Rapid Risers Up The ’23 Rankings In Indiana

<p>With a new release comes kids that have outperformed even their own expectations. Here are five kids that have made the biggest rise up the class of ’23 rankings since January.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118341" first="Alexis" last="Caldwell"], 6-1 OH, New Albany, Union</strong></p> <p>A big, strong, six-rotation outside is what you’re getting from Miss Caldwell. She can terminate from anywhere on the court, front row or back. Her volleyball instincts are already at a high level. Now it’s just a matter of being seen as to who she is---a hybrid of a player who can be a three-rotation pin (on either side) or a six-rotation pin (also, on either side). Easily having the best season yet this past fall, Alexis is fully capable of passing the 1000 kill mark for her career for the Bulldogs next fall.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85932" first="Ava" last="Smith"], 6-1 OH, Park Tudor, Circle City</strong></p> <p>At the beginning of the club season, Ava was "the other pin". With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85895" first="Chloe" last="Chicoine"] (Purdue commit)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85896" first="Quinci" last="Thomas"] (Xavier commit)</strong> getting the lion’s share of the sets on the pins, Ava was the high-leaping outside who was a great addition to Chris Due’s 17-1 squad. Fast-forward a few months, and Ava’s Circle team has already qualified in open multiple times over for GJNC. Ava is also the second outside behind Chloe, as Quinci was moved to the right side. Ava has done everything she can to stay in the lineup, and it’s hers to keep. She jumps past ten feet, terminates at will, and makes the block irrelevant. In short, this author is supremely impressed with Miss Smith, and the lights only get brighter from here.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99586" first="Gabby" last="Gilbert"], 5-10 Pin, Pike, Rev (Norfolk State commit)</strong></p> <p>From a non-traditional volleyball high school comes a kid who can hit from anywhere, is playing everywhere, and can be easily coached to do whatever is needed to win, which the 17-1s at Rev certainly have done this spring. The Spartans are getting a strong, heavy-hitting attacker that can see the court well and is improving her back row play as I type. To know Gabby’s gone from three-rotation athlete to Division 1 college commit is nothing short of amazing, and a testament to her resilience and hard work.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="167492" first="Macy" last="Hatkevich"], 5-8 S, Penn, NIVA (Toledo commit)</strong></p> <p>Macy is a setter that does everything. Run a 5-1 fast offense? Check. Attack on two with success? Yep. Defend her position at a high level? Absolutely. Serve tough to all zones? For sure. Macy has quietly led Penn high school to dozens of wins over the years, and it’s all done under the guise of hard work, zero flair, and a perfectionist’s mentality. Her hands are high and smooth, and she could step in in a couple of years for the Rockets and perform admirably. In short, this is one of my favorite setters in the class of ’23 in Indiana.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="115069" first="Emilee" last="Hill"], 5-9 S, Yorktown, Munciana</strong></p> <p>Speaking of setters, Emilee has a more decorated resume than Macy---state title owner being at the top of that resume. Emilee can also attack, but can also receive out-of-system balls to do so. Her high hands, knowledge of when and how to set her teammates and her ability to always be on a winning team makes Miss Hill one of the most sought after setters in this class. Here’s what career milestones might happen next fall: 2000 assists, 750 digs and 500 kills. There is no other setter in any class that is filling up all of these numbers simultaneously. And she only gets better from here.</p>