Early Bird Shootout: Young Studs at Capitol Sports Center
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As far reaching as this tournament goes (over 40 courts!), there are plenty of age groups represented. We spent the last two talking about juniors and seniors, but what about sophomores and freshmen? Here are four teams playing at Capitol…
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Continue ReadingAs far reaching as this tournament goes (over 40 courts!), there are plenty of age groups represented. We spent the last two talking about juniors and seniors, but what about sophomores and freshmen? Here are four teams playing at Capitol Sports Center in Plainfield, Indiana that are making waves right now.
Court 1
Two solid programs will be on this court all day. Circle’s 16-1 squad is hungry for more after a great club season last spring, led by Reese Dunkle Reese Dunkle 6'3" | MB Center Grove | 2025 State #31 Nation IN (’25, 6-3 MB, Center Grove). She’s already getting looks from Division 1 schools in the midwest, and for good reason. Reese is long, lean, fast and athletic. She can defend from pin to pin and terminate at will. Avery Freeman Avery Freeman 5'4" | DS/L Bloomington North | 2025 State #68 Nation IN (’25, 5-1 DS/L, Bloomington North) is a spitfire of a defender that can play anywhere and do anything you ask any floor defender to do. She’s fast on her feet, anticipates well and receives serve at a very high level. Union’s top 16s squad should give the host team a run for their money on Sunday, led by Abby Julius Abby Julius 5'9" | MB Providence | 2025 State IN (’25, 5-10 MB, Providence). Abby is a fast and terminal athlete who will probably see more time on the pin at the next level. However, this author thinks that she’s a lock for a middle position for the foreseeable future—all she did was put away a career high 15 kills in the state title match back in November against Bellmont. NBD. Defender Ava Kopf Ava Kopf 5'5" | DS/L Silver Creek | 2025 State IN (’25, 5-5 DS/L, Silver Creek) is another excellent floor defender for the high-volleyball-IQ club from Southern Indiana.
Court 2
This is a mix of 15s and 16s teams in this division, so seeing Rev’s 15-1 Fuego roster here should be interesting. They have a ton of talent and competitiveness that should give fits to teams in pool 2. Rose Mahin Rose Mahin 5'9" | OH Franklin Community | 2026 State IN (’26, 5-10 OH, Franklin Community) has a heavy and fast arm and looks the part of a six-rotation outside at the next level. She’s already started for her varsity program that’s on the rise south of Indianapolis. Maye McConnell (’26, 5-3 DS/L, Hamilton Southeastern) has the most accomplished resume of either of these courts. She owns a bronze and a gold medal at AAUs (10s and 11s, respectively) and a state championship trophy in high school (’22). She’s also earned points in multiple beach qualifiers through AVP America. Or we could talk about her passing AND her setting abilities make her one of the best ball-control-first players in the gym on Sunday. Circle’s 16-2 squad should be prepared in their own right, with Elena Chappell Elena Chappell 6'0" | MB Zionsville | 2025 State IN (’25, 6-0 MB, Zionsville) and Bella Dafforn Bella Dafforn 5'4" | DS/L Lawrence North | 2025 State IN (’25, 5-6 DS/L, Lawrence North) seeing a good chunk of playing time in club in recent memory. Elena hits high and hard and is an ideal candidate to be an M2 at the next level. She excels at hitting angles while away from the setter and uses her length to block at an above-average level. Behind her, Bella has been on this author’s radar for a few years now. Her anticipation is next-level, she receives serve well and can defend in any of the three back row positions.