Midseason Report: Unsung Players in the Class of 2027

As someone who grew up south of Indy in a somewhat small town, I understand what it is like to live in the shadow of the players in the big city, at the big high schools. It's hard to get the attention of scouts and media and coaches when you are not consistently playing "big name" schools. So, I set out to discover some great players from the class of '27 (sophomores) who probably know what it is like too. These five young ladies are starting, and playing very well for their varsity squads, despite the fact that they are just sophomores.    Nora is no stranger to good volleyball playing at Jasper HS and she is going to help continue that tradition very well. Currently she leads her team in digs per set and digs per match, averaging 5 and 15 respectively. In order to be a great defender (in my humble opinion), you should definitely possess two qualities: the ability to read well & the ability to stay on your feet as much as possible. Both of these qualities are present in Nora's game, even though she is just a sophomore (usually you see these develop later, over time). Add to that the fact that she is calm when passing and seems to do it with such ease & confidence, and you already have yourself a SOLID libero/DS at this young stage.     Addison is just another reminder to NEVER LIMIT yourself or your child in sports when it comes to height. This incredible young lady leads her team in kills, hitting percentage and digs, which she also did as just a freshman. Her jumping ability is unmatched (she was high jump sectional champ in her frosh season), and she utilizes it well when hitting on the outside. Not only can she put a good amount of pace on the ball and regularly get kills against blockers much taller than her, but Cox also has a great cut shot that she can easily throw into the mix. My favorite part of her game has to be her energy & confidence! She is an all-out player, hustling every play and consistently GIVING energy to her team, rather than taking. Players like Addison leave me in awe at how they compete with confidence and skill at such a young age.     Maysa is a solid sophomore defender who plays left and right back for Evansville Memorial. They play a tough schedule battling against the likes of Brownsburg, Northview and Castle, so Lawrence has to be confident and courageous to play defense against some of the best attackers in the state, and she certainly plays like she is. What really stood out to me when I watched Maysa was her comfortability playing the ball on the floor and overhead; she did both easily and without hesitation. And in true great DS fashion, she brought consistent hustle and focus, even as a sophomore - she wasn't afraid to celebrate and communicate when she played. Look for her serve receive to improve with more experience as this young lady develops into an outstanding DS for the Tigers.     As a sophomore, Kate is currently leading GCA in digs, digs per set, digs per match and she is 2nd in aces. When I watched her match against Columbus North (with one of the state's best attackers, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/karen-dutro/">[player_tooltip player_id='301135' first='Karen' last='Dutro']</a>), I saw a defender who was not scared of anything and who was willing to do whatever it took to keep the play alive for her team - it was so inspiring! Kate never looked intimidated or overwhelmed, she was constantly communicating, encouraging others and covering her hitters. The kind of libero everyone wants to play with. Like Lawrence above, look for Kate to continue to improve her passing as she gets more reps, and she is on track to be a great leader for Greenwood Christian in the seasons to come.     It's one thing to lead your team in assists as the setter, but it is an incredible feat to also lead the team in digs AND aces. Martin is doing just that so far this season. When you watch her play you can tell that she is a young lady who has been taught all aspects of the game, so she is able to step in and step up when needed. Players like Krea are rare these days; you don't see many sophomores who could lead their teams in these three distinct stats. I also loved the leadership and energy she brought to this young Columbus East squad. You could tell she was running the floor and was also leading by example. One aspect of her game that I must mention is her defense when she is front row and the off blocker! Martin did not let one off speed or tip drop, and made many diving saves to keep the play alive - a skill that many right sides and setters do not develop until later, if at all. I look forward to watching her play more in person in the seasons to come!

As someone who grew up south of Indy in a somewhat small town, I understand what it is like to live in the shadow of the players in the big city, at the big high schools. It's hard to get the attention of scouts and media and coaches when you are not consistently playing "big name" schools. So, I set out to discover some great players from the class of '27 (sophomores) who probably know what it is like too. These five young ladies are starting, and playing very well for their varsity squads, despite the fact that they are just sophomores.