What Other Top 26s Are Playing At Bluegrass?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In part two of this series, we cover eight more athletes playing in 15 Open this weekend in Louisville. All eight should make or break the successes of each of their teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Empowered 15 Elite Black, P7, Court 50 at 1400</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Size should not be an issue for this roster from the Fort Wayne area. Two bigs in particular to pay attention to are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334558' first='Kelsee' last='Coil'] ('26, 5-10 OH, jersey #5)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334559' first='Annika' last='Koepke'] ('26, 5-11 MB, jersey #7). </strong>Kelsee is athletic enough and has a high enough volleyball IQ to play from either pin, will a little ball control sprinkled in for good measure. Annika uses her length and strength to not only terminate from the middle, but defend from pin to pin with the ease of someone a few inches taller.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Academy 15E Venom, P8, Court 46 at 1400</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top 15s team at Academy has a pair of kids from Hamilton Heights High School that each have their own strengths. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301139' first='Macie' last='Smith'] ('26, 6-0 OH, jersey #15)</strong> plays bigger than her six foot frame, and could easily play either pin on offense at the next level. I like her length to give opposing attackers fits, while also attacking quite high for her age group when she swings. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334560' first='Julia' last='Bearman'] ('26, 5-2 DS/L, jersey #3)</strong> is fast on her feet, controlled in her passing, and covers far more ground than her 5-2 frame would dictate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Metro VBC 15 Pink, P8, Court 46 at 1500</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Same court, different seed. Metro, from the Evansville area, has its own combination of athletic big and small-but-fast DS on the roster. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334561' first='Katelyn' last='Wathen'] ('26, 5-11 MB/RS, jersey #22)</strong> can play either the middle as an M2 or as a defending right side that anchors a solid block for this group. Her super long arms make her appear over six feet, and attacks at a high level as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='241703' first='Lydia' last='Wilson'] ('26, 5-3 DS/L, jersey #3)</strong> looks like she was born to be a defender. Her feet, platform and balance all make her look very mature and experienced in her play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Munciana 15 R.I.S.E., P9 Court 51 at 1400</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet another Munciana team has made it to our previews! We all know that the girls from Munciana can pass, so let's talk about some of their attackers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334562' first='Naomi' last='Thear'] ('26, 5-11 RS, jersey #6)</strong> has size and strength for days, and looks to be an athletic addition to any program she plays for. She's an HSE kid as well, so you know she loves to win and understands the work ethic to get there. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='334563' first='Ava' last='Zech'] ('26, 5-10 MB, jersey #4)</strong> is another long and lean middle for a Munciana team, using her footwork and speed to have a quick transition to go with her solid net defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->