So Many Players to Be Discovered at Homeschool Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most of us volleyball parents, fans, scouts and players don't realize there are numerous blossoming and competitive homeschool volleyball programs around the country. The NCHVC are in Lawrence, KS this year hosting teams from junior high age all the way up through 18U, featuring 174 teams from all across the nation. This is my first experience at nationals, and I have been blown away so far at the level of talent across all age groups, but especially in the 18u (think varsity) Division 1 (think Open during club season) bracket. Here are the players that caught my eye on day one...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Anaya Peel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tyler HEAT","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431121' first='East' last='Texas Alliance1']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67165a2911f89"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Anaya is easily the player who looks the most ready for D1 physically amongst all I saw on day one. She is tall, long, quick laterally and a highflyer - a serious combo (think Andi Jackson athletic potential in a few more years). On her approach she has textbook form, with long arms and an explosive swing allowing her to put the ball straight down on quick sets with a ton of pace. She blocks well above everyone else I saw, bringing the presence at the net that D1 prospect middles need to have. This young lady should be playing at the next level, especially considering she is only a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Madisyn Kandel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"SWLA Knights","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Cajun Elite Lafayette","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67165ab6f2bf8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Probably my favorite player to watch on day one, Madisyn plays all aspects of the game well and with loads of confidence. She can hit every shot on the outside - down the line, tips to every zone, sharp cross court and very well disguised roll shots to the middle of the court. In the backrow her team utilized her often when out of system or when they needed a side out and she hit the corners of the court with ease. Kandle's jump float was the best I saw all day, with tons of pace and movement. Lastly, I simply loved the JOY she played with, always encouraging and smiling - a great leader that any team would be grateful to have.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Nora Landry","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Indy Genesis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67165bd2c7fe5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A middle blocker who plays well above her height, Nora is a strong, highflyer who was a blocking machine. A lot of high school aged middles forget that their main job at the net is to block, but this young lady clearly gets it. She moves quickly laterally and rarely got tooled, pressing over instead of reaching up. Nora is able to hit both directions, easily placing the ball in the deep corners out of opposing defenses reach. Landry took care of every overpass that came her way at the net, swinging aggressively with great body control. Lastly, she never seemed to get rattled - a quality any coach loves to have in a game like volleyball where momentum swings often.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alicia Simmons","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Northwest Storm","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67165bd2c7fff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have not seen many all-around players like Alicia in either homeschool or high school volleyball. It's not often a player comes around who can do EVERY skill with proficiency, include run the offense. Simmons is part of a setter-hitter duo where she sets through the back row and hits outside in the front row. She hits with the power and precision of a solid D1 commit, hitting HARD but also with accuracy. This young lady knows when to swing, when to tip and when to use the block. And her setting is every bit as good as her hitting, being able to run a quick offense both in and out of system. She is also a fierce competitor and never quits on the ball on defense. If she doesn't play at the next level, there will be a lot of great programs missing out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Caitlin Penola","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Northwest Storm","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67165ec807403"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Caitlin is the second part of the dynamic OH/S duo for Northwest Storm, alongside Simmons. She is an incredible competitor willing to do whatever it takes for her team to have a shot to win. One thing that really stood out to me in regard to Penola's game is her ability to adjust when both hitting and setting. She runs a very efficient and clean offense out of system, whether the ball is really tight to the net or way off - her hitters always seem to have something good to hit. When she is hitting in the front row, she also adjusts really well to whatever she is given, rarely making hitting errors, but also swinging with a ton of heat. Caitlin's blocking is solid as well - she jumps high and is strong when pressing over. Lastly, Penola seems to just love the game, which is infectious to her teammates and positively affects the way they play together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>If you loved this article, please follow our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abovethenetvolleyball"><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Instagram</mark></a> page&nbsp;for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After following our page, take the next step and&nbsp;<strong>subscribe to PrepDig</strong>! 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