Emptying The Notebook: Academy Summer League

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Use code KypDig2024 to get $10 off of your registration to the Stock Up Showcase or the Freshman Showcase August 3!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More and more, kids are returning to summer league after their year-ending volleyball tournaments OR from other sports' tournaments. This allows guys like me to see a little more competitive ball at the summer leagues that normally wouldn't be. Here are seven athletes from four different teams that showed out last night and should do more of the same this coming fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fishers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like most teams, there were a couple of players missing from this squad that I saw in the last iteration of the summer league at Academy. No matter, as the two middles I focused on, <strong>Lana Mays</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569819' first='Aubree' last='Valcourt']</strong>, each showed why they're deserving of playing time this coming season. Aubree showed her experience by transitioning quick and beating bigger blockers regularly, while Lana looks and plays much bigger than her 6-1 frame would indicate. Although Lana looks to be more of the M1 type, either middle would be serviceable in any situation at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Palestine</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, New Pal split their squad up into two teams to get the MASSIVE amount of kids in their program enough playing time to see what they're made of. Regardless of which roster I watched, one of the clear outsides was <strong>Josie Corbett.</strong> She's a left-handed, smart attacker from the left pin who passes well and has a high attack point. She's also a difficult out simply <em>because</em> of that left hand attack, let alone that it's from the "wrong antenna". The primary middle for the Dragons this fall should be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301138' first='Hayden' last='Ramsey'],</strong> whose size and speed will be her calling card moving forward. She hits a heavy ball, takes up plenty of space on the block, and has a quick transition to be up and ready to attack on nearly every play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cathedral</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With SO many players on the sideline, it was tough to pinpoint just one or two to focus on. Last night made it a little easier for me, in the form of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506252' first='Sophia' last='Farah'].</strong> Easily the biggest on the "Gold" roster last night, her strength was literally her strength. She powered through blocks that were undisciplined, covered ground with long strides to present tough hands and shoulders when defending from pin to pin, and was always up and ready to swing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='430077' first='Bishop' last='Chatard']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With so much youth on this roster, it was hard to pinpoint where the leadership might come from this fall. If physical play dictates leadership, look no further than <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435128' first='Charlotte' last='Dudik'].</strong> She's a primary-passing, six-rotation outside that hits high and hard regardless of where the ball is set. I like that approach---she wants to score points on every play. Her aggression served her well last night, as she put a ton of balls away on both pins regularly. One pleasant surprise was the biggest kid on the roster, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502098' first='Caroline' last='Wilmering'].</strong> It had been a few months since I had seen her play, and her improvement has been nothing short of meteoric. Big and physical, she's more than capable of being the M1 at the next level, and plays much bigger and stronger than her 6-1 frame might otherwise indicate. I like the high attack point, her broad shoulders on the block, and her constant positivity regardless of score. I mean, it's JULY. No one cares, right? Don't tell that to Caroline. 100% effort on every point, no matter what. She's a rising sophomore, so there's more to come with this young lady.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->