Indiana Small School Preview: Players To Watch, Part Three

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!   We're continuing our high school preview, keeping the athlete mentions flowing with the smaller programs. Admittedly, these athletes might move up a class to 2A this coming fall, yet their programs are still considered “small”, even by Indiana standards. Here are six kids we're watching and, with a little luck, have the ability to go for the big state-shaped trophy in November.    Defensive-minded and quick, Anna has the tools and the talent to wear the libero jersey today and in her high-potential future. With active feet and a smooth platform, Anna is the one kid you DON'T want to serve when opponents need a point. Despite her stature, Miss Conley covers a ton of ground in both serve receive and defense, taking the pressure off of fellow passers and allowing them to do big kid stuff within her 900 square foot kingdom.     As an undersized and overachieving setter for the two-time 1A runners-up, Kelsey can run an offense for any next-level program in either a 6-2 (larger school) or 5-1 (smaller school). Yes, that height might limit what she can do, especially on tight passes. Yet, within the right passing system and with solid coaching, She's more than capable of running any offense at her level.     Playing well beyond her maturity during her freshman campaign last fall, Taylor will be looked upon again to lead offensively at Faith. More than adept as a six-rotation outside, Taylor is a coach's daughter, understanding the work and grind required to lead by example. Don't look at the age, as the athletic acuity and maturity are “older” by any standard. Taylor, by this author's standard, can lead any program she becomes part of, and should make a ton of difference for whomever wants her in the fall of ‘29.     The oldest returning defender for the two-time defending 1A champs, Miss Hancock will have to be a defensive leader in order for her squad to continue winning in 2A this coming fall. I'm giving her a couple of inches in her profile, but her stature is easily overcome with her relentless foot speed, her maximization of her length on each and every defensive play, and her ability to pass half the court at any time. Between her and [player_tooltip player_id='790781' first='Kennedi' last='Butler'], TL is in in very good hands in serve receive for a possible threepeat.     Small by most outside hitting standards for the next level, it's the one trait recruiters can ignore about Emerson's overall game. Active in nearly every part of the game, Miss Warren is that six-rotation, control outside hitter that minimizes errors and can be relied upon to get the job done, especially in the “non-stat-making” category. The little things Emerson does to add to her squad's winning ways cannot be overstated, and she'd be a vital piece to every outside hitting group at the next level.     Two-time defending champs have all-state honored kids that lead the way on offense. Rachel IS that middle, and can hit any angle at any tempo, with pace and purpose, against all levels of competition. I watched her single-handedly dispatch 4A power Center Grove from the middle—-when everyone in the gym knew she was getting the ball—-to the tune of hitting well past .500 and hitting every angle to perfection. Yes, that's a small sample size, but if she can do that to middles on a 4A top-ten squad, imagine the damage she'll do against the 2A squads she'll be going against this coming October and November. Length, size and strength will carry her recruitment, and the Cougars are not title winners without her.

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!