MEPL Round 2, Day One 15/16s Standouts from Indiana

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more and more I learn about the Mideast Power League, the more I love it. It is such a great competition format where multiple teams from around the region (where we have outstanding volleyball) get to all play each other AND it allows scouts like me to see so many local players at once. It is especially cool to get to see players you have never seen before who really deserve to be recognized for both their skill and their exceptional work ethic/attitudes. Friday, January 31st was the first day of the second round of the MEPL and I was able to watch multiple Indiana teams from the 15/16s Division. Here were just a few of the players who caught my eye...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["443857"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679e33e6cbe74"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kenna is a player I watched on Friday that I couldn't believe I had never heard of or seen play before! She is seriously athletic and fast, a hard worker and just an overall dynamic player - the kind of setter every coach is hoping for to run the show. Robinson spreads the ball around well for her Academy 16-1 squad and doesn't just settle for the easy set. She can push the ball to both pins from just about anywhere on the court and isn't ok with her hitters not getting a good swing on the ball. For her height, she puts up a solid block with big, strong hands and is a great defender in the back row too. Kenna was one of the highlights for me on day one - she is one to watch!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["435862"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679e371860da0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's not very often you see a class of 2028 (freshman) stand out in an elite pool amongst a bunch of sophomores, but Jada did just that for me on Friday. She currently is playing up for Boiler Juniors 16-1 and it is not hard to see why! When I watched she was almost unstoppable from everywhere on the court - back row and front row. She could hit deep corners, high hands, hard in the seam and tool the block. Cripe has no fear when swinging against a "bigger" block and was able to get them out of bad situations multiple times. In middle back on defense she is an absolute go-getter, flying all over the court to pick up whatever she can. Jada is definitely a player to watch over the next few years!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["489983"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679e33e6cc0c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lila is another serious treasure that was found on Friday - I feel the need to apologize for never covering her before! She is a six rotation outside hitter, who is really good at passing and then swinging to hit; in fact, she was one of the better OHs at this particular skill that I watched on Friday. Desserich is not afraid to swing hard, whether it be at the blockers to use them or at the floor to crush it. She hits from both pins with a TON of pace and is this squad's clear physical leader and go-to player. The last thing that she does well that sets her apart from other OHs for me, is her off blocker defense - she doesn't take a play off and is prepared to get on the floor (not just hit) if need be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["506250"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679e371860e0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If you are looking for a <strong>LEFTY</strong>, strong, young, heavy hitting right side, then Sophia is your young lady. At 6'2" she uses every bit of her height to her advantage, absolutely <em>SMOKING</em><strong><em> </em></strong>the ball when she gets set. Levine is a great counterpart to [player_tooltip player_id='489983' first='Lila' last='Desserich'] on this Academy squad, giving them some serious hitters on both pins. They look to give Lila a ton of swings during the match because she simply terminates and is very efficient, mostly because of the pace she puts on the ball which is difficult to dig and block (causes lots of blocking errors). If Lila puts some work into her blocking, specifically pressing back into the court and not drifting, she is an absolute next level player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["443871"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679e33e6cbece"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As an M1 on this Boiler Junior squad, Kinley can work behind the setter on offense off of two feet or one and do it effectively. She proved on day one that she can terminate both the 6 and the 9 ball with efficiency. Young appears to take a lot of pride in her blocking; she really works hard to be a WALL all along the net, closing to both pins well and using her long arms to dive in the seams if she's late. Lastly, she is good at finding the middle of the court with a tip when she needs too. One area to work on for Kinley is staying off the net in transition, so she has more room to hit and can swing both angles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mya Woodley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fishers","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Academy Volleyball Club","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679e33e6cc077"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mya joins Kenna on a solid Academy 16-1 squad who earned a top spot in their Elite Pool on day two. She has a lightning-quick approach to hit that allows her to get to the ball fast, no matter where the set is. Not only is Woodley quick to the ball, but she brings a lot of power to her attack, especially on the 3 ball - she can absolutely hammer it. As a front row only OH for this team, she is the go-to player when she is in, with her ability to hit a plethora of shots. Mya finds the seam in the block well on the go ball and can mix in deep corner shots when needed. I would love to be able to see Woodley hit from the back row because I have a feeling she would be lethal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>If you loved this article, please follow our Instagram page,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/abovethenetvolleyball">Prep Dig IN | Above The Net Volleyball</a>&nbsp;for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</em></strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After following our page, take the next step and&nbsp;<strong>subscribe to PrepDig</strong>! 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