NEQ #4 16 Open: Top Tier Talent Class of 2025
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The Northeast Qualifier this past weekend displayed some of the top 16’s teams Florida has to offer. Within those top teams were a few dynamic standouts that made me stop and watch their play. Going into the 2nd day of…
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Continue ReadingThe Northeast Qualifier this past weekend displayed some of the top 16’s teams Florida has to offer. Within those top teams were a few dynamic standouts that made me stop and watch their play. Going into the 2nd day of the tournament consisted of No Name Volleyball Club, Tribe, and OTVA all fighting for spots into the gold bracket on Sunday. One pool in particular featured 3 of the 4 Florida teams left competing on Day 2 consisting of both OT teams as well as Tribe; where Tribe was able to pull out a 2-0 pool play finish with OT Roberto coming out on top over OT J Will. The standout athletes that I will be reviewing displayed all of their skills at a high level throughout the tournament.
Charlotte Glass Charlotte Glass 6'1" | S Saint Andrews | 2025 State #14 Nation FL : 6’1″ Setter – Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal (Class of 2025)
As a member of the NTDP for USA Volleyball her skills are very apparent. As one of the top setters of her class, not only is she able to help push her team to high finishes in open qualifiers but is also able to showcase her skills no matter what she is asked to do. Not only is she an amazing setter but is a high level right side hitter when her team is in need of spreading the offense. It is clear she has been able to play at a high level and control the tempo and the flow of the game whether it’s offensively with her setting, starting up the game with an aggressive float serve, or playing great defense. Charlotte’s skills are undeniable at almost every facet of the game yet the thing that stands out the most is her setting. Her footwork is impeccable overall but really shows when it comes to her ability to set an in-tempo ball off of an out of system type of pass. Her hands are as soft as butter and it allows her to open up her hitters for one-on-one opportunities even when it’s not the best pass. When in the front row she approaches the ball to set the same way every time but is able to set every option and even create offense on her own by hitting the ball down on two or even setting it over. When you put together impressive footwork with great hands and a high IQ for the game, it produces one of the top setters not only in Florida but the entire Class of 2025 as well. The video below is an example of how much Charlotte can be a force on the offensive side of the ball displaying all the different options she shows on film.
Amina N’diaye: 6’1″ OH – OT 16 O Roberto (Class of 2025)
Amina is our 2nd of 3 standout athletes that was chosen to compete and train with the NTDP for USA. Amina is a 6 rotation outside hitter as their go-to option on offense and a reliable asset on the defensive end. The first thing you notice when watching her play is the power she generates into her swings by using her whole body to go through the ball. When she opts to utilize her power early in the match, it opens up her offense for the plethora of different hitting angles and speeds she is also capable of. The diversity in her offensive approach as an outside hitter allows her to keep the defense on the other side on their heels or guessing. Her arm-swing is dynamic because of the combination of power and speed with the level of control that you’d expect from a top outside hitter prospect. When looking at the other skills Amina possesses, her serve receive is calm yet technical which gives her team the ability to run their offense through any of their hitters at any time. Having the ability to create angles and stay simple, it translates into her ability to dig on defense as well. Whether it be blocking or off-blocker defense when she’s in the front row, she not only does her job but helps her team make easier reads by placing the block in the right place at the right time. Amina is an overall volleyball player who not only can put a ball down on offense but can also help you create more opportunities for points with her defense or with her serving.
Kelly Kinney Kelly Kinney 6'2" | OH The King’s Academy | 2025 State #15 Nation FL : 6’2″ OH – Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal (Class of 2025)
Our 3rd and final NTDP prospect was one of my favorite watches from this past weekend. My favorite part about Kelly’s game is her ability to read the block in front of her and make very high IQ decisions in very short amounts of time. She has impeccable eye work going from the block, to the defense, and back to the ball to be able to make the best decision before it’s time for her to swing. Kelly’s swing is very dynamic with her ability to swing at different contact points while hitting different speeds all while having total control of the ball location. She’s a very bouncy athlete which allows her 6’2″ frame to reach up over blocks on offense as well as put up a very intimidating block on defense. Her blocking technique on hard and soft swings forces hitters to have to swing around her if they want a chance at getting to the other side of the court. On tips she has the patience to read the tip and throw it down on the other side of the court while on hard driven balls be able to press hard over the net while facing back into the court. The best part about her front row game is that she is just as proficient in the back-row with her ability to dig and receive. Kelly does a fantastic job staying simple with her angles and with minimal movement before and after contact results in very consistent passing for her offense to run off of. With all of this athleticism, control, and IQ it’s even more impressive when watching her consistently do the small things that every coach loves to see. Whenever I had the chance to watch her games she consistently transitioned off the net or off of the pass to be an option for her setter, and consistently communicated with her teammates throughout the match. She’s not only an exceptional overall player but also someone the team heavily relies on both sides of the court.
Mattea “Mattie” Casale Mattea “Mattie” Casale 5'7" | DS/L Carrollwood Day School | 2025 State FL : 5’9″ L – No Name Sarah (Class of 2025)
Mattea is a dynamic athlete at the libero position, specifically her lateral agility and quick twitch movements while staying balanced. The ability to cut off her teammates for great touches on defense or great passes in receive allows her setter to run their offense and her hitters to make easier transitions. Her ability to understand the situation on when to cut off the ball or to cover her teammate shows her understanding of the position both in receive and defense. Playing left back defense she does a great job of being in great position no matter the type of offense ran against their block. Being in such great position is a testament to her IQ and eye-work in combination with the will to dig the ball. On serve receive Mattea does a great job shaping her angle early so she can watch the ball into her platform. Her consistency in serve receive is not only from shaping angles but her ability to keep great posture. Her passing technique overall is very simple, which coincides with her consistency as a passer. Being able to create angles early and have quick yet balanced movements to the ball gives her a large passing range on defense and receive. Three things I always look for in good libero’s is the ability to stay simple with your technique, consistently going for the ball while staying balanced, and being a leader for your team in the back row; Mattea excels in all three. Her leadership on the court is apparent from the first point with her consistent communication before, during, and after the play. She does a great job of helping her team both with her consistent effort and her winning attitude on top of the leadership skills she already possesses.
The NEQ produced a great showcase for tons of athletes and teams around Florida this past weekend and it was only right to give some of the top athletes at the tournament their recognition. These four athletes stood out to me above the rest this weekend from the 16 open division. Can’t wait to cover the rest of the athletes from this class as these were only a few examples from a loaded 2025 class.