"Live Eye" Recruiting Report - 16 National Division in Vegas

We made it to the end of the 2024 club season. What seems so far away when practices start in November and December, the time has now arrived. Teams are heaving to Vegas for the USAV GJNC to finish off their seasons. I'm going to zoom in on the 16 National Division, focusing on athletes I have seen live! Some of these are known names in their area, but I think they have a chance to make an impact on a national level. They are rising among the Class of 2026 and I can vouch that their game something to watch.    I was able to see Beckering and her Northern Lights team at the Prep Dig Gauntlet earlier in June where her ability to attack and block on the right side really stood out. She has a high contact point where she can take it a variety of angles going line sharp cross and deep. Her blocking ability is something the other side has to be aware of. She is getting her shoulders above the net, hands pressed, and creates questions for those outside hitters across from her. Northern Lights 16-1 had a strong AAUs finishing in the final gold bracket of 16 Open and are always going to be in the hunt as this club always plays its best ball come national time.     Adrenaline 16 Doug is out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and have put together a huge season. They are champions of the Iowa Region and have been one of the top teams in the Midwest. A dynamic athlete on this squad is Jovi Evans who can be utilized in a variety of ways. Evans has previously played up on the Adrenaline 17s group and is now with her own age. She has put together quite a high school career already where in only two years of high school play she has over 1000 assists, nearly 600 kills, and over 800 digs. She is dynamic to say the least. This will be a sneaky good team heading to Vegas who will have the potential to knock off some teams at a higher seed.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Charlotte-Kozak.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-549009"/></figure>    I was so impressed with Kozak at the Prep Dig Gauntlet in early June was she was so crisp with her passing and presence as the Adversity 16 Adidas libero. She was game changing. Kozak keeps things simple, she has a quiet platform, she's controlled, consistent, nothing flashy, just so consistent. This team is extremely balanced and generated so much momentum at the Gauntlet. They have a well run offense with attackers who can terminate everywhere. Outside hitters Bella Potempa and Ryann Knuth are six rotation players who are able to score points from the outside and the backrow.       Savic is a powerful and physical attacker who is most likely going to do her damage from the right side and middle. She is quick to the ball and isn't afraid to go for the split in the block. Her swing is violent and has a lot of pace behind it, making it tough to receive for the other side of the net. She can also put up a big block to opposing attackers. This team went three sets with MKE Sting 16 Gold and nearly got them at the end. I think they will turn some heads this week in Vegas.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/DSC07694.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-558909"/></figure>    What an exciting athlete. Crowley is a fiery six rotation outside hitter for 1st Alliance 16 Silver who has a ton of explosiveness. I have seen this team multiple times, most recently at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. Crowley packs a punch with her swing, she has a fast approach, gets her feet to the ball, and can take it a variety of angles to score points. She is dangerous and is one the other side has to know where she is at all times. In the back row, she can serve receive, defend, and score. She is the X-factor for this team.       Teams will have to identify Skylar Greene. The right side for 1st Alliance 16 Silver is a high flying point scorer. I don't have metrics, but based on the eye test she has to be touching ten feet and she is contacting at an extremely high point as well. When 1st Alliance can get a clean pass in serve receive, they are set up to run plenty of combos to Greene where she can terminate from the outside, middle, and right side. There are plenty of times where Greene can just hit over the block. She knows how to change her speed, angles, and depth to make her really tough to defend.      <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/London-Smith.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-549027"/></figure>    There is no surprise that after watching Smith play volleyball that she is also a big time standout on the track for Brownsburg High School out of the Indianapolis area. What a talent. Smith causes havoc out of the middle for Circle City 16 Purple. She is quick to leap and terminate with some sharp angles. When Circle is in system and can utilized Smith in the middle, this really opens up their options on the pins where they are always dangerous.       Carr has come on extremely strong in this 2024 club season. She has been a right side for MKE Sting 16 Black where she has a really heavy arm, can score points in bunches, and provides a big block as well. This MKE Sting 16 Black team won 16 USA MEQ and has consistently placed high in events all season. They aren't afraid to go head to head with the open level squads. With the likes of Carr on the right side, this allows Sting to really stretch the front line of the opposing side where they have a deep roster of attackers who know how to score.       Roethel's stock is continuing to rise in the Class of 2026 where the 6'1 middle blocker has skyrocketed in 2024. She has the athleticism and length to score at a high level and is also a high level blocker. Her upside is a bit scary. She is still “new” to the national level where she continues to improve each time she steps on the court. There are plenty of athletes on this team that college coaches are going to need on their radar.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/Sari-Marks1.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-511769"/></figure>    Marks is one of the most versatile players in the Class of 2026 in Wisconsin. She is an open level outside, right side, and setter. Her athleticism and physicality at the net is high level. There will be college coaches who will want her as a setter or an attacker (or both), she will have options. This Sting United 16 Red team has some of the top athletes out of the Madison area and are a satellite of Milwaukee Sting. They have played an open level schedule all season and will be very prepared for a big week in Vegas.       Lightning in a bottle, Mallory Hartwig is a high flying outside who can pack a punch. She bounces off the floor and isn't afraid to swing aggressively where she can split the block or go offspeed to keep the defense off balanced. She connects well with both setters in Addie Oeth and Sari Marks. As she continues her back court game continues to evolve, she will be a scary point scorer from middle block, adding even more to her strong offensive game.

We made it to the end of the 2024 club season. What seems so far away when practices start in November and December, the time has now arrived. Teams are heaving to Vegas for the USAV GJNC to finish off their seasons. I'm going to zoom in on the 16 National Division, focusing on athletes I have seen live! Some of these are known names in their area, but I think they have a chance to make an impact on a national level. They are rising among the Class of 2026 and I can vouch that their game something to watch.