corners. She is also one who can score from both pins and is really smooth with how she can transition to attack.
Love a fast middle who can thump. Mercedes Motton so athletic and strong for @MintonetteSport m71 – tough matchup pic.twitter.com/0S6mHdBX7S
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 15, 2022
Mercedes Motton – Middle Blocker – Mintonette m.71
Fast twitch middles are so fun to watch and can be a nightmare of a mismatch. Motton does that where she is extremely quick and explosive where she transitions to attack and can really hammer. Mintonette has had a big past month where they clinched an open bid with their finish at Show-Me last weekend. Their balance and depth is what sets them apart as well as multiple middles who can score points.
Emilia Batus – Middle Blocker – Michio 17 National
Milana Popovic – Libero – Michio 17 National
Michio had a tough day one in 17 Open, but bounced back to win their last five matches of the weekend. There are a lot of dynamic athletes on this squad, but watching Batus command the front row as a middle blocker and Popovic in the backrow as a libero. Batus is so dynamic, extremely active on the net where she has a high powered motor and is really effective on the 50/50 balls. She can score off one foot and I know I’ve mentioned this before and I’ll say it again, but she is so dynamic. Popovic has a major presence with her body language and voice where she can be a leader on the court. A really strong athlete, she can handle a high volume of serve receive and is definitely one to take charge with the first contact.
Lillie Petersen – Middle Blocker – Iowa Rockets 17R
I’ve seen a lot of these Iowa Rockets players since they were in their 15s year, but Lillie Petersen is a new one on the radar as a middle blocker right side. Extremely athletic, Petersen is also a standout on the basketball hardcourt, and is another athlete who can do a lot of different things on the volleyball court. She is laterally quick to get to the pin and can make something happen out of nothing.
Gabby Weihe – Middle Blocker – Academy 17E Tsunami
This is another team that I’ve seen play quite a bit the past two years. A lot of really strong athletes who have already committed to their college programs, but one that caught my attention with her athleticism at the net is middle Gabby Weihe. A major leaper, Weihe just hangs in the air and can do a lot of damage at the net. Her best volleyball may be ahead of her with her athleticism and ability to hit a variety of tempos and block. Just a fun athlete to have on the court.
Olivia Vance – Outside Hitter – UPVBC 17 Open
So consistent, solid, and smooth on the court where Vance is the complete package as a six rotation outside hitter. She can do it all with her skill set with this team out of Oklahoma. This was my first time seeing this squad live where they made it to day three gold pools and scored huge wins over Metro, REV, and Michio. Vance will be a solid pick up at the next level with her ability to make the court better and provide plenty of positive touches where she’s keeping her side of the net in system with a good first contact or scoring points.
@UPVBC out of Oklahoma off to a hot start against metro. Sidney Smith with the kill on the right side. Really energetic and animated squad pic.twitter.com/2wvbTlIe6c
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 16, 2022
Sidney Smith – Right Side – UPVBC 17 Open
Smith was really important in Ultimate’s Saturday morning gold pool match against Metro. She was a major mismatch with the hot hand, forcing timeouts for Metro as UPVBC built plenty of momentum. Smith was doing most of her damage on the right side as an attacker, but with her skill set, I could see her being able to attack and block anywhere out of the frontrow.
Samantha Fisch – Middle Blocker – MKE Sting 17 Black
Fisch is definitely a go-to attacker where she can score a lot of points when she connects with setter Rachel Rossing from Sting 17 Black. Long and athletic, Fisch can find the open spots in the deep corner, but she also can find the split while running multiple tempos. There are a lot of options for Fisch out of the middle where she can be very creative on how to find ways to score points.
Jessica Schmidt – Middle Blocker – 1st Alliance 17 Silver
At 6’5, Schmidt provides a really physical presence at the net. Teams have to know where she is at in all situations because she can really press to cause some troubles. Offensively, she connects well with setter Ava Schabes and keeps it simple when scoring points finding the corner of the court or a zone four tipout.
@TexasLegacyVB 17 Elite looking strong in their opening match vs Circle City 17 Black. Olivia Comeaux really big swing and scoring ability from the outside Solid Libero in Kylie Bray @PrepDigTX
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 16, 2022
Olivia Comeaux – Outside Hitter – Texas Legacy 17 Elite
Comeaux was electric from the outside for Texas Legacy where she has a fast armswing and knows how to find the split. She had a huge weekend leading Legacy to an undefeated Friday and Saturday until they lost a real close match to NEW Wave 17 Tsunami out of Chicagoland 17-15 in set three of the quarterfinals of 17 USA. Comeaux would definitely be one the Midwest schools would love to have on their college roster.
Allison Deardorff – Middle Blocker – NEW Wave 17 Tsunami
Once again another middle who made the notes. Deardorff is extremely dynamic for NEW Wave who finished third overall in 17 USA. Deardorff’s high motor as a middle is really indicative of the rest of her team. This group is SCRAPPY! For Deardorff, she sets the tone where she can go from pin to pin to block and transition to be available as a middle. This team is a tough matchup because they make sure the other side’s points are earned with their gritty defense and fast tempo.
Emma Tallman – Middle Blocker – Club Ignite 17 Blue
Club Ignite 17 Blue out of the Central Iowa/Des Moines area took home the top prize in the 17 Liberty Division. With a really athletic squad as well as being well balanced, Emma Tallman is a middle blocker who was a major presence for this team offensively and defensively. She’s quick, she’s fast twitch, and she can score off one foot. She could be an addition at the next level where she could play middle or right side.