Celebrating Hoosiers: Qualified 15s Teams, Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a discount to our PrepDig Summer Showcase series on July 27? Use code KypDig2025 for money off of your registration!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our last pair of articles on "Celebrating Hoosiers", we dip into the (mostly) class of 2028 and what talents these freshmen have. As of this writing, four teams have qualified for GJNCs in Dallas later this summer from Indiana. Here are two rosters from the same club that have plenty to offer teams at the next level, and are only going to get better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Circle City 15 Purple</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In short, this is one of the most complete rosters in the 15s division, top to bottom. To limit this feature to three names is hard, so I'll stick with kids that should make the most ball contacts going forward. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545991' first='Audrey' last='Utterback'] </strong>hits, moves and plays differently than most other six-rotation outsides in this class. A complete package with the ability to play at the next level, Audrey comes from a line of college-ready volleyball players (Olivia at UC Davis and Ava at Louisville), so you know it's in the genes. Simply put, the ball <em>sounds</em> different coming off of her hand---putting that kind of pace behind the ball at this age group is borderline unfair. <strong>Stella </strong><b>Ham</b><strong>ood</strong> has exploded onto the scene starting last fall as the libero for Avon, a volleyball blue-blood here in central Indiana. With quick feet, a relentless work ethic and an endless motor, Stella is the libero you want when a side-out is needed. I like the combination of fast feet and a calm platform, as that pairing has gotten her (and her squad) out of more trouble than I can count. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523245' first='Finley' last='Smith']</strong> is also a kid to keep an eye on on this roster. Her length is her strength, and she uses long, purposeful strides to defend from pin to pin. As an attacker, she can explode off of two feet easily, making her one of the rare middles in this class that can do that with speed. It also helps that the bloodline is there, as mom played at Indiana. This team should do some damage at the open level in Dallas, and I'm looking forward to watching them do just that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Circle City 15 Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Realistically, the talent on this team could be a 1s squad at a lot of other clubs in the Hoosier State. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='586951' first='Grace' last='Weber']</strong> is a thumping three-rotation pin attacker that can change a game. In high school, she sees a lot of outside hitting work, but in club I've seen her attack well from both pins. The ball implodes when she swings, and is hard to defend because of the pace she puts behind the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='754534' first='Katherine' last='Caswell']</strong> is a big and physical middle that, at the moment of this writing, can be an M2 at the next level. Although her arm swing is a little slower than I'd like it to be, that can be trained, and I look forward to her training those changes before next fall season. Size is the key with her, and she was one of the main reasons for this squad's earning the National bid by winning the Hoosier Regional. Finally, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='586459' first='Ava' last='Jones']</strong> has fast feet, accurate hands and a relentless motor. No matter where the ball is passed, Ava won't give up and call for help like a lot of setters in this class. Always finding a way to make a ball hittable for her attackers, Miss Jones is "that girl"---someone willing to put in the work without needing the accolades to do so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->