Early Bird Shootout 17/18 Preview at Capitol Sports, Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've talked about the 16s division at Capitol Sports Center on Sunday, so let's take a moment or two to talk about the big girls coming to Plainfield this weekend. In part 1 of our two part series, we talk about nine uncommitted athletes from three different rosters that should be making their mark early on this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pineapple High Performance 18-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although this <em>sounds</em> like a new club, this squad is a collection of the top players from northeast Indiana (and other areas) that should make some noise this coming spring. Even though there are a bunch of athletes on this roster that already have their homes set in stone for next fall, three uncommitted seniors are worth the watch from a recruiting standpoint. <strong>Annie Wadle,</strong> a transfer from Dunes, is a tall and active outside that has more smart shots in her arsenal than a lot of outsides these days. Her ability to use her length on defense AND offense is rare for her size of pin attacker, and her relentless nature to find a way to score points regardless of score or set placement is her calling card. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476291' first='Olivia' last='Kracium']</strong> is a springy and athletic M2 who excels attacking off of two feet. Active in transition, there is rarely a time when she's <em>not</em> ready to swing, no matter where the pass pushes the setter. She's raw, but that upper body strength, coupled with her jumping ability, will make the training that much easier for her at the next level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='740304' first='Veldina' last='Husidic']</strong> is a new name for me, as I don't know much about Northrup's volleyball history. What I DO know is that Miss Husidic is an active and speedy left-back defender who has no problem doing the dirty work and hitting the floor for defense, coverage or serve receive. A vocally active floor general, Veldina is more than capable of being "that girl" at the next level with the special jersey on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pineapple High Performance 17-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17s version of PHP has its own fair share of committed kids to the next level, but also some more athletes that require a solid viewing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='505196' first='Ava' last='Felgar']</strong> might be the biggest of the bunch. Her long arms and above-average development of her block defense makes her look much taller than her 6'1" frame might otherwise indicate. Currently, I list her as an M2 for the next level, but I've seen some attacks by her behind the setter, which she's also capable of. It will take time and training, but certainly by the end of this club season, this is a complete middle worth the look. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502459' first='Elizabeth' last='Blackburn']</strong> lists herself as a DS first on her recruiting profile, but spent the bulk of last club season as a right side. She has a whip of an arm, adjusts well to where the set is, and always attacks high and hard. With her size, she's definitely an attacker for a smaller school, but that DS side of her might make her a six-rotation outside as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489964' first='Avary' last='Hoeppner']</strong> is bigger than your average defender, but is more than capable of doing the job in any of the three back row positions. I like her tough serve, her ability to read and react, and the level of play she's accustomed to. Next-level scheduling will not faze Avary---she's already playing one of the toughest schedules in high school, and her club schedule this season will be the who's who of open-level 17s and 18s teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Circle City 17 Purple (17-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Again, we have a few kids on this roster that have already committed. However, there is SOOOOO much athleticism and talent available that needs to be seen to be believed. My favorite available kid on this roster is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514782' first='London' last='Smith'],</strong> a high flying and quick middle that easily beats big and slow blocks with her transition and terminal attitude. Despite her size, she's also exceptional at defending from pin to pin, and read-blocks better than kids much bigger than she. As an athlete, you can't go wrong with Miss Smith. If you want a bigger, more traditional-looking middle, look no further than <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='394127' first='Ella' last='Vandermark'].</strong> Long, lean, and strong, Ella is yet another middle attacker from west of Indianapolis that can take over a match if you let her. Solid in her technique and footwork, she'll probably spend this club season refining her defense to make her one of the best middles in this class. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435836' first='Ashlynn' last='Turner'] </strong>is the third of three middles listed on this roster, and has a springy and quick nature about her. Think of her as a mixture between Ella's size and London's quick transition. Although I've only seen her attack as an M2 at the high school level, I'd like to see more of her game before I give a complete analysis of her game. As of now, however, Miss Turner is a solid M2 with length for days and a quick transition that is better than most middles in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->