2025 Club Preview: FaR Out 16 Black

<p><em><strong>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p>   <p>–</p>   <p>FaR Out 16 Black may become one of the most dangerous teams in the country in 2025. This is a squad that returns a lot of fire power from their exciting squad last season, and they add on quite a few more heavyweights. </p>   <p>Between the likes of the returners and the new members to FaR Out, this is a team to watch. Last year's squad narrowly got knocked out of gold contention at AAU Nationals. This time around, this is a serious contending team for an open title. Coached by long time 16 Black coach and 2023 D1 Coach of the Year, Val Lurye, keep your eyes on 16 Black.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='493481' first='Camille' last='Robinson'] - Harper Creek</td><td>Lizzie Risdon - Zeeland East</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='790522' first='Kyra' last='Vukovic'] - Lansing Catholic</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='523841' first='Taylor' last='Frost'] - Grand Rapids Christian</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'] - Grand Rapids Christian</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490372' first='Piper' last='Cebulski'] - Grand Rapids Christian</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486269' first='Brooke' last='Johnson'] - Forest Hills Northern</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='464378' first='Ava' last='Bush-Nelson'] - Jenison</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='467951' first='Rylee' last='Paddock'] - Jenison</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'] - Forest Hills Northern</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490373' first='Kate' last='Colosky'] - Portage Central</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='454375' first='Whitney' last='Swiercz'] - Hudsonville</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='442228' first='Avery' last='Thorp'] - Plainwell</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Power House Returners</h2>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Pins</h4>   <p>This group returns a trio of pins that will surely look to lead the way for the season. [player_tooltip player_id='442982' first='Grace' last='Goodyke'], [player_tooltip player_id='454371' first='Riley' last='Loehfelm'] and [player_tooltip player_id='486269' first='Brooke' last='Johnson'] are coming off of huge 2024s. Goodyke is rated as one of the top players in the class and is the next big name to come out of the Grand Rapids Christian program. Both Loehfelm and Johnson were the dynamic duo for the top ranked Forest Hills Northern in Division 1. The three can become quite the tandem to come across with their versatility on playing anywhere on the court.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Middles</h4>   <p>As FaR Out has the trio core on the pins, they have another one that returns in the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='490373' first='Kate' last='Colosky'], [player_tooltip player_id='464378' first='Ava' last='Bush-Nelson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='442228' first='Avery' last='Thorp'] are the big three returns. And there is a big emphasis on the big. All three stand at a 6'2 frame or bigger and have some incredible leaping abilities that take them all to another stratosphere. Colosky leads the way as one of the highest flying middles in the class and a recent NTDP invitee. ABN and Thorp aren't far behind and offer up a bit of range as attackers that can be major threats in the middle and on the pins. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newbies With Immediate Impact</h2>   <p>As much as this team returns in productivity, they have managed to add even more firepower to this roster. Starting off with [player_tooltip player_id='454375' first='Whitney' last='Swiercz'], a player that adds more depth to the pins and is coming off of a rather breakout season for Hudsonville. Swiercz was on the club's 15 Gold (aka 15-2s) team a season ago. Her stock rose so rapidly, there was no question as to adding her onto this stacked black squad.</p>   <p>As for the remaining newbies, both [player_tooltip player_id='493481' first='Camille' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='790522' first='Kyra' last='Vukovic'] are newbies to FaR Out as a whole. Robinson is a product out of that Harper Creek squad that made an epic run to the Division 2 Final Four in November. As one of the most potent offensive players in the division, Robinson brings a spark to this team that could lead to similar heights in the club circuit. For Vukovic, this is a highly touted basketball player turned volleyball player that has some serious upside. She not only adds to the depth of this team's physicality, but also it's size, standing at 6'4.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Role Players, the X Factors?</h2>   <p>This roster is quite incredible when you consider the sheer depth it has. The remaining four players on this roster could all play another position or two at a very high level. Looking first at what you would consider their defensive options. Both Lizzie Risdon and [player_tooltip player_id='467951' first='Rylee' last='Paddock'] have found great success in the attacking department throughout their careers. While the two will act as the team's epicenter of defense, the two could come in clutch in other roles. Risdon was a projected key piece to the group's offense, but has been getting a lot of minutes in the libero jersey and looking quite comfortable in that role. Paddock also played outside for Jenison this fall and did extremely well.</p>   <p>From the offensive, to the defense, what is all going to bring it together? In the setting department, expect to see a lot of action from both [player_tooltip player_id='490372' first='Piper' last='Cebulski'] and/or [player_tooltip player_id='523841' first='Taylor' last='Frost']. Also, don't be surprised to see them in other roles as well. Cebulski, standing at 6'2, has seen her time at setter be split over the years to hit as well. Given her size, this is no surprise to try and use that size to it's utmost usage. For Frost, she too is another player that could see some significant minutes in a defensive role. An undersized player in the position, but one that boasts a nice range of skill, Frost could be the ultimate utility player. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Season Predictions </h2>   <p>This season for FaR Out 16 Black has started off with quite the bang. They're kicking things off with a gold bracket appearance at the Nike Classic. However, I fear this just scratches the surface of what this squad could really do. In the early goings of the season, and a team this big, you have to be able to experiment and move around the vastly strong pieces to your puzzle. Once you've found that electric rotation, it could mean serious damage going forward. </p>   <p>This is a team that could overpower teams. This is due to the brute force with arms like Goodyke and Robinson and blocking like Colosky and Bush-Nelson's. And what's even scarier is that with this kind of depth, at any given moment, a player can come off of the bench and make immediate impact. It also provides FaR Out to load manage on a lot of jumps throughout a long weekend that could end up coming in clutch when it matters most on a Day 3.</p>   <p></p>

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