AVMPS Preview: Team Pineapple and NIVA Making Their Mark

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend at Team Indiana, the AVMPS tournament will cover five courts and feature a number of teams from Indiana and the surrounding states. Here are five teams from two different clubs that will showcase their early play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NIVA 18 Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a solid 3-4 showing in 18 American at the Windy City 18s Qualifier, 18 Black travels to TI for a little more early-season play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='501805' first='Taylor' last='Holt'] ('25, 5-6 OH, Elkhart)</strong> is probably projecting to be a DS at the next level, but can put balls away now during club season. I like her aggression and fearlessness on the attack. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496419' first='Margaret' last='Coppens-Clark'] ('25, 5-10 MB/RS, Mishawaka)</strong> is a solid big that can play either in the middle or on the right, and is a blocking force that plays bigger than her frame suggests. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='430155' first='Team' last='Pineapple'] 17/18 Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This hybrid team is also getting some early play under their belts before the rest of the club season catches up. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='444540' first='Lily' last='Mummert'] ('25, 5-11 S, Homestead)</strong> is a long and lean setter that can run a 5-1 with ease. She locates the ball well, defends her position at an above-average level, and can be offensive from time to time to keep opposing defenses honest. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='195149' first='Kylie' last='Yoder'] ('25, 5-5 DS/L, Westview)</strong> will be mostly responsible for feeding a solid first contact to Lily, and will have left back locked down on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='430155' first='Team' last='Pineapple'] 17 Green</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='501807' first='Peri' last='Fields'] ('25, 5-9 MB, Heritage)</strong> is listed as a middle for her club squad, I project her to be more of a right side at the next level for a small school. She's strong, athletic, and can put balls away with pace. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496104' first='Kaley' last='Timmer'] ('25, 5-6 OH/DS, Carroll)</strong> is another that might project to a different position in college, but for now she finds ways to put balls away in the front row while receiving serve and defending well in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NIVA 17 Grey</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More northern Indiana kids are shuttling themselves to central Indiana for club play, and that's a bonus for us down here. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='501809' first='Kylie' last='Ellis'] ('25, 5-3 DS/L, Penn)</strong> has the libero jersey locked down for this roster, but could play any of the three back row positions if needed. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='501811' first='Jocelyn' last='Fulcher'] ('25, 5-9 RS, Adams)</strong> is a lefty banger from South Bend that puts pace on the ball and is deceptive in her arm swing. She's also got a strong upper body, allowing her to take a ton of swings without tiring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NIVA 16 Grey</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of strong kids who can put balls away, my favorite player on this roster is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='501813' first='Madelynn' last='Williams'] ('26, 5-7 MB, Mishawaka Marian).</strong> She's a two-footed M2 for this roster, but might project to be a right side at the next level if she keeps growing. I like her springy nature and her ability to hit sharp angles---her attack touch is much higher than what you would expect from someone at 5-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->