Central Zone Preview: 15 Open, Part 1
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The biggest early season two day event in Indianapolis is easily the Central Zone Invitational, which covers 149 courts in four facilities, including Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. This series of articles talks about the primary players…
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Continue ReadingThe biggest early season two day event in Indianapolis is easily the Central Zone Invitational, which covers 149 courts in four facilities, including Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. This series of articles talks about the primary players for each Indiana-based team in the 15 Open division, starting with a 9a match on Court 63 in the heart of the Indiana Convention Center.
Team Indiana Elite 15.1, Court 63 at 0900
After a successful runner-up finish at the MLK challenge last weekend, this squad is tested right out of the gate. If there’s one thing this roster has, it’s size and strength in droves. Elli Strecker (’26, 6-3 MB, Zionsville) has size, length and volleyball acuity, and plays older than her age suggests. Most kids in this age group haven’t seen a kid this big, let alone one that plays with smooth athleticism like Elli. Maddie Herman Maddie Herman 6'0" | MB Zionsville | 2026 State IN (’26, 5-11 MB, Zionsville) might be “undersized”, but certainly doesn’t play or act like it with her athleticism. Her quick transition beats most bigger blockers. The left pin attackers are dynamic and strong. Lydia Stahley Lydia Stahley 6'1" | RS Roncalli | 2026 State IN (’26, 6-1 OH, Roncalli) is the second-coming of Logan Bell Logan Bell 5'11" | OH Roncalli | 2025 State #24 Nation IN , what with her length and whip of an arm on offense. Audrey Bassett Audrey Bassett 5'10" | OH Westfield | 2026 State IN (’26, 5-10 OH, Westfield) can hit from anywhere, and is a primary-passing athlete who is coming off of an Offensive MVP award from last fall.
Union 15-1 UA, Court 63 at 0900
Why not us? Union’s year-in and year-out high-level volleyball talent starts with their ball control abilities and, with the regulars coming from across the Ohio River, should frustrate the bigger TI squad. Maddie Carnes Maddie Carnes 5'11" | S Springs Valley | 2026 State IN (’26, 5-10 S, Springs Valley) is my favorite from Indiana on this squad, and her ability to run a quicker-than-average offense already has her on college radars early. Ellie Scharlow Ellie Scharlow 5'11" | OH New Albany | 2026 State IN (’26, 5-11 OH, New Albany) has big-time written all over her, as she averaged 3kps/3dps on varsity last fall. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does against open-level competition. Addison Jones Addison Jones 5'11" | OH Barr-Reeve | 2026 State IN (’26, 6-0 OH/MB, Barr-Reeve) is the lone “big” on this roster, and has nearly identical offensive stats to her teammate Ellie. She’s a hybrid athlete from a small-school power, so she’s another I’d like to take a closer look at come Saturday.