Indy Cup Coming Up! 17/18 Premier White Preview, Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want a discount to our Stock Up Showcase in July? Use code KypDig2025 at checkout for money off of your registration!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving right along in our large preview of the two-day Indy Cup in and around central Indiana, we start to see some of the younger age groups and their high-level recruits. Here are three teams with three players each that should represent multiple graduating classes well this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Circle City 16 Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As high-level as you can get from a "2s" team, this squad has so much size, talent and volleyball skill that most of these kids could play for a 1s team at a lot of clubs around Indiana. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443867' first='Avery' last='Walter']</strong> is a springy and strong pin attack that is terminal from both pins more than most in this class. Relentless in her approach and arm swing, she can get up and over most blocks in her age group. Currently projected as a three-rotation pin, she's slowly developing her back row play to become that well-rounded recruit college coaches love seeing at this age. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435860' first='Evyn' last='Taylor']</strong> is another three-rotation hammer for this squad, but is far more effective from the left pin than any other on this roster. Big and physical, Evyn hits a heavy ball that is hard to dig, let alone track. Finally, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='546229' first='Kaelyn' last='Groce']</strong> is a long and lean middle that can be an M1 or an M2 at the next level, depending on the school's needs. Her attack touch should be pretty close to ten feet, if not already there. Defensively, her long arms and even longer stride allow her to defend well from pin to pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">CVBC 17-1 "a team"</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The A-Team, as this roster is affectionately called, is certainly just that. This is a collection of high-level athletes that play multiple sports and have many things going right for them in the volleyball world. Take <strong>Bailey Bonde,</strong> for example. This 1A state champ and All-State honoree is a big presence in the middle and can power through many undisciplined blocks, just like she did during the high school season. You can't teach 6'2", and with her skill to go with that size, she's bound to find someone interested. <strong>Anika Jenkins</strong> is another big and physical presence out of the middle, but can also put balls away on either pin with brute force, if necessary. Again, size can't be taught, and Miss Jenkins make her job look easy because of that wing span and her long strides she takes to do everything on the volleyball court. <strong>Finley Wheeler,</strong> she of the two-time state runners-up Brownstown Braves, is a clear quarterback of the court---not only on offense but in overall leadership. Her role has already been defined by Melissa Smith, one of our scouts here in Indiana, but I'll go one further; to have this level of leadership, control and "lead-by-example" mentality at this age is not only hard to teach, but hard to find.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Circle City Mavericks 3.0</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This squad is playing up a couple of age groups (the roster is actually Circle's 15-1) to see what they're made of as they prep for the open level of GJNCs in another month plus. I've had a bunch of kids I've mentioned in the past repeatedly mentioned here, so let's talk about some unsung heroines on this roster. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='586944' first='Blaine' last='Adams']</strong> is a high-flying terminator that has a whip of an arm and can put balls away both in-system and out-of-system---a special set of talents that is VERY hard to find in this age group. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523245' first='Finley' last='Smith']</strong> is a long and lean middle that excels at faster-than-average transition with exceptional footwork and can get up in a hurry to terminate. She'll beat a lot of slower blocks that just can't go as fast as she. <b>[player_tooltip player_id='545993' first='Mckenna' last='Muncy']</b> is a solid M2 on any squad, and her long wing span makes her look much taller than she actually is. Able to hit any angle on any tempo ball at any time, Miss Muncy's ability to use her height to its maximum advantage is her calling card.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->