Central Zone Preview: 16 Open, Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving one age group older, we touch on the majority of the class of '25 from Indiana participating in this two-day event. Both have plenty of talent to go around, so keep an eye out for these kids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Team Indiana Elite 16.1, Court 55 on Saturday at 0800</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With their work cut out for them, TI's top 16s team will have to have their focus on ball control to have a chance against 1st Alliance first this Saturday morning. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172345' first='Skylar' last='Kritzmire'] ('25, 5-10 OH, Roncalli)</strong> should be the primary attacker and, with a few favorable bounces, be the x-factor in this match. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302199' first='Josie' last='Lezon'] ('26, 5-7 DS/RS, Roncalli)</strong> is a smart attacker from the right, can play all the way around and might project to being a three-rotation defender at the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302200' first='Elle' last='Kremer'] ('25, 5-10 MB, North Central)</strong> has the upper body strength to defend at this level and should show off an impressive arm on offense. I'm most looking forward to what <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152929' first='Lillyanna' last='Joseph'] ('25, 5-3 DS/L, Franklin Central)</strong> can do defensively. Her foot speed is exceptional, she can anticipate better than most in this class, and this should be her first real taste of open-level play that counts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Union 16-1 UA, Court 55 on Saturday at 0900</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you stick around for the second match on the same court, you'll see another ball-control-based program in Union's top 16s team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='192098' first='Haiden' last='Means'] ('25, 5-9 S, Scottsburg)</strong> should run an efficient 5-1 offense for this squad, considering all of the attackers she gets to feed. I'm impressed with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='192099' first='Abby' last='Julius']' ('25, 5-10 MB, Providence)</strong> ability to play bigger than her size, and her volleyball IQ helps too. The other middle position should be filled by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='192093' first='Addyson' last='Schneider'] ('25, 5-10 MB, Floyd Central),</strong> yet another in a long line of smart, efficient middles for Union. The player I'm most looking forward to seeing is freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302203' first='Brooklyn' last='Renn'] ('26, 6-3 OH, Silver Creek),</strong> who brings a rare size factor that Union does not normally have at this age group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->