The Nation’s Best Collide at MEQ 16 Open

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indianapolis is home to some of the top events across multiple sports and age groups. In just a couple weeks this city will host the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, but for this upcoming weekend it belongs to girls volleyball.  As for 16 Open, some of the top athletes and top teams in the country will be going toe to toe.  What can we expect to see this weekend with some of the best at the Mideast Qualifier for 16 Open. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":956109,"width":"473px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5014953078271631","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/RG1A0544.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-956109" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014953078271631;width:473px;height:auto"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kari Knotts and A5 16 Gabe</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A5 16 Gabe out of the Atlanta area has been the top team in the country from the 16s age division this club season.&nbsp; A month ago they took home the 16 Elite division from Triple Crown and followed that up with a Sunshine 16 Open title where they defeated another high profile opponent in TAV 16 Yun.&nbsp; Kari Knotts will be one to watch where she has been a viral star for this squad.&nbsp; She is a 2029 prospect who has already gathered attention beyond the Youth National Teams.&nbsp; She was the only high school athlete (and she's a freshman) who was invited to the USAV National Team Collegiate Training in Colorado Springs at the end of February.&nbsp; She was already named Most Valuable Player, Best Spiker at the 2025 U19 Pan Am Cup, AVCA National Player of the Year, and already has an Adidas brand deal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Circle City 16 Purple Defending Home Turf </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Circle City out of the Indianapolis area traditionally has teams who will compete for an open bid at each age group.  However their top 16s team is one of the top teams in the country where they have yet to drop a match in nearly 40 under their belt.  They picked up their open bid in Boston a few weeks ago where they took down Dallas Skyline 16 Royal Paul in the finals.  This same group of athletes were in the final four for 15 Open in 2025.  The success of this team is in their discipline, defense, and balance.  This is very on brand for Circle City to have a group of athletes who know how to compete and that starts with the first contact.  The top outside in the Class of 2028 in Audrey Utterback who will be a fun prospect to track in her recruitment that will officially start June 15 of this year.  She is a six rotation outside hitter who has a full bag of shots, a mature IQ, and the ability to serve receive and pass at an elite level.  Her trajectory at the next level could continue as an outside hitter, but could get looks as a libero too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prep Dig State's Top Athletes in 16 Open </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I did a quick scan of some of our Prep Dig states and did a cross check of some of the teams and their rosters.&nbsp; A quick reminder that Prep Dig does not have state rankings for all states and some of our states will be coming out with 2028 rankings within the next month.&nbsp; There are also athletes in the Class of 2028 who may be playing up an age group.&nbsp; Here are some of the top ranked athletes from Prep Dig who will be competing in 16 Open.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Indiana - Audrey Utterback - Circle City 16 Purple</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 in Iowa - Elle Hatlevig - Iowa Premier 16-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 in Iowa - Avery Cordes - Iowa Premier 16-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 in Iowa - Addison Waldorf - Iowa Premier 16-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 in Kansas - Mya Lee - KC Power 16-1&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Kansas - Hailey Schmidtlein - Topeka Saints 16 Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 in Kansas - Braydee Miller - PVA 16 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 in Kentucky - Chayse Gilliland - TPV 16 Maverick</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Kentucky - Brooke Codey - KIVA 16 Red</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 in Kentucky - Charlotte Patton - Tri State Elite 16 Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 in Kentucky - Kayleigh Rogers - KIVA 16 Red</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 in Michigan - Payton Woodruff - Legacy 16-1 Adidas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Michigan - Ashlyn Pelon - Legacy 16-1 Adidas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 in Michigan - Mckenzie Andrews - Legacy 16-1 Adidas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 in Michigan - Lauren Sheldon - Legacy 16-1 Adidas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Minnesota - Avery Minor - MN Select 16-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 in Missouri - Rilynn Wingenbach - HPSTL 16 Royal&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Missouri - Gillian Pfeiffer - HPSTL 16 Royal&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Ohio - Jana Eglitis - EliteVBTC 16 Black&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 in Ohio - Ariana Hueter - BOSS CLE 16-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 in Ohio - Maegan Timmerman - Tri State Elite 16 Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Nebraska - Logann Dostal - Premier Nebraska 16 Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 in Wisconsin - Lorelei Candler - Madtown 161 National&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->