Indy Cup Coming Up! 17/18 Open Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a discount to our summer Stock Up Showcase? Use code KypDig2025 for a discount at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With nearly 60 courts at six different facilities in and around central Indiana, the Indy Cup in mid-May has turned into a monster of a preparatory tournament who are continuing their seasons. Teams from all around the midwest come here to compete against teams that need that prep time against top flight competition. Here are four teams in the top division next weekend that have uncommitted players to watch from both the class of '26 and the class of '27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Academy 17-1O Tsunami</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tsunami have consistently been the top team at Academy for some time now, in any age group. With a number of committed athletes already on the roster, let's skip to the important part of the scouting report. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301137' first='Samantha' last='Adams']</strong> is the biggest and highest-ranked recruit left on our "big board". At 6'2", Miss Adams is tough to go against when she's a right side and terminates well from both pins because of that size of hers. Although looking like a future three-rotation attacker, Samantha's size alone should bring plenty of attention from now until the end of the club season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435867' first='Lila' last='Bruszewski']</strong> has really settled in to her role as a three-rotation outside playing in a high-octane, hyper-fast offense. Attacking over ten feet is her thing, and her long and lean frame allows her to be fast in all aspects. I'd like to see a little more serve receive consistency and floor defense from her to make her a more well-rounded player for the next level, but as a class of '27 kid, she's holding her own against athletes with a full year of experience more than she. Finally, middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='298600' first='Maddie' last='Herman']</strong> is yet another long and lean attacker on this squad that would fit in nicely as an M2 at the next level. Her blocking is more advanced than her attacking at the moment, but her arm speed (coupled with her transition foot speed), is improving seemingly weekly, and is a pleasure to watch grow this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boiler Juniors 17-1O Gold</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top Boiler Juniors team has a ton of committed talent as well, and even the non commits have plenty to show as the season comes to a close. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210188' first='Raegan' last='Miles']</strong> is a plug-and-play "ball control" outside who minimizes her errors and is steady in both serve receive and floor defense. Although her size might dictate larger programs to shy away from her, her ability to be the "Steady Eddie" as a six-ro outside makes her very marketable for the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346405' first='Maezi' last='Snyder']</strong> is a big and physical middle that has steadily improved her speed, strength and attack touch over the years. You can't teach height, and 6'3" is no slouch for size. Add to it the pace she puts behind the ball, the wall she creates when blocking and her overall increase in transition speed, and she's a no-doubt recruit for a four-year college near you. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='260995' first='Caroline' last='Ward']</strong> has been <em>the</em> right side for this group of girls for a few years now, and has the athleticism to do it. Consistently playing up a year with older kids, you wouldn't notice that she's a full year younger than everyone else when she plays. The maturity, high-level volleyball IQ and overall tenacity she plays with is unmatched, making her one of the top recruits in the class of '27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rev 17-1 Raptors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Already earning a bid to GJNCs in Dallas through the Hoosier Regional, Rev's 17-1 is easily one of the top 17s teams in Indiana. So much talent has already committed to the next level, but the ones that remain could make themselves their own college team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217453' first='Rose' last='Mahin']</strong> is probably the most explosive among all of the kids listed in this article today. She can terminate from anywhere, is a six-rotation outside that can handle the constant pressure of never coming out, and hits with a ferocity that can't be taught easily. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327227' first='Hayden' last='Mandsager']</strong> is a broad-shouldered and physical pin attacker that would make any team better as a three-rotation attacker on either pin. Aggressive and strong, Hayden's no-nonsense attitude when playing is a mood I wish more players at this level would employ. <strong>Alivia Morgan</strong> is a solid M2 from Mount Vernon that is more defensive-minded than most of the other middles in her class. Blocking and defending from pin to pin is no issue for this young lady, as I've seen more than enough video footage and live play to prove that point. Her attack point is super high, but that armswing needs a little more speed to it to really become terminal at the open level. It's coming, but a little more strength training and band work will do the trick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team Indiana Elite 17.1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another squad that's constantly and consistently performed well at the open level is the top 17s team at TI. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210183' first='Audrey' last='Bassett']</strong> is a quick and springy six-rotation outside that doesn't need a runway approach to get the job done. Her quick two-step transition gets her up in a hurry, allowing her to attack at blocks that are barely ready for her. <strong>Luci Pinyerd</strong> is a Carmel kid with a defensive mindset that's hard to beat on the block. Her slower-than-average armswing might need some strength and speeding up for her future plans, but having a 6'1" defensive middle on your roster is always a nice problem to have. Finally, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='510050' first='Natalie' last='Sevier']</strong> can do a little of everything, from outside hitting to three-rotation attacking on the right side to a little bit of floor defense. Her size might limit her options for the future, but her ability to do just about everything on the volleyball court makes her very recruitable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->