Hoosiers At GJNCs: Players To Watch In 16 Open

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!   Continuing our preview of Indiana-based teams that have qualified for GJNCs here in Indianapolis in late June and early July, we have three teams from the Hoosier State that are attending. All three cover a general swath of the state, and all three qualifying for the open level marks the first time in this author's memory that three Indiana teams are going to GJNCs in any open level age group, especially in 16s. Here are eight players to watch in multiple positions that should earn a ton of recruiting attention as offers start rolling out this summer to the class of ‘28.    The physical leader of Circle's 16 Purple squad, Audrey leads a team that is triple-qualified for GJNCs this summer. Her terminal arm from anywhere on the court is the immediately noticeable feature, but her high level of volleyball IQ is what will really draw the recruiting attention this summer.     Audrey's high school setter is also her club setter, and that innate ability to read the minds of her fellow teammates sets her apart from most of the other setters in this class. Unassuming, quiet and smart, Charlee is fully capable of running the show as THE setter in a D1 offense. She defends her position well, makes solid choices in the offense, and always manages to set a hittable ball in any situation.     The biggest free-agent pickup that this squad received prior to this club season is none other than the biggest, most productive middle in this class. Already adding to a solid core of attackers and defenders, Jordyn's size is a problem for opponents on both fronts. Yes, she stands out because of that size, yet her ability to transition quickly and defend from pin to pin with ease will mark her as one of the must-have recruits in this class.     I've been high on this two-time state champion for some time now, and with good reason. Strong, smart and always available to hit, Miss Lauck can be an M1 or an M2 at the next level, depending on the needs of the D1 school she should be attending in the fall of ‘28. The pace with which she attacks is tough to defend, and her high volleyball IQ adds to an already full arsenal of shots she can bring at any one time.     Madison is THE glue that's required to have a fully functional open-level squad in this age group. Connections have been solid from her from day one back in January, as has the potential to run the show at the next level for any type of offense. Yes, she's a but undersized for this position, but Madison more than makes up for it with her court vision, knowing what set each of her hitters likes best, and putting her attackers in a position to score regularly. Most setters in this class should be envious of how easy Miss Branam makes the setting position look.     Springy and with a whip for an arm, Victoria is an active, six-rotation outside that can do a little of everything an outside needs to do because of that high-end athleticism she carries. She's already shown out at our showcases in the past, and her ability to compete and win at an open level within her graduating class should prove to recruiters her ability to get the job done at the next level.     Providence doesn't normally produce big kids on the volleyball side of things. That being said, Miss Manos easily stands out as one of the best “big” recruits in the past decade, and does so with a heavy arm and active athleticism. Yes, anyone can be “big”, but to do so with a high volleyball IQ, upper body strength that's second-to-none and with multipositional abilities, Isabella is a can't-miss prospect from southern Indiana that should be seeing recruiting attention sooner rather than later.     A do-everything, six-rotation outside hitter is what you get when having Hadley on your roster. She does her job, does it well, and is relentless throughout the match, regardless of the score. Too often in collegiate ball, we see hyper specific skills—-a three-rotation pin attacker that only hits, a three-rotation DS that's great on defense but not on serve receive, a middle that doesn't serve—-yet Hadley brings a “jane-of-all-trades” mentality to the outside hitting position that isn't seen much these days. I like her “throwback” skill set, as all parts of her game make her that much more marketable to recruiters in the class of ‘28.

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