Who’s Next? Looking Past The Top Five Pins In The Class Of ’26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With dozens of athletes already committed in the class of 2025, and the class of '26 commitment window opening soon, let's take time to talk about kids just past the top five in each category. Today's edition will focus on pin attackers from five different clubs around the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='301139' first='Macie' last='Smith'], 6-0 OH, Hamilton Heights, Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long, lean, and a ten-foot leaper, Macie is a high-flying outside that plays all the way around and can take over a match if you let her. Fully capable of hitting every angle at her disposal, she's already playing in a fast offense and has court vision that most kids at this age just don't have. Her swing is terminal, she makes some blocks obsolete, and she's doing so at an open level of play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='236692' first='Elle' last='Schara'], 5-11 OH, Crown Point, 1st Alliance</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From "the region" comes a high-flying, primary-passing outside hitter that is receiving some of the best training on either side of the Illinois state line. She's received MVP accolades in high school, multiple conference and region awards every fall, and now trains with some of the best open-level players and teams in the midwest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261036' first='Madison' last='Miles'], 6-1 OH, Hamilton Southeastern, Boiler Juniors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of high-flying, Madison is a terminal hitter that hits a far heavier ball than her lithe build would dictate. I'd like to see a little more ball control from her on a long-term basis, but for now, you can just chuck a ball to her on either pin, and she'll go up and hammer it for points regularly. She also blocks well for her position, showing width and taking up space regularly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='221342' first='Lily' last='Jones'], 6-2 Pin, Roncalli, Circle City</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big, physical and relentless, Lily can put balls away and is a force on either pin both in the fall and in the spring. As the only class of '26 representative on 17 Black, she more than holds her own in the size, strength and volleyball IQ categories. I have yet to see regular serve receive and ball control from Lily when she's played on either pin this club season, but with that Roncalli background, you know that the acuity to do so is there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ava McNair, 5-11 OH, Evansville Harrison, Evansville United</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a bit since I've talked about an EU kid. Ava is worth the trip to southwestern Indiana for the athleticism alone. She's a primary-passing, six-rotation athlete that can take any set in any situation and find a way to score points. In-system or out-of-system, Ava is a point scoring machine, and has the all-around game to make coaches keep her in. Without question, this is one of the more complete players from the Evansville area in this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->