Part 1: Impact Names To Know From Windy City 15 Open

I don't typically watch a ton of 15s until late March/April. I start with the older athletes and work my way down to the 15s as the club season progresses. What is so exciting about this age level is that all these names are new to me. This is an age level where they improve so quickly. Things are starting to come together. The countless repetitions are translating to big plays in matches. The weekend in the 15 Open and 15 USA divisions, there were some really fun performances.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1775179911541514672?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06706.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527583" style="width:435px;height:auto"/></figure>   Marlie Smith - Legacy 15-1 Adidas   Smith is a QB1 in every facet of her game. This setter knows how to lead. She is a fighter. Legacy came out in their first match on a slow start, and Smith was the one to light the fire on their side of the net. She will knows when to be offensive and when to find an open attacker. Her grit is something that cannot be measured and is something really special seeing it come together. Legacy is having a phenomenal year as a club and the 15s are competing in big matches come day three of national events. This will be a team to keep tabs on not only this season, but seasons to come.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06708.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527584" style="width:479px;height:auto"/></figure>   Addison Thompson-Stepp - Legacy 15-1 Adidas   The more I watch liberos, the more I enjoy finding ones who are efficient, they make passing look effortless. If a libero can anticipate, they don't need to be diving all over the floor for every play. Thompson-Stepp was able to make plenty of effortless passes whether it was a hard driven swing, in serve receive, or cleaning up a chaotic play. She was super smooth in being able to provide a consistent first contact for her side of the net.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06734-crop-4800x3152-1712080815.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-527586" style="width:515px;height:auto"/></figure>   Abigail Lemp - Madfrog 15N Black   This 6'1 middle blocker had some “Wow” moments where she was dangerous in system for Madfrog. She has a lot of length and athleticism where she makes an impact offensively and defensively. Her ability to get on top of the ball and snap allows her to attack various angles. She knows how to find the deep corners. There was a lot of Texas talent in Chicago this past weekend.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06720.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527587" style="width:556px;height:auto"/></figure>   Emilija Emily Jaunberzina - MKE Sting 15 Gold   Jaunberzina is a six rotation swiss army knife for Sting 15 Gold. She can serve receive, pass, and score points. She is a key outlet out of system for this team where she swings aggressively, but with a high IQ. Her approach is fast with a big arm swing where she can paint the lines or go deep cross. Sting 15 Gold has a National bid to Vegas and will be ones to watch the rest of the qualifier season.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06792.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527590" style="width:557px;height:auto"/></figure>   Aubrey Frey - FC Elite 15 Navy   Frey has been making a name for herself as one of the top outside hitters in the Class of 2027 in Wisconsin. She has all the tools to make herself a complete six rotation player. She is someone you cannot serve at. With a relaxed platform and great anticipation, she puts herself in a position to put that first contact in a spot for her setters to run the show. On the outside she knows how to take what the defense gives her. She uses the blocks, throws, rolls, and can go thumb up down the line. FC Elite 15 Navy is playing their best ball of the season right now and will be heading to Louisville for the JVA World Challenge in two weeks.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06724.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527591" style="width:515px;height:auto"/></figure>   Ella Gravlee - Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal   Defenders better have their hands ready as Ella Gravlee might have been one of the most powerful attackers in the 15 Open field this past weekend. She is a six rotation powerhouse where her hand contact sounds different. She is always in position to score, especially when she can get a clean swing. When she attacks, it is really tough for the other side of the net to keep the ball in system with the velocity behind that swing. Tribe came in as the 18th seed and would go on to finish in the top eight.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06737.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527592" style="width:559px;height:auto"/></figure>   Maggie Kurpekis - Adversity 15 Adidas   Another six rotation outside hitter who showed she could play among the best in the field was Maggie Kurpekis of Adversity 15 Adidas.  The 2027 outside hitter out of Chicagoland has the length, athleticism, and physicality to do some special things anywhere on the court.  Dynamic would be an understatement for Kurpekis who is able to turn an out of system play into one where she can efficiently score.  She is also utilized out of the back row for this team as well.  Star her name as a rising 2027 outside hitter to get to camp this summer.    Kaelee Berkley - TAV 15 Fifer   TAV 15s are loaded! They have two teams in their 15s age group that are among the best in the country. TAV 15 Fifer won the Windy City Qualifier this past weekend where the TAV 15 Black Jason won MEQ earlier in March. They will have two teams in 15 Open come July at USAV and with a chance to bring home some hardware. One of the first athletes who jumped on the radar for me was Kaelee Berkley who was swinging big from the right side. She had some big swings where it was so tough for the defense to keep alive. After a big swing, she would change it up with a tip or roll shot landing in the middle of the court. This team was fun to watch. More athletes to come in write ups from TAV 15 Fifer.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC07047.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527595" style="width:500px;height:auto"/></figure>   Kate Sherry - HPSTL 15 Royal   HPSTL is another club who has two really strong teams in the 15 Open level. 15 Royal battled their way to a 15 Open bid this past weekend going 8-2 in a deep field. One of the key players for this team was Kate Sherry who had plenty of highlight worthy swings. The angles that she is able to attack at are just different. It doesn't matter what part of the front row she is on, she can do it from the outside, middle, or right side. Her acceleration through her last two steps is really quick with a booming arm swing.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC07002.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527598" style="width:504px;height:auto"/></figure>   Quinn Grevengoed - Michio 15 National   I really like this Michio 15 National squad.  They are balanced, have really clean ball control, two setters who put it on the money, and attackers who can terminate.  They finished in the top 14 of the tournament and already have a Freedom bid to Nationals.  This Illinois Class of 2027 in general is really deep and very exciting.  When I cover events I just write down the number of the athlete and their team name with some notes.  I didn't even realize this was a “Grevengoed” which I have covered older Grevengoed's who have had great prep careers at Chicago Christian.  Quinn Grevengoed is a 6'0 outside hitter with plenty of length.  She has a high contact point where she can score anywhere on the court.  Her upside is promising as well as the rest of the athletes on this squad.

I don't typically watch a ton of 15s until late March/April. I start with the older athletes and work my way down to the 15s as the club season progresses. What is so exciting about this age level is that all these names are new to me. This is an age level where they improve so quickly. Things are starting to come together. The countless repetitions are translating to big plays in matches. The weekend in the 15 Open and 15 USA divisions, there were some really fun performances.