Going Gauntlet Preview: Circle City 15 Purple

<p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>This article was shared with 150+ college coaches.</strong> <strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: <em><strong>digdakotas30</strong></em></strong></a></em></p>   <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a></em></strong></p>   <p>There are always a few teams in the 15's division that make you stop for a second because the level of volleyball on the court does not feel like 15's volleyball. Circle City 15 Purple has become one of those teams this season. The athleticism is there, but what really stands out is how composed this group plays. They communicate, adjust well during rallies, and already understand how to impact matches in multiple ways.</p>   <p>As Nationals gets closer, this looks like a team continuing to trend in the right direction. The pins are making smart swing decisions, the middles are becoming more disciplined at the net, and the back row continues doing the little things that keep the offense flowing. For a younger group, the volleyball IQ across this roster jumps out quickly.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='745492' first='DeAsia' last='John'] | MB | 2028</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='745492' first='DeAsia' last='John'] brings a strong presence in the middle and plays with confidence beyond her age. What grabbed my attention most is how quickly she reads plays developing at the net. She closes space well as a blocker and continues staying active laterally instead of getting caught watching the ball.</p>   <p>Offensively, she stays aggressive in transition and gives her setter reliable options even during broken rallies. There is a lot to like about the combination of physicality and awareness she already brings to the court.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='546223' first='Evie' last='Ellis'] | DS | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='546223' first='Evie' last='Ellis'] plays with calmness in the back row that is tough to teach at a younger age. She stays balanced in serve receive, handles pace well, and works hard to keep first contact clean. Even when teams start serving aggressively, she does not look rattled.</p>   <p>Defensively, she tracks hitters early and continues competing through long rallies. You can tell she takes pride in keeping balls alive and giving her team another chance to score.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='884193' first='Norah' last='Bell'] | DS | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='884193' first='Norah' last='Bell'] brings energy to the floor every rally. She stays vocal, communicates well with teammates, and does a great job reading tips and off-speed shots before they hit the floor. Her platform control continues standing out, especially during pressure moments.</p>   <p>What I liked most is how engaged she stays throughout matches. She plays with urgency, but never looks out of control.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='850509' first='Honor' last='Durham'] | Setter | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='850509' first='Honor' last='Durham'] already looks comfortable leading an offense. She communicates well with hitters and continues learning how to create tempo instead of simply setting the ball. For a younger setter, the confidence she plays with really stands out.</p>   <p>One thing that caught my attention is how calm she stays during out-of-system moments. A lot of younger setters panic when the pass drifts. Honor still works to create offense and keeps teammates involved in the rally.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='753655' first='Ainsley' last='Sauder'] | MB | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='753655' first='Ainsley' last='Sauder'] continues making an impact because of the energy she brings at the net. She transitions well offensively and keeps working to stay available instead of fading out of rallies. Her timing as a blocker continues improving, and you can see her starting to understand how to take away angles more effectively.</p>   <p>She competes hard and does not back away from physical play, which is impressive at this stage.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='546218' first='Anna' last='Smith'] | Pin | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='546218' first='Anna' last='Smith'] brings versatility to the pin and does a great job adjusting offensively during rallies. She is not forcing attacks into blocks and already understands how to work different areas of the court. That patience offensively stands out at a younger age.</p>   <p>She also contributes outside of attacking by staying engaged in serve receive and transition play. Her all-around game continues making her a difficult player to take off the floor.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='924211' first='Alli' last='Keel'] | Pin | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='924211' first='Alli' last='Keel'] competes with the kind of energy teammates feed off. She stays aggressive offensively and continues working hard point after point regardless of momentum swings. What stood out most is how quickly she resets mentally after mistakes and moves right into the next rally.</p>   <p>That toughness and emotional steadiness become valuable during long tournament weekends.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='924212' first='Taylor' last='Norris'] | Pin | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='924212' first='Taylor' last='Norris'] stands out because of how controlled she stays offensively. She already understands the value of smart swings and shot placement instead of trying to overpower every attack. She sees the court well and works to create points instead of forcing them.</p>   <p>Her movement in transition also caught my attention. She consistently stays connected to the offense and works hard to remain available as a scoring option.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='883459' first='Sophia' last='Gooch'] | DS | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='883459' first='Sophia' last='Gooch'] continues proving how important steady first contact can be. She stays composed in serve receive and works hard to keep the offense in rhythm. Defensively, she covers ground well and remains vocal throughout matches.</p>   <p>Those little details may not always show up on the stat sheet, but they matter a lot when matches get tight.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='546224' first='Allison' last='Bourff'] | MB | 2028</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='546224' first='Allison' last='Bourff'] brings toughness and physicality to the middle position. She attacks aggressively and continues improving her transition speed offensively. At the net, she competes hard against bigger hitters and works to press over the block instead of drifting.</p>   <p>She brings a competitive edge to the front row that keeps pressure on opposing hitters throughout matches.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='924213' first='Addison' last='Sholtey'] | Pin | 2029</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='924213' first='Addison' last='Sholtey'] rounds out this group with another pin already showing strong offensive instincts. She stays composed during rallies, adjusts well around blockers, and contributes in multiple phases of the game.</p>   <p>What stands out is her volleyball awareness. She looks comfortable making adjustments on the fly and continues competing no matter the score or momentum of the match.</p>   <p>Circle City 15 Purple may still be young, but this roster already plays with maturity that separates them from many teams at this age level. The talent is obvious, but the discipline, communication, and understanding of the game are what truly stand out.</p>   <p>Heading toward Nationals, this looks like a group capable of turning heads against high-level competition.<em><strong>~Theresa @prepdigdakotas</strong></em></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>In Case You Missed It</strong></h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://prepdig.com/dakotas/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_5b1fa1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-987083" /></a></figure>

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