Top 25s Available At Empowered

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indiana has plenty of volleyball talent to go around, and the Fort Wayne area is no exception. With multiple teams showcasing multiple graduating classes, it was tough picking out just a few of the more than THIRTY (!!!) from the class of '25 that are playing at Empowered this upcoming club season. Here are seven I've hand-picked, and what they can bring to the table this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">18 Elite Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the flagship team, one class-of-'25 kid stands out, and her name is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='161657' first='Sophia' last='Barber'] ('25, 6-0 OH, NorthWood).</strong> She's a primary-passing, six-rotation outside that can terminate from anywhere, front or back row. Her feet constantly move, she seemingly always makes the right decision on the court and rarely makes unforced errors. Defensively, she's a sound athlete with a high volleyball IQ that can anticipate plays, making her movements smooth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17/18 Elite Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On one of a few hybrid teams at Empowered, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='154811' first='Leena' last='Leichty'] ('25, 5-8 S, Blackhawk Christian)</strong> can be that hybrid setter you need at the next level. She can run a 5-1 on her own or be part of a highly-efficient 6-2 system. With a state title trophy already on her mantle ('22), winning is not only normal but <em>expected </em>in her world. She has high and neutral hands that are deceptive enough to keep blockers honest and always finds the right hitter in the right situation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17 Elite Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top 17s team at Empowered is absolutely stacked with talent and athleticism. Middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487342' first='Allison' last='Chapman'] ('25, 5-11 MB, Warsaw)</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='332516' first='Alyssa' last='Hall'] ('25, 5-11 MB/RS, Homestead)</strong> each have their personal traits that make them successful. Allison is long and lean and plays bigger than her 5-11 frame. She can terminate from in front of or behind the setter, and has a high attack point. Alyssa has exceptional instincts on net defense, and when on the attack, she hits a heavy ball. I saw a few swings from her on the right pin as well last spring, which makes me confident in listing both positions in her profile. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487344' first='Chloe' last='Herschberger'] ('25, 5-10 OH, Carroll)</strong> has that pass-to-attack thing down pat, and has all of the volleyball skills mastered as a plug-and-play outside at the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378034' first='Kate' last='Jacquay'] ('25, 5-10 S, Homestead)</strong> has fast hands and even faster feet, and is already running a super-fast offense at both the high school and club levels. One of the most accomplished setters in this class, Kate should find a suitor for playing in college sometime this spring, if not sooner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17 Elite Red</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bringing a little size to the position, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487346' first='Samantha' last='Ford'] ('25, 6-0 MB/RS, Carroll)</strong> can do a little bit of everything in the front row. She takes up space on the block, hits high and hard on most attacks and can put balls away from any angle. She's also spent time over the past calendar year or so refining her athleticism and individual skills, which shows me what kind of work ethic you can expect from her. Because of her size and volleyball acuity, I could easily see Miss Ford in either position, and her IQ should take care of the rest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->