2024 Scouting Report: Standout Pin Hitters in Qualifier Stretch

<p>What an April stretch we've had.</p> <p>This month is always known for its important qualifiers and intense volleyball, and we've seen a lot of both lately. This is also a particularly important time for the Class of 2024, so we want to be on our game in providing as much coverage of this group as possible.</p> <p>With that in mind, let's create updated stock reports of some 2024 athletes in the wake of this crucial string of national qualifiers. We're starting today with outside hitters who have made the most of their time in the April spotlight, and you can be assured that there is no shortage of options here.</p> <p>Let's get into it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_191485" align="alignright" width="369"]<img class="wp-image-191485" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8751-crop-3570x2344-1650484766-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="369" height="242" /> Utterback (3) puts up a block in the Show Me Qualifier.[/caption] <p><strong>Ava Utterback - 6'0 OH - Circle City 16 Purple</strong></p> <p>Utterback was identified as a player to watch heading into the Show Me Qualifier. There's no doubt that she delivered. Circle City's incredible run to the 16 Open championship in Kansas City was spearheaded by this six-rotation outside hitter that makes positive contributions to absolutely everything 16 Purple does.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lilly Gillespie - 5'8 OH/DS - NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami</strong></p> <p>At Show Me, we saw what a fully healthy 16-1 Tsunami squad is capable of in its runner-up finish at the event. Gillespie is always a big part of the equation for this team, whether that involves locking down middle-back defense or unleashing a wicked fast arm on the left pin. Her role is simply indispensable.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Asia Thigpen - 5'11 OH - Triangle 16 Black</strong></p> <p>It was hard not to notice Thigpen's hard-hitting style when I saw her at Triple Crown NIT earlier this year, and now her Triangle team has added a remarkable achievement to its resume: Big South Qualifier 16 Open champs. You won't want to miss this fiery outside hitter when 16 Black makes the trip to Indianapolis this summer.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Triangle 16 Black certainly looks the part in power pools right now.<br /> <br /> Asia Thigpen swinging away on the left pin. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TCVolleyballNIT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TCVolleyballNIT</a> <a href="https://t.co/SD1ABysc16">pic.x.com/SD1ABysc16</a></p> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1495095484960198658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_191493" align="alignright" width="365"]<img class="wp-image-191493" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8187-crop-4393x2884-1650486566-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="365" height="240" /> Parker (5) competes at NLQ with Drive Nation.[/caption] <p><strong>Vivian Parker - 6'0 OH - Drive Nation 16-Red</strong></p> <p>Drive Nation has put on quite a pin-hitting display for us this year across a variety of age groups. Parker is coming off a huge weekend at the Lone Star Qualifier and showed that her 16-Red team clearly has the firepower to compete at a national level. You can count on more standouts emerging from this roster, and Parker is surely one to follow heading into the summer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Emerson Sellman - 6'4 OH - Metro 16 Travel</strong></p> <p>Let's keep bouncing around the map to check out another one of the top performers from the Windy City Qualifier. Sellman brings such an unstoppable combination of physicality and finesse to the left pin, and Metro's podium finish at the event was indicative of the team's high ceiling in 2022.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_191495" align="alignright" width="364"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8166-crop-3554x2334-1650487677.jpg"><img class="wp-image-191495" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8166-crop-3554x2334-1650487677-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="364" height="239" /></a> Lambert attacks for 16 Royal.[/caption] <p><strong>Lauryn Lambert - 5'10 OH - Skyline 16 Royal</strong></p> <p>Back to the Lone Star State now. Lambert has consistently been one of the most electrifying pin hitters in the 2024 class this year, and you can't overlook her incredible ball control skills, either. Skyline has gone toe-to-toe with some of the country's best 16s teams over the last month. With players like Lambert leading the way, that trend ought to continue.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lauren Harden - 6'3 OH - Rev 16-1 Fury</strong></p> <p>Harden is only just starting to scratch the surface of her potential on the volleyball court. Her strength at the net is nearly unmatched in the 16s age group, and she helped lead her Rev team to an impressive showing at Windy City.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Taylor Bedinghaus - 5'10 OH - OT 16 T Jason</strong></p> <p>16 T Jason had a fruitful trip to the Big South Qualifier, and Bedinghaus continues to be in the middle of all the action. Her quick arm has been an important component of this team's success ever since I got my first live look at the squad in February. We'll surely have a lot of OTVA athletes to cover at Nationals, and Bedinghaus is definitely worth adding to the radar.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Alaleh Tolliver - 5'11 OH - Academy 16E Yeti</strong></p> <p>Tolliver truly defines effortless elevation. Not only does she bring some incredible power and a high-flying style to the left pin, but Tolliver has also taken a big leadership role in backcourt defense. These skills are bound to shine throughout the rest of the 2022 season.</p>