My Favorite Indiana Team from the CZ Invite

This past weekend the Central Zone Invite in Indianapolis, IN had over 1100 teams competing in ages 11-18 in several divisions over two days, making it the largest one to date. I watched many teams in many ages over the course of the two-day tourney, but there was one team that stood out in my mind after all was said and done - 17 Phoenix from Rev Volleyball Academy. Yes, they have multiple talented players (class of 26 and 27) who are uncommitted, but it was their chemistry, energy and joy for the game that really made me LOVE watching them play. There was constant communication, even when things were not going their way, and they all encouraged one another throughout the match. Lastly, their bench players were phenomenal! They were engaged, excited and a huge part of their success - all teams of all levels could learn how to be a great team from these young women. Well done young ladies - you were a JOY to watch.    There is nothing more exciting than watching a team play and discovering players you never knew about! It is probably my favorite part of this gig and Emersyn was that player for me this past weekend. At 5'7" she plays well above her height and reminds us all once again, that height DOES NOT MATTER in volleyball if you work hard, are quick and can jump (front row of course). Miss Allen does all of these things and does them well. Her high reach and lateral quickness make her one heck of a blocker and when she is set high enough on the quick attack she hits very efficiently and over the block. I cannot say enough good things about this uncommitted 2026 player. Emersyn simply needs more reps because the athletic and effort pieces are already there for her to be playing collegiately in a little over a year.     First off, this young lady needs to be recognized for the absolute joy she plays with and the positivity and light she brings to her team AND the game. It made my soul light up to see Jordin play - you could tell she loved playing and she loved her teammates. Golden is the type of player that you want to see win because of the effort she gives both physically and emotionally (I could clearly go on and on). Skill wise, Jordin is just like Allen in that she is a talented blocker. She is listed at 5'10" and again, this young lady plays well above that. Golden is quick and springy; able to close the block quickly and react fast. I didn't see her get set when I watched, so I would love to see her be more vocal and commanding on offense because I have a feeling she has the ability to terminate. Another uncommitted 2026 with a TON of potential athletically, but who is already a BEAST of a teammate.     Mya was the clear vocal and physical leader of the team when I saw 17 Phoenix play. She was constantly communicating (both on the court and on the bench) with her teammates about what shots were open and what to expect from their opponents. Rausch really shined on the court by mixing up her shots on BOTH pins and hitting very effectively. She was able to swing line and cross court with a lot of pace and she could tool the block if the set was tight. Miss Rausch also knew to mix it up once in awhile to keep the defense guessing and would come in and hit a two ball in the middle, which worked really well. Mya is a confident, talented front row outside hitter who is uncommitted and could honestly play on either pin at the next level.     The first thing that stood out to me about Addy was her passing - holy moly was she consistent and good. Knox is the only class of 2027 player on this team, and she was a solid rock for them all match, all the way around. It seemed as though every ball she passed was right to target and she did it with a very calm and quiet demeanor that was also very confident. Passing is certainly where she shines, but she also did well swinging in the front row. This young player did not make a ton of errors hitting and was really smart about when she would swing away and when she would find the court with purpose and intention. When she is in the back row on defense she takes control, talks a lot and rarely has any miscues with her teammates. I would love to see Miss Knox be more aggressive in the front row because I believe she has the ability to be a great offensive counterpart to Rausch.     Kaiser was the steady, never stopped hustling, did-her-job player for this REV team. She was often set out of system in situations when they were way off the net and she was very efficient and made hardly any swinging errors, which is especially difficult to do on the right side. I could see why they put Lucy on the RS - she excelled at setting up the block in the right spot and didn't reach often, making her a solid OPP because she can block and swing OOS effectively. Lastly, I loved Kaiser's demeanor - she worked hard, and went after everything, but brought a calm, confident force to this team. My favorite part of the match was when she went flying into the seats for a ball and then when the play was over, she walked over to make sure the people in the crowd were ok. It quickly became obvious that this young lady has the type of great teammate characteristics you want on your team.     Nickleson primarily came in back row and played middle back but was also able to switch and play left back as well on defense. She is a disciplined defender who stays deep in middle back, waits to move until the ball is hit and then reacts. So many middle backs at this age want to move too early and then the hitter goes off the block and they are hung out to dry - Melia did a great job of avoiding this. She also put up a few fantastic balls out of system when the setters played the ball on defense, setting both pins with her platform well, allowing them to swing away. But just like all of her teammates, what I loved most about watching Melia play was her attitude - she was having a blast, smiling, confident and always encouraging her team. Such a fun player to watch!    London Murray and Justice King-Irving, I could not write this article without mentioning you both! I watched the two of you continually encourage your teammates, shout out helpful advice/tips, cheer loudly and stay engaged the entire match. As I stated before, many players could learn from you both on how to be a great teammate on and off the floor. Keep setting the standard high for others - you are the type of players that will keep the sport fun AND competitive. And Rev 17 Phoenix, it was a pleasure to watch you play - good luck this season, we will be watching!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you loved this article, please follow our Instagram page, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abovethenetvolleyball">Prep Dig IN | Above The Net Volleyball</a> for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</h3>   After following our page, take the next step and subscribe to PrepDig! By subscribing, you'll not only stay connected to the latest coverage of your favorite events, but you'll also be helping to shine a spotlight on rising volleyball talent.   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This past weekend the Central Zone Invite in Indianapolis, IN had over 1100 teams competing in ages 11-18 in several divisions over two days, making it the largest one to date. I watched many teams in many ages over the course of the two-day tourney, but there was one team that stood out in my mind after all was said and done - 17 Phoenix from Rev Volleyball Academy. Yes, they have multiple talented players (class of 26 and 27) who are uncommitted, but it was their chemistry, energy and joy for the game that really made me LOVE watching them play. There was constant communication, even when things were not going their way, and they all encouraged one another throughout the match. Lastly, their bench players were phenomenal! They were engaged, excited and a huge part of their success - all teams of all levels could learn how to be a great team from these young women. Well done young ladies - you were a JOY to watch.