Going Gauntlet: Academy 17O Tsunami

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!   In less than a month, our Prep Dig Gauntlet will begin in Milwaukee. This event started in 2019 and is now our largest, featuring multiple top 100 nationally ranked clubs. At nearly 175 teams overall, this is a perfect tune-up for any team going to either GJNCs or AAUs later this summer. We're taking a bit of time talking about a few local teams attending, and today's breakdown is of Academy's top 17s squad, the Tsunami. Here's what to expect from them.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">First Contact</h2>   Most, if not all, club rosters these days carry three or more defensive specialists, yet this roster only carries two. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='483957' first='Kendyl' last='Strack'] (Bowling Green commit) wears the special jersey with pride, and acts as an additional coach on the floor, directing defensive traffic and shows a constant vocal presence. [player_tooltip player_id='796034' first='Leah' last='Guilfoy'] is a three-rotation defender that can play any of the three back row positions at any time and in any situation. She's got a tough serve, is relentless on block coverage, and can cover a ton of ground on off-speed and deflected shots. This pair of defenders definitely sets the tone for a hyper-fast offense that scores points at will when in system.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Second Contact</h2>   Having two setters on a roster immediately screams “6-2” to me, and both appear to be mirror images of each other. [player_tooltip player_id='489525' first='Emily' last='Williams'] (Southern Indiana commit) is a quick, smart and athletic setter that will fit right in with the Screaming Eagles in the fall of ‘27. Her location and speed with which she sets her pin attacks is faster and more accurate than most setters can claim here in Indiana. Her counterpart, [player_tooltip player_id='875520' first='Karlin' last='Burton'], has equally quick feet, defends her position well, and is just as accurate in her running of the offense. Both are fully capable of running the offense on their own, yet the pair seem to mesh well together, and the attackers barely notice a change in tempo or location between the two.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Middles</h2>   The three true middles on this roster look every bit the part of being an M2 at the next level, which especially works with full-time right sides next to them at all times. The best of the trio is [player_tooltip player_id='529468' first='Brooklyn' last='Wake'] (Tennessee Tech commit), a long, lean and jumpy middle that attacks with authority and can run a clinic on block penetration with those long arms of hers. The other two middles listed are polar opposites of each other. [player_tooltip player_id='823040' first='Camryn' last='Dippel'] is a 6'2” middle that plays taller than her frame, and is tough to go against because of her solid blocking posture. She's exceptionally good at 3s or any set pushed away from the setter, creating gaps with which she can bury balls. [player_tooltip player_id='826574' first='Jordan' last='Hunter'] is the third middle, who brings a springy and explosive attack to the middle for this squad. She's kind of the antithesis of the three—-short, fast, and is sneaky athletic when paired with the right setter. Smaller colleges will love her availability to hit in each and every transition play.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pins</h2>   The collection of pin attackers on this squad feels endless. If one falters, another can step into their place to carry the offensive load. [player_tooltip player_id='435867' first='Lila' last='Bruszewski'] (College of Charleston commit) is a converted middle that can sky over blocks in the fast offense they run, and is a point-scoring machine for this team. Heritage Smith (Evansville commit) is a big and physical right side that is a problem for opposing teams. She hits high and hard with a heft behind every attack, and her block is broad and well-established, making her a tough out for opposing attackers. Each of the remaining pin attackers on this list are available, and have their own solid traits they carry. [player_tooltip player_id='827649' first='Quinn' last='Reynolds'] hits a heavy ball from the left pin, and can terminate on in-system balls as consistently as she can terminate on out-of-system balls. Her high-and-hard mentality will carry her far in this recruiting home stretch. [player_tooltip player_id='513718' first='Emily' last='Overbeck'] is a solid six-rotation option that plays tough defense, has active feet in every transition, and whips her arm through the hitting zone with ease. Although smaller than the other pins on this roster, she's just as effective, and might be a better six-rotation options in this class. I've been high on [player_tooltip player_id='482446' first='Caroline' last='Hanchar'] for some time now, as her overall game has been open-level for a few years. Her springy and active nature on offense and defense seems to always put her in the right spot at the right time, scoring points right when her squad needs them. Finally, lefty banger [player_tooltip player_id='443863' first='Audrey' last='Davis'] is another high-and-hard option on the right side, and can hit any angle presented to her by both the setter and what the defense gives her. She's a perfect three-rotation option for the next level.

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