It pains me, but my rules are strict—-once a kid is committed to play at the next level, I have to move on to give coverage to those not yet committed. Miss Schembra, I have a feeling, will cause me to write about her regularly this spring. With two attackers out for months, Anabelle will have to make even more deceptive choices on the offense in order for her 17 Purple squad to earn a bid to GJNC’s here in Indy. This past Sunday, she did just that, and is learning about her primary attackers and what her passers can and can’t do. On Sunday, without fail, she was the vocal leader of her squad, and kept them in matches despite missing a good portion of the offense. With high hands (look at her profile pic!), solid decision-making and exceptional set placement, she’s even better than she was in the fall, leading this author (and UCF, for that matter) to be even prouder of her continued excellence.

The most COMPLETE setter available in this class, Anabelle has been the setter for 4A top ten Center Grove’s varsity since her freshman year, and has been the top setter for the various clubs she’s played with. Spending this past season with Circle’s 16-1, Miss Schembra has developed into a highly athletic and dynamic setter that can do anything a setter needs to do and does everything any volleyball player should do well. Competitive as any, she’s slowly perfected her craft of setting over the years, and has morphed into an indispensable part of every roster she’s been a part of for the last two years. On a more personal take, I’m surprised she’s still available. This is a next-level setter ready to go right NOW.

I keep coming back to Miss Schembra and all that she’s done for the last two seasons. As the starter for two seasons at Center Grove, she’s got one of the best programs in all of Indiana at her direction. As the lead setter for Circle’s top 16s team, she’s also directing one of the most potent offenses in the state which is absolutely loaded with firepower. Her athleticism gets her to balls that some can’t get to, while her volleyball acuity allows her to know where that ball should go once she gets there. There are plenty of talented setters in this class, but none can do it all like Anabelle does day-in and day-out.

I typed that last sentence implying that Miss Schembra had that much farther to go. In reality, Anabelle has always been there. Leading her team to a third place finish and earning an open bid to nationals, she was the catalyst to a ton of high level offensive performances throughout the weekend. Dynamic, athletic and strong, her sets were located well and consistently, and has even developed a heavy hybrid serve that causes problems if you’re not ready for it. Upgrading the bid to an open bid will present a challenge for her squad, but it’s a challenge I think they’re ready for.

After spending the past couple of club seasons playing up a year, it must feel GREAT for Anabelle to be playing in her own age group. Her 16-1 at Circle has already won multiple tournaments this season, including the Hoosier Bid Regionals this past weekend. Their earned National bid might turn into an Open bid in the coming weeks, and as the quarterback of the offense, Miss Schembra is more than apt to earn that bid too. Quick-footed, sure-handed and confident, she’s a pleasure to watch run the show with the array of attackers she gets to set. Rarely do you find a setter having THIS much fun at the position, but it’s who she is.

One of the top players in the 2027 class, this Team Indiana transfer has made an immediate impact for her new team. Already winning multiple tournaments this spring, Miss Schembra is the clear leader, both physically and vocally, and she clearly has a stranglehold of the top setting spot in the class. Her ability to use her athleticism in multiple parts of her game allow her to be an unmistakeable high-level recruit, and seemingly improves every time I see her play. She’s even added a tougher hybrid jump serve to her arsenal, which has shown more consistency since the high school season.

Schembra is going to be an incredible addition to this year’s Circle City 16-1s squad with her advanced court vision, ability to be offensive when needed and fierce competitive nature. This young lady is a well-rounded floor captain who is clearly confident in running the offense and evenly distributing the ball. She is deceptive when jump setting, opening up seams all along the net for her hitters and causing middle blockers to jump with her and guess the wrong direction to block. On defense she only seems to know one speed – GO – and can dig balls and run down tips with the best of the defensive players. In addition, on defense, she gets to the net fast and with intention. Lastly, Schembra is offensive minded at the right times with her left hand and knows when a strong one-handed dump to the middle of the court will work (she also has a good zone 4 dump as well). I look for Anabelle to take this 16 open team to new heights this season for sure, especially if she can continue to work on her block.

After another season of running the show at Center Grove, finishing in the top ten in 4A AGAIN, Anabelle has shown up and showed out as one of the premier setters in this class. She’s dynamic, athletic and a relentless competitor once she hears the first whistle. Her ability to pick the right hitter to set in the right situation has become more natural for her, and her transfer to Circle this spring will put her among some of the elite attackers in this class. She’s finally playing in her own age group, as opposed to playing up a year, so watching her play with her own class will be an interesting adjustment for her—-she might make this look even EASIER.