The 16s – Eight Midwest 16s To Watch in 2024
The 16s year of club is always a fun one. Teams are a little more establish, athletes are really finding their stride, and their is quite the build up with it comes to recruiting. The process can officially start on…
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Continue ReadingThe 16s year of club is always a fun one. Teams are a little more establish, athletes are really finding their stride, and their is quite the build up with it comes to recruiting. The process can officially start on June 15 of this year when college coaches can start contacting athletes in the Class of 2026. Here are eight teams from Midwest that could be loading for a big 2024.
Iowa PowerPlex 16-Mendoza
This team is going to be really dynamic with a lot of these athletes coming off a big year from some high school powers in Central Iowa. Leading the way will be setter Kaelyn Wieland who is the top setter out of the Iowa Class of 2026. She is an outside hitter for her WDM Valley High School team, but will be the setter for her club squad. Another attacker on this squad would be Ava Groeteke who is a lengthy 6’2 and provides a solid block on the right side. She had a big season for Class 5A runner-up Dowling Catholic. Holding down the backcourt will be Mya Lei-Butters who is as composed as they come where she is rock solid in serve receive and can take pace off a hard swing.
Circle City 16 Purple
Circle City had an extremely strong second half of the season and made a run in the 2023 15 National Division. Addison Haberthy runs the show where she is extremely dynamic as a setter. One of her top targets will be Josie Imes on the pin. The two were deadly down the stretch where Haberthy could turn nothing into something and Imes was very terminal. An athlete to have on the radar is Rylee Bumgardner. I saw her play on the outside last year where she was consistent with plenty of shots, but her natural position would be a DS/Libero. Very athletic, and is so dependable in the backcourt.
Dynasty 16 Black
Such a fun team to watch. A lot of high flyers on this squad where they know how to compete. Alayna Vaeth continues the trend of top tier setters coming out of Dynasty where she can do a little bit of everything. The first contact for this team will be run by Avery Sands and Selah Simien. They can defend, serve receive, and show great range in their ability to cover the court. Teams can’t count out Sydni Lafasciano. I was able to see her go on a run of points at Northern Lights Qualifier with multiple kills, run to the garbage where she saw the breakfast she ate, sat out a few points, and came in and got the ace to win the match. Never forget.
Nebraska Premier 16 Gold
This Nebraska Premier group qualified Open in 2023 and will look to climb the ladder in this 16s group. They will have the top two outside hitters in Nebraska’s Class of 2026 with Addison West and Hayden Liebsack. They will also have a very physical middle blocker in Paighton Erb. Nebraska Premier always has well trained athletes who are well rounded in their skill set. They have the balance and depth to make another deep run in 2024.
Milwaukee Sting 16 Black
MKE Sting 16 Black is the 2’s team at Milwaukee Sting that will be one to keep tabs on with some really explosive athletes. Mia Jannazzo is an outside hitter in the Class of 2026 who is absolutely electric. She is a point scorer from everywhere on the court, she has all the shots from the outside and the backrow. Two new athletes on this team who bring plenty of size and physicality are Eden Roethel and Callie Carr. They can play in the middle and the right side and can lock it down with their block and can chip in their share of points as well.
Vital 16-1 Gold
Watching Vital teams on the club circuit, I always know they are going to be athletic and compete. They will take on the open division where they will have a very dynamic setter in Harper Goldsmith who can find the one on one matchups and create opportunities. She has a great connection with her middle in Hailey Laffond who is touching just short of ten feet and has an athletic, fast twitch style to her game making her a top 2026 middle to watch in Minnesota.
Iowa Select 16 Mizuno
Iowa Select will come out of the Quad Cities where they had a big season as 15s, finishing tied for 13th in the 15 National Division in 2023. They have a really solid 1-2 in their outside hitters in Mckenzie Moeller who won a state title at North Scott High School and Maren Ouellette who is so consistent and solid as a six rotation player. One of the top middles in the Class of 2026 from Iowa Select is Ellah Derrer. At 6’2, she has plenty of physicality and power where she has been a back to back All State pick from Davenport Assumption High School and is always a threat on a quick tempo on offense and a strong block defensively.
Boiler Juniors 16 Elite Gold
There are a lot of weapons on this team and that is why they have been one of the top teams in their age division ever since they started playing. Reese Resmer is the top prospect out of the Class of 2026 in Indiana and right behind her is setter Lexi Shondell who runs the show for this team. Resmer plays with so much speed out of the middle where she could also score points on the pin as well. This team also has one of the top 2027’s in the nation in Caroline Ward. She’s already on the USAV radar attending multiple NTDP sessions and has shown she can attack from anywhere. She gives flashes of Nebraska freshman, Harper Murray with her leaping and scoring ability. She’s 6’1, long, and explosive. She’s been playing from the right side in club, but she can score from wherever she is.