What Teams Made Statements at Central Zone?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a different type of buzz at an event like Central Zone.&nbsp; I always think of this event as one of the first big tests of the season.&nbsp; Who can make an early statement?&nbsp; I watched a lot of 16s and 17s with a sprinkling of 15s and 18s this past weekend and there were some teams who had performances that stuck with me.&nbsp; They might not have brought home a crown, but they will be ones to watch this club season in 2025.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://prepdig.com/2025/01/prep-dig-chris-photos-cz-day-one-15-17-open/?itm_source=parsely-api","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"prep-dig"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-dig wp-block-embed-prep-dig"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepdig.com/2025/01/prep-dig-chris-photos-cz-day-one-15-17-open/?itm_source=parsely-api </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://prepdig.com/2025/01/newish-names-to-the-notes-app-cz-day-1/","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"prep-dig"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-dig wp-block-embed-prep-dig"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepdig.com/2025/01/newish-names-to-the-notes-app-cz-day-1/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sports Performance 18 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team was dominant all weekend, taking home the 18 Open title without even dropping a set.&nbsp; There is just a different speed this team plays with.&nbsp; And rightfully so with the ball control and setting they have with the likes of the Asleson duo with [player_tooltip player_id='311418' first='Morgan' last='Asleson'] (Dayton) at libero and [player_tooltip player_id='311413' first='Audrey' last='Asleson'] (Colorado) at setter. Their tempo is next level along with their length and physicality.&nbsp; On the outside are two future Big Ten players in [player_tooltip player_id='311415' first='Bella' last='Bullington'] (Northwestern) and [player_tooltip player_id='328144' first='Haley' last='Burgdorf'] (Penn State). This is the perfect storm of SPVB where they have their top players from their 16 Elite (Final Four at Triple Crown) team from last season combined with their top athletes from their 17 Elite (2nd at AAU 17 Open)&nbsp; team.&nbsp; This team will head to Triple Crown in a few weeks where I think they could be in the hunt for the top of the podium.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":746404,"width":"479px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/01/RG1A1513.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-746404" style="width:479px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='226886' first='Gabby' last='DiVita'] of Legacy 17 Adidas</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Legacy 16 Adidas and Legacy 17 Adidas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oh to be on the sidelines when these two teams go head to head in practice.  There is a different energy on the court when these two teams take the court.  They both had an early stumble in this event, but went home going out on top winning 16 Open and 17 Open.  I have seen this 17 Adidas team play plenty of times since they were 15s.  They have big time commits headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='226886' first='Gabby' last='DiVita'] (Nebraska) and [player_tooltip player_id='226909' first='Kayla' last='Nwabueze'] (Harvard), but what sets them apart is the confidence they play with.  They have this swag where they know they will find a way to win.  I was extremely impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='226875' first='Ella' last='Andrews'] who is one of the top available players of any position in the Class of 2026.  The 16 Adidas squad I am still getting to know the names.  They are no stranger to playing on the top courts at major events and will once again be in the hunt for the title in anything they compete in.  They have a well balanced attack that is orchestrated by setter [player_tooltip player_id='442995' first='Marlie' last='Smith'] who is one of the top setters in 2027.  The 17s will look to defend their title at NIT in Kansas City while the 16s will definitely be among the top contenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>REV 17-1 Raptors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>REV came into the event as the number nine overall seed and finished as runner up behind Legacy 17 Adidas, where they were narrowly defeated in three sets in the 17 Open final.&nbsp; They did defeat Legacy in two in power bracket play&nbsp; on Saturday afternoon. This squad out of Indy plays clean, disciplined, and efficient.&nbsp; The first contact is controlled by Pittsburgh commit Izzy Masten who has elite range as a libero.&nbsp; On the outside who came up big time and time again was [player_tooltip player_id='217453' first='Rose' last='Mahin'].&nbsp; She is an uncommitted 2026 outside hitter who knows how to score points.&nbsp; The secret is out on REV, there is no more sneaking up on teams this season. They will be fun to watch as we approach qualifier season where they will hunt for an open bid at MEQ, Big South, and Show Me.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":746401,"width":"497px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/01/RG1A1499-crop-3188x2093-1738087861.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-746401" style="width:497px;height:auto"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] 17 Cardinal&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] teams, I know I'm going to see athletes who are well trained with all around skills where they value ball control and disciplined defense.&nbsp; This 17 Cardinal team used scrappy defense and a balanced offense where they finished in the 17 Open final four.&nbsp; The outside hitting duo of [player_tooltip player_id='324015' first='Alana' last='Whitfield'] (Michigan State) and [player_tooltip player_id='311325' first='Laney' last='Snow'] were tough to stop as they are pure point scorers from the pin and from the backrow.&nbsp; Snow is one of the top available athletes from the Illinois Class of 2026, a must get at the next level. Two players who really jumped on my radar with impressive performances were setter [player_tooltip player_id='324009' first='Morgan' last='Petelin'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='510335' first='Maggie' last='Michaels'].&nbsp; Michaels was always in the right position.&nbsp; She knew how to read the attacker and didn't have to move much once contact was made - very impressive.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Academy 16-1O Yeti&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I ended up seeing this team a few times over the course of the weekend.&nbsp; So impressive.&nbsp; Clean ball control and multiple attackers who could terminate.&nbsp; I wrote down number eight a couple times with how she could read the block and score based on what the defense was giving her.&nbsp; That would be [player_tooltip player_id='482446' first='Caroline' last='Hanchar'].&nbsp; Whether it was in system, out of system, out of serve receive, she seemed to score points when her side needed it the most.&nbsp; Another athlete who was impressive was setter [player_tooltip player_id='489525' first='Emily' last='Williams'].&nbsp; She was able to show great footwork along with physicality where she just knew how to get the best matchup for her attackers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":746396,"width":"486px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/01/RG1A1640.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-746396" style="width:486px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='545996' first='Charlee' last='Groninger'] of Circle City 15 Purple</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Circle City 15 Purple&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In January, I don't spend a lot of time watching 15s.  I would say my coverage would be similar to a college coach where I'm watching teams I'm familiar with to see if there are any changes at the 17s and 18s, focus a lot on the 16s, and watch the 15s more so in March on into the summer.  However, at Central Zone I had to watch some of the gold bracket matches because the volleyball is high level and exciting.  Circle City 15 Purple was a squad I remembered from our Prep Dig Gauntlet in 2024.  They put pressure on the other side of the net with aggressive serving where they are sending their opponents out of system from the start. What makes this team one of the tops in their age group is their balance, discipline, and execution.  [player_tooltip player_id='545991' first='Audrey' last='Utterback'] is a six rotation outside, but if teams key heavily on her, they will get burned by the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='545993' first='Mckenna' last='Muncy'], [player_tooltip player_id='545988' first='Sophia' last='Orlando'], or [player_tooltip player_id='523245' first='Finley' last='Smith'] (just to name a few).  The one who quarterbacks this all is [player_tooltip player_id='545996' first='Charlee' last='Groninger'].  She plays with such poise and maturity for the 15s level where she is cool, calm, and collected.  And backrow…nothing drops.  This was a big statement for this crew winning 15 Open at Central Zone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->