Prep Dig Indy Open Boiler Juniors Teams Battle for 17/18 crown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Boiler Juniors 15O and 16O teams moved into the 17/18 Division of the Prep Dig Indy Open facing older players and trying to increase the speed and precision of various parts of their games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both defeated a number of older teams to meet for the 17/18 championship at [program_tooltip program_id='431521' first='The' last='Academy Volleyball Club'] in Indianapolis, both seeking their second tournament crowns of the season. The 15O team won it with a 2-0 (25-20, 25-14) victory to complete a 6-0 run in the tournament out of 27 teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams had to survive three-set battles in the Gold Bracket semifinals. The 15O team held off Evansville United U17 Black team, 2-1 (25-22, 22-25, 15-12) and the 16O team beat The Academy 16O Yeti team, 2-1 (25-19, 20-25, 15-7). The 16O team still finished 5-1 in the tournament. The 15O team also had to win a three-set battle during pool play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evansville United 17U Black and The Academy 16O Yeti teams finished tied for third with 5-1 and 3-1 records. respectively. The 1st Alliance 17 White, Valkyries 18 Elite and The Academy 17R Avalanche teams won the Silver, Bronze and Platinum Brackets, respectively. These four players among other shined bright in the Gold Bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":982979,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gia Stokes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Harrison","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='431520' first='The' last='Academy Boiler Jrs']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f7e6bae22fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stokes (pictured) uses her great combination of size and athleticism to not only pound balls to the ground, but mix it with a high court IQ. She smacked hard line and cross shots. Stokes did not hesitate to tip to the 10-foot line if the middle opened up with opponents playing back. Stokes took a number of sound out of system swings, including quality roll shots. She gets on top of balls well that she executed nice quicks. She also angles balls off blocks well. Stokes also hustled hard after balls. She could still improve her accuracy some, but the future is bright for Stokes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["784714"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":982985,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f7ea40f34ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Conner is consistent and dialed in for 15O, consistently making the simple passes. Conner moves her feet well, but knows when to lunge and when to plant her feet and square her body up to the targets to make precise two to three-point passes. Her drive to get to balls helps her keep rallies alive. Conner made some pancake digs in the team's 17/18 championship run. Conner provides sound net backup and has displayed the ability to handle a number of hard and soft shots, including crosses. Conner is also showing outstanding communication on and off the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484301"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":982958,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f7e61d3ce7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gray continues to make plays all over the court. Gray continues to deliver precise shots to different zones on the court on go routes. She also hits balls off blocks and out of bounds for big points. Gray also influences the net with sound form and timing on her blocks. Gray makes crisp first touches in the back row and a tough float serve. Gray can paint the back lines on those serves. Gray still struggles some with serve reception, but commonly bounces back quickly from mistakes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586962"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f7ec606879b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Goodman is turning into a sound all-around player for 16O. She gets on top of balls to deliver hard crosses on go routes. Goodman makes quick transitions from defense to her attack formation. Goodman also delivers solid serves. Her first touches have room for improvement, but she does make a number of simple passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for two years and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky rankings, please email Mike at michaelgraham@prepdig.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount on yearly subscriptions, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->