Rockstar Role Players from Indiana Who Make Their Teams Better

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In preparation to write this article, I decided to ask ChatGPT "<em>what is the definition of a role player in sports?</em>" Here is what I got back:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"A "role player" in sports is someone who may not always be the star of the team, but plays an important, specific role that contributes to the team's success. Role players typically don't put up the most points, get the most attention, or have the flashiest stats, but they bring value through consistency, effort, and focusing on the team's needs. Role players are often willing to do whatever is necessary for the team to win, even if it means sacrificing personal stats or recognition. Their contributions are essential, even if they don't always get the spotlight."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a pretty good definition in my opinion, and even though some of these players do lead their teams in certain stat categories, they still play in a way that clearly puts the team FIRST. So, in light of that, I believe it's about time these young ladies do receive the spotlight for the roles they play and the effort they put in. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Finley Wheeler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brownstown Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Cougar VBC","_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-679fc2b570851"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As the anchor of the Brownstown Central squad which has now finished second in the state two years in a row (with a 33-4 record this past season), Wheeler racked up over 1000 assists during her junior year alone! When you watch her play it is clear that she is a confident setter who is very comfortable running the offense <em>and</em> her team; she is a true quarterback. One thing that really stands out for me about Wheeler is her speed on defense - she can run down off-speed shots in a hurry (tips don't seem to work on her) and gets to the net FAST when the ball is not hit her way. She puts up a great consistent four ball on the outside, spreads the offense around and is very athletic, allowing herself to stay out of the net &amp; set even when the ball is passed too tight. Lastly, she is smart when it comes to her own offense, knowing when to dump short or when to push it deep to the corners. Finley is a very well-rounded setter with great skill and excellent leadership qualities who can certainly play at the next level.</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":"Sydney Kegley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"Jennings County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Cougar VBC","_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-679fc2b570947"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kegley joins Wheeler as a physical leader on the CVBC 17-1s squad. She is a six rotation OH who passes just as well as she attacks and is very solid in the pass to swing phase of the game. When you watch Sydney play you immediately notice her excellent jumping ability as she flies to the net to attack, and then you see the sheer power in her hitting. She is not afraid to swing away and go right at the block, banging balls off the hands of the blockers time and again. Kegley can also swing hard sharp cross court and hit deep corners, depending on what is open (this young lady has good court vision). The one-two leadership punch of Sydney and Finley on this CVBC team will hopefully allow them to rebound after a tough start to round 2 of the MEPL this past weekend.</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":"Karis Barnes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"William A Bell School 60","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Academy VBC","_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-679fc756333c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the match that I watched, Karis was a difference maker/game changer off of the bench. Her Academy 15-1s team was struggling to pass a ball to target in serve receive (opposing team was on a scoring run), so her coach subbed her in to pass in a difficult situation. Barnes confidently entered the game and proceeded to pass a good ball to the setter, then aggressively swing to hit. After that play she rotated to the backrow, served a tough deep float and then on defense went flying off the court to save a ball. Karis demonstrated exactly what you want out of a player coming off of the bench in a difficult situation - readiness, confidence, skill and all out hustle with a great attitude. After those plays, Barnes stayed in to play back row and was good at digging hard driven balls in middle back. She displayed great body language throughout and was an excellent teammate, even during what turned out to be a rough set for her team. Karis was certainly a bright spot for me who stood out for multiple reasons!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["722894"],"_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-679fc7563342b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When reading back over my notes from the weekend, there was one big word written in all caps next to Caroline's name...<strong>STUD</strong>. I immediately was brought back to watching her play and remembered her beautiful technique and ability to jump set <em>accurately</em> almost all of the time. When she sets the pins, she gives her hitters all options to hit - line, cross and seam - and she does this even when the ball is 15 feet off the net or behind her head. Her location and tempo are so good from all over the court and she is <em>just a freshman</em>; imagine if she keeps working hard, how good she will make all of her hitters look! Another skill of Brown's that a lot of setters her age don't possess is her quickness to find the ball after she comes down from blocking. She gets her eyes to the ball quickly and is able to track it down fast, so again, she can get her feet there and jump set. Not sure how I didn't know about Caroline before, but I'm sure glad I do now; she's going to be one 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_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":"Lydia Martin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"Jennings County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Cougar VBC","_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-679fcc5c2b7fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another 6 rotation outside hitter from a perennially good volleyball school in Jennings County, Lydia is aggressive and always tries to take a swing (i.e. never send a free ball over). This is a quality I <strong>LOVE</strong> in OHs - never being satisfied with just getting the ball back over the net, but rather working really hard to get their feet to the ball on broken plays so they can still put the pressure on their opponent. When I watched her team play, Martin showed that she can hit off the block and in the seam hard, and she really has a knack for finding holes in the defense. Her good court vision allows her to rarely get blocked, keeping her team in the play for longer rallies. I look for Lydia to be a big part of the Jennings County program in the next few years to come.</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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