Pt. 1: 15+ Windy City 17 USA Standouts

At this point in the club season, I'm looking for new athletes, the ones who might be a little under the radar, and I found plenty of athletes where I've seen plenty of improvement from years I had previously watched them or ones I had never seen before. I spent Saturday at the Windy City Qualifier on the 16 USA and 17 USA courts and there are plenty of athletes who are going to make an impact at the next level.   <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=PrepDig&set=a.1367677237367220" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Windy City 17 USA Photo Gallery </a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/DSC02101.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-372334" width="638" height="425"/></figure>   Aisha Keric - Gulfside 17U Prime   Right Side   Keric stands out in a great way for her team.  She's 6'1, extremely athletic, physical and has a unique skill set to bring to the table.  With her length, she poses a major threat at the net with a high contact point on the right side, followed by a big left handed swing.  In the backcourt, she can serve receive, pass, and take a secondary set - she has great movement and ball control skills.  From my observation, she is also a take charge type of player where she can lead her team.  Gulfside as an entire club had a huge weekend in Windy City. For 17 Prime, they finished runner up to 1st Alliance 17 Silver.    Other Players To Watch:    Brooke Spurgeon - Outside Hitter     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/DSC02063.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-372333" width="504" height="336"/></figure>   Alayna Santel - HP Illinois 17 National    Right Side    All it took was Santel to approach and swing once and I had her name down on my notes.  Santel has an explosive approach where she gets a high contact point on the right side.  Another  lefty, six rotation right side is someone who had a big impact for her team.  She is a tough matchup where she is able to take it down the line as well as split or use the block.  This team has a lot of balance where they can score in multiple ways.     Other Players To Watch:    Emma Johnson - Middle Blocker    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/03/171-Morgan-Warren.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-185155" width="508" height="306"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='177542' first='Morgan' last='Warren'] - Austin Skyline 17 Royal    Setter   I'd buy stock in [player_tooltip player_id='177542' first='Morgan' last='Warren'].  She is a major spark for her Austin Skyline squad who has a lot of fun attackers who can put a ball away.  Warren runs a 5-1 where she can make her presence known anywhere on the court.  Like most strong setters, it all starts with the feet.  Warren gets her feet to the ball whether its a perfect pass or scramble where she can remain neutral to set any tempo.  She runs her middles really well, getting them involved while also being able to dish to her pins without giving away her location.    Other Players To Watch:    [player_tooltip player_id='186496' first='Kamea' last='Uitenham'] - Outside Hitter     Ana Julio Peixoto - OT 17 O Omi    Pin HItter   Having someone who can set and execute a block is a must whether its on the outside or rightside.  For Peixoto, she has the ability to score points on either pin and has a really strong block. She is a very physical player where she can get above the net and make her presence known.  Her strength is a big plus to her game where she is tough to contain in a one on one situation at the net.  Peixoto is actually a 2025 playing up on a 17s team.  She is someone who cannot get lost in the shuffle when it comes to June 15 because she has the makings to be a strong player at the next level.    Other Players to Watch:    Avery Schwieger - Outside Hitter     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/DSC02162.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-372332" width="432" height="288"/></figure>   Erin Dela Riva - Sky High 17 Black    Outside Hitter   I am pretty familiar with this Sky High 17 squad where they've played in some of our events and I've seen them compete on the high school level as well.  Hope Regas has always been a big point scoring pin and Madison Wojdyla run the show as the setter.  Dela Riva is a high flyer, she is a springy six rotation outside hitter who can really swing and score points.  She can take approach angles that allow her to score in the open spots, she can swing down the line, avoid the block, use the block, and throw to keep the defense off balance to score points.      [player_tooltip player_id='136737' first='Mija' last='Jegers'] - MOD 17 Blue    Outside HItter   Jegers had one of the top arms I saw on Saturday, might have been the best in the 17 USA field.  The 5'10 outside hitter puts a ton of pace on her swing with really solid hand contact where she can do it from the outside, right side, or backrow.  She is a really natural athlete that can make something out of nothing.  I was able to see her score from a free ball, but what was most impressive was how she could make a difference out of system, a bad ball hitter.  She was able to get a swing out of the chaotic plays and put the other side in a scramble.     Other Players to Watch:    Caroline Brooks - Outside Hitter     [player_tooltip player_id='135964' first='Grace' last='Turner'] - Adversity G17 Purple    Middle Blocker   So impressive.  Turner has a blend of speed, athleticism, and physicality where she is a major gamechanger for the Adversity G17 Purple.  She attacks with such a purpose.  Her setters feed her and rightfully so because she approaches like she wants the ball.  With a high motor, Turner can transition out of the block to be available to hit a variety of tempos.  She knows how to find the deep corner and when to use the block.     Other Players to Watch:    [player_tooltip player_id='136854' first='Lola' last='Tortorello'] - Setter     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/DSC02151-e1681155103577.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-372320" width="738" height="535"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='135951' first='Keira' last='Ohse'] #5</figcaption></figure>   Kiera Ohse - 1st Alliance 17 Silver   Middle Blocker   Ohse is extremely efficient with how she plays middle.  She knows how to use a variety of shots that will score points or keep the other side out of system.  However, on Saturday I saw her get on top of a few sets and really drop the hammer scoring points.  With how well this team passes and the consistency in setting, I was not surprised to see 1st Alliance win the whole thing.  This Illinois Class of 2024 is loaded and there are still plenty of top prospects available.  I know college programs are always looking for middles who are high IQ and efficient where Ohse fits the bill.    Other Players to Watch:    [player_tooltip player_id='244994' first='Reilly' last='Chausse'] - Libero      <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/DSC02090.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-372331" width="538" height="358"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='224152' first='Xada' last='Johnson'] - CIA 17 Black   Outside Hitter   I saw Johnson play as a 16s in 2022 where she had the makings to be a really strong player. Her athleticism was apparent and now her skill is catching up. I was really impressed with her performance for CIA out of the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area in Iowa. She demonstrated how she can be terminal in and out of system and she can score from both pins. Her best volleyball is still ahead of her. With the progress that she is made in the past year, her future could be scary good at the next leve.   Other Players To Watch:   Trevyn Smith - Setter   Teagan Sullivan - Outside Hitter

At this point in the club season, I'm looking for new athletes, the ones who might be a little under the radar, and I found plenty of athletes where I've seen plenty of improvement from years I had previously watched them or ones I had never seen before. I spent Saturday at the Windy City Qualifier on the 16 USA and 17 USA courts and there are plenty of athletes who are going to make an impact at the next level.