Illinois 15s and 16s Rising at Winter Classic

We're still sifting through the notes of some notable performances from the Winter Classic in Milwaukee this past weekend.  There were plenty of new names on my radar from Illinois who showed out.  Who do we need to keep tabs on for the 2026 season?     [player_tooltip player_id='546207' first='Harper' last='Neill'] just gets it done. The libero for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] Adidas 16 Elite plays with great awareness, she has a high IQ, and savvy for the game. She can handle a high volume in serve receive, takes pace off a hard swing, and is really strong in the out of system plays whether she is putting up a clean second ball or bettering the ball for another rally. [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] has consistently produced liberos who can play at a high level and Neill is next in line.     [player_tooltip player_id='546205' first='Erin' last='Bruce'] is going to land on the list of plenty of college coaches this season. The 6'0 outside hitter who preps at Dundee-Crown High School brings length and physicality to the game where she can score points in a high volume. She hits a heavy ball, her contact point is high where she avoids the block and provides a tough matchup for the defense. This is a scrappy team for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] who is going to win a lot of matches this season. Will be fun to see them at Triple Crown in February.     The Class of 2029 outside hitter made quite an impact for her 1st Alliance 15 Silver team. She can serve receive, pass, and score points. I was impressed by her hand contact on the pin. When she makes contact with the ball it sounds different, she is swinging big, and brings an aggressive mindset to score points. 1st Alliance 15 Silver dropped a tough three set match to Iowa Rockets in the quarterfinals, but would finish 4-1 overall.     Another athlete to know from the 1st Alliance 15 Silver team is middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='781326' first='Anna' last='Crittenden']. 1st Alliance has a tradition of well trained middle blockers who have gone on to the next level and Crittenden shows plenty of promise. She is able to run a variety of tempos, connecting well with her setter. There was a C ball she was able to connect well with which is just of glimpse of what she will continue to do through the 2026 season. With her athletic ability and dynamic skill set, it will be fun to see how she progresses.     Put Lauren Flamme on your radar, she has an exciting upside to her game where she is a next level player. Her length and athleticism is what initially jumps out, but she is skilled in her passing and attacking. She has a high reach that allows her to hit a variety of angles. As her backcourt game evolves, she is going to be an outside to know throughout the state and beyond.     What a flyer! [player_tooltip player_id='750128' first='Brooklyn' last='Chesna'] was such a fun player to see for Attack 16 Select who finished second overall in 16 Open. Chesna is actually playing up an age group as she is a 2029 six rotation hitter. I was impressed with her overall skill set because she contributes to every part of the game. She passes extremely well, she can be in serve receive formations where she can handle a high volume. Offensively she just flies as an outside hitter with an explosive pop to her swing.     Middles who can change the game are always exciting, that's [player_tooltip player_id='848833' first='Kaleigh' last='Hatchett']. The Class of 2028 prospect brings an exciting athletic and dynamic style of play to the net. She was able to connect on a variety of tempos where she is able to adjust well to whatever is thrown her way. She can hit a ball right out of the setters hands or a quick tempo “31” or “C” ball. She moves well laterally with her block while becoming available to her setter in transition.     I've been watching 1st Alliance for years and I always enjoy how they train their setters. Most of their setters also have the ability to attack on the pin. That's [player_tooltip player_id='434898' first='Nora' last='Dunn']. She is able to positively impact the game in multiple ways. She can set in the backrow and is a point scoring right side in the front row. I was impressed with her overall feel for the game. She makes good decisions as a setter and smart shots on the right side. Having an athlete who can do so many skills really well is such an asset for any team.     What an exciting athlete for [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] 151 Elite in Livia Tobin. She is a 2029 six rotation outside hitter who preps at Belvidere North where she has a really live arm. She is fundamentally sound, well trained where she is fast to the ball and is smart with what angles she uses and can also use the block to her advantage. She is also a solid backrow player as well. [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] had quite a weekend where they played their way through crossovers to advance to gold and finished second overall in 15 Open.     Definitely put a star on Hadley Murphy's name of [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] 151 Elite. The Class of 2029 middle blocker preps at Milton High School in Wisconsin, but plays for VC out of Rockford. She is a 6'3 middle blocker who has plenty of upside. Offensively, she's not afraid to swing big and go deep to the corner. As a blocker she makes the other side of the net think twice about their shot. She is able to get touches that most cannot. I can see her rising among some of the best in the Wisconsin Class of 2029.     New Wave 16 Tsunami has a couple lefties who are really dynamic. One is [player_tooltip player_id='758563' first='Lauren' last='Smith'] who can serve as a right side hitter or setter. I was able to see her play in the 16 Premier Division at the Winter Classic where her squad finished 4-1 overall. An athlete like Smith is a real gem where she change the game in a variety of ways. She can find her attackers and she can score points on her own.     I was able to see Fusion 16 National this past weekend in Milwaukee at the Winter Classic and I remember seeing [player_tooltip player_id='808652' first='Erin' last='Skidmore'] from last season as a 15s. She is the commander of the backrow as a libero. There is a sense of cool and confidence to her game where she keeps things easy and routine. From serve receive, taking pace off a ball, to putting up a good second ball for her attackers she has a knack for the game. This is a scrappy Fusion team that is going to win a lot of games this season.     A six rotation outside hitter who has landed on the radar is [player_tooltip player_id='789743' first='Mya' last='Mikos'] of Fusion 16 National. I was able to see her this past weekend at the Winter Classic in Milwaukee. When I first saw her she was showing her point scoring ability where she was able to avoid the block and find different angles to get the other side of the net out of system. Then she went back to the service line and was able to pass and be an offensive threat. She preps at St. Charles North and will be exciting to see in 2026.

We're still sifting through the notes of some notable performances from the Winter Classic in Milwaukee this past weekend. There were plenty of new names on my radar from Illinois who showed out. Who do we need to keep tabs on for the 2026 season?