April Showers Bring...Emerging New Names of 2028

April always brings up new names on the club volleyball circuit.  I was able to see plenty of athletes compete in April with the Windy City Qualifier and the Prep Dig Madness in Miltown.  I still have one more event with the Prep Dig Prairie State Showdown, but here are some emerging names to know from from April live eye coverage.     [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Purple has put together quite a season. They played in the open division at Windy City and advanced to day two gold pools. A setter to know from this group would be [player_tooltip player_id='546198' first='Lexie' last='Clanin'] who brings athleticism and physicality to the position. She receives the ball at a high point while remaining neutral to get all of her attackers involved. She is a true 5-1 setter who can play all the way around and is always a threat at the net offensively and defensively.     I was able to see [player_tooltip player_id='846313' first='Addison' last='Clausing'] play at the Windy City Qualifier for 1st Alliance 16 Gold. They were able to grab an open bid to USAV Nationals in Indy at that event. Clausing is dynamic as an attacker where she can score points out of the middle and the right side. She can hit a high ball on the outside with a high contact point or they bring her around for a quick tempo set in front of the setter. With her length and athleticism, her best volleyball is ahead of her. It should be an exciting recruiting journey for Clausing along with the rest of the 16 Gold team.     Outside hitters are supposed to look good when everything is in system. What I was impressed with the game of [player_tooltip player_id='780221' first='Madeline' last='Maloney'] was what she was able to do out of system. She was aggressive, yet very smart with what she did with the ball. A lot of times outside hitters will be aggressive with high error or just roll shot it over. Maloney had a great balance of aggressiveness and IQ. She can handle a high volume of swings and is a flyer that can score points.     The way [player_tooltip player_id='522631' first='Ava' last='Calle'] can absorb a hard swing is really impressive. The Class of 2028 libero who preps at Mother McAuley and plays her club ball for 1st Alliance 16 Silver has had quite a season. She has been the leader of the back court who has won MEQ and Windy City in the USA Division. This 16s age group at 1A is real deep. Calle anticipates well where she can beat the ball to the spot, she's efficient with her feet and platform to get her team in system. She can also handle a high volume in serve receive, that's if teams choose to serve her way.     I was able to watch Michio 16 Blue Smoke at the Windy City Qualifier and was impressed with the play of Josie Balkema. She is a six rotation outside hitter who can serve receive, pass, and score points. There is a spark and bounce to her game. She moves well on the court and definitely has a presence where they can look to her in and out of system.     [program_tooltip program_id='432158' first='Attack' last='VBC'] 16 Select has had quite a season, finishing in the gold bracket of some major events multiple times. An athlete to know who plays middle blocker is [player_tooltip player_id='754967' first='Jayna' last='Huff']. She plays with a high motor along with athleticism and physicality. She is smart with what she does with her attack. Whether its a smart tip out or a deep swing to zone four, she does a great job of keeping the defense off balanced with her court vision.     When it comes to athletes playing out of the middle or right side, sometimes its all about their presence. [player_tooltip player_id='775380' first='Eva' last='Truss'] has that. The Class of 2028 right side/middle player commands the front row with her block first. She has plenty of length where she is able to get her hands high and pressed over the net. I like how she can move laterally to block while still remaining under control. She can also be an offensive threat where she's not afraid to take a swing, making something positive happen for 1st Alliance 16 Black.     I was able to see [player_tooltip player_id='730485' first='Salina' last='Schaper'] at the Windy City Qualifier where PowerPlex 16 Chapman was able to advance to the day three gold bracket. Schaper is quick on her feet which allows her to get her hands on the ball. I was also impressed with how she was able to defend her position first before transitioning to the net to set. She was able to spread the ball around, allowing her attackers a chance to score points. She preps at Ames High which could be a program to watch with some momentum generated this past club season.     [player_tooltip player_id='730397' first='Claire' last='Kenny'] is going to put a hurt on the ball. The 2028 six rotation outside hitter was impressive for PowerPlex 16 Chapman at the Windy City Qualifier. I was impressed with how she was able to swing big, but yet remain under control. She can score points in bunches and can do it from anywhere on the court. She teams up with her high school setter in [player_tooltip player_id='730485' first='Salina' last='Schaper'] where the two of them could send them into a new level in Class 5A.     Another PowerPlex 16 Chapman athlete is [player_tooltip player_id='914046' first='Anya' last='Van Wyk'] who preps at Des Moines Christian. I was able to see her most recently play at the Windy City Qualifier. She was playing on the right side and was also able to take some swings on the outside. I liked how she made the smart play with the ball whether it be an aggressive swing to score or to just put the ball in a position that will make it tough for the defense. She will be one to watch in Central Iowa for her junior season where she will be key for The DMC Lions.     [player_tooltip player_id='769708' first='Elody' last='England'] plays with a lot of athleticism and her multisport ability is apparent on the volleyball with how she moves and leads. She was the setter for Six Pack 16s at the Windy City Qualifier where she is a great job of finding the open attackers to keep the opposing side on their toes. Her decision making was on point. She will be fun to see progress where she turns into a leading upperclassmen for Iowa Falls-Alden.     I was able to watch quite a bit of [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] 161 Elite at the Windy City Qualifier where I was impressed with the all around game of [player_tooltip player_id='951855' first='Emma' last='Eisfeller']. She does it all for her team where she can serve receive, pass, and score points. Her middle back defense is really solid, she is able to read the other side of the net and anticipate. On the outside she's not afraid to swing to score whether that be a sharp cross or high off the hands of the block.     [player_tooltip player_id='835238' first='[player_tooltip player_id='523159' first='Macy' last='']' last='Hinz'] is going to pack a punch for [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] 161 Elite where she can score in bunches on the outside. She can also provide a big block, shutting down an opposing right side or coming in to help the middle. I liked the pace that she could swing with, there is a lot of top spin and pop where even if the defense is able to get a touch on her ball, its going to be tough to keep in system. She preps at Clinton High School on the Wisconsin/Illinois border and will be one to watch as recruiting heats up this summer.     I was able to see Kelsi Christman at the state tournament for Florence High School in Wisconsin and again at the Prep Dig Madness in Miltown. She's a small town athlete who does a little bit of everything when it comes to sports. She is a true commander, she is a leader where she knows how to orchestrate great things around her. On the volleyball court she was a setter at PD Madness in Miltown, but she can also swing and score points when she needs to. There is a great IQ about her game and will be fun to see her progress.     [player_tooltip player_id='920957' first='Lily' last='Riffey'] plays for FeVA out of the West Salem, Wisconsin area as a setter where I recently was able to see her at the Prep Dig Madness in Miltown. There is a fun, all around style of play to her where shes able to defend and dish. She's savvy, she knows how to read the flow of the game while giving her attackers a chance to terminate.     [player_tooltip player_id='521953' first='Ava' last='Ngo'] has a spark to her game where she moves so quickly on the court, a real energizer for her Wisconsin 16 National team. She was able to showcase her skills at the Prep Dig Madness in Miltown where she led them to a final four finish. She is always looking to push the tempo, she defends her position well, and is a true energizer.

April always brings up new names on the club volleyball circuit. I was able to see plenty of athletes compete in April with the Windy City Qualifier and the Prep Dig Madness in Miltown. I still have one more event with the Prep Dig Prairie State Showdown, but here are some emerging names to know from from April live eye coverage.