Top 25s Available At The Academy

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club tryouts are complete, schedules have been set, and it's time to preview some club programs going into January. Here are eight class-of-25 athletes on three different teams at the Academy that need to be on your radar as kids that are ready for the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17 Elite Tsunami</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17-1 at the Academy are STACKED with talent. A few kids have already given commitments to schools, but what about the uncommitted? The conversation starts with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='172317' first='Ryleigh' last='Hamilton'] ('25, 6-0 MB, Southport),</strong> who has athleticism to burn and has already received postseason honors for her abilities this past fall. She's long and lean and can defend from pin to pin with the best of them. I like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185478' first='Delaney' last='Steers'] ('25, 5-10 OH, Brownsburg)</strong> a lot, as she is a plug-and-play, pass-to-attack outside that hits a heavy ball to go with that fast arm of hers. Her high school setter, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155212' first='Aysa' last='Thomas'] ('25, 5-10 S, Brownsburg)</strong> is also her club setter, so you know that connection is already there. Aysa has next-level volleyball blood within her (older sister is on the roster at Xavier), and has a relentless work ethic that pairs nicely with high hands and athletic acuity not normally seen in setters in Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17 Elite Riptide</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17-2 are not far off in the talent department from what the 17-1 have. Size in the middle shouldn't be a problem, as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152945' first='Harper' last='Holden'] ('25, 6-0 MB, Greenfield-Central)</strong> is broad-shouldered and can defend from pin to pin with long strides. She also excels at finding the shot that scores rather than blindly swinging away. She's an M2 for the next level, without a doubt. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434168' first='Molly' last='Welborn'] ('25, 5-9 OH, Scecina)</strong> is THE primary attacker for the Crusaders, and is a highly-athletic pin attacker that can put the ball away from anywhere. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='192105' first='Ava' last='Whitmore'] ('25, 5-7 S, Mount Vernon)</strong> has great hands and locates the ball with the best of them. She's also great on floor defense and can score points on her own by going over on two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17 Elite Avalanche</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still looking for athletes? The best part about this squad is the volleyball acumen that is in each and every member of the roster. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484236' first='Cami' last='Knight'] ('25, 5-9 MB, Eastern Hancock)</strong> is a middle for her high school and might do the same for the club squad, but is best suited as a pin attacker and defender. Her jumping ability and quick transition will beat many other lumbering blockers this spring. I'm also a fan of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152942' first='Faith' last='Kresge'] ('25, 5-8 OH, Greenwood Christian Academy),</strong> who uses every last inch and ounce of her being to find ways to score for her squad. She was the primary attacker for a GCA team who had a ton of program firsts this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->