Players To Watch At Hoosier Regionals: 16U, Part 1

Want a subscription to PrepDig? Use code Kyp30 for 30% off of your annual subscription! And don't forget to follow @KypPDIN on X for all of your Indiana high school and club volleyball news!   Stepping into the younger age groups, we find that NONE of these players have received commitments yet because of their age. One guarantee for this class is that there is no shortage of talent and potential in all positions for the next level. We had to split this preview of “players to watch” into two parts. Here are seven players in the 16U division that are worth the price of admission to watch earn their place at GJNCs in June and July.    High-flying and relentless, Blaine is a hyperathletic stud of an athlete that can hammer from anywhere, but finds her best work is done on the left pin. Earning a bronze medal in 15 Open at last year's GJNC, she's already done some showing out this year, winning the truncated Central Zone and the Nike President's Day Classic in Saint Louis. Look for her to do some more winning once regionals come around.     Now with Circle's 16 Black, Ragan is a fast and athletic middle—-the kind you can teach something to once, and she gets it. That athletic acuity will carry her far in her recruiting process, and has already earned her a ton of eyeballs because of her success in a tough early schedule this spring. Although regionals this coming weekend will test her mettle against some of the best in the state, the coming month of her season will REALLY show what she's all about.     With quickness and smarts, Cordelia is new to us, but not new to the game of volleyball. Her long arms and high attack touch make her look much taller than she actually is, and will be a steal for a small school looking for exactly that. She might see a bit of time on the right pin sooner rather than later if a taller option in the middle comes around, but we'll see how she does this weekend in comparison to other middles in her class and size.     At first glance, Annika looks to be attack touching really close to ten feet, if she's not there already. No other player on this or tomorrow's list is attacking more consistently at that level, and she's only getting better from here. She's been to a few of our showcases, showing out regularly and being the most athletic in any drill we run. More raw that refined, this is yet another kid that can be taught how to do something once and let her high-end strength and jumping ability do the rest.     No, you're not seeing double. And yes, these two are at different clubs in the Fort Wayne area. In Caitlin's case, she's clearly more of a pin attacker for the next level, excelling at the runway approach she's developed over the past two years. Her attack touch is over 9'6” for starters, and she's seen a ton more attacks both in- and out-of-system than Annika, for obvious reasons (Annika is listed as a middle, after all).     Eliana is another kid that's new to me, but not new to the game. From the Kokomo area (read: north central Indiana), Miss Carlson is the most well-rounded player from an overachieving squad at Northwestern High. More of a left side than any other position she's been asked to play in high school, Her springy nature and natural high attack point makes her tough to defend in both in- and out-of-system situations.     A lefty banger from John Glenn in WAY northern Indiana, Kennedy is more of a hopper and a controlled attacker than what you would expect from someone with as strong of a left arm as she. The way she approaches the ball makes it look like she's played a ton of outdoor ball, with each and every swing calculated and at 75-90% of her full potential. With all of that energy saved up, it's easy to see the variety of shots she can hit, all with an endless supply of stamina. I'd like to see a little more leg drive in her approach, which might lead to a higher attack point. Until then, however, her shotmaking ability has got her this far, and should take her further this spring. You can find her on NIVA's 16 Purple squad.

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