What If We Made A Club Team Out Of The Top 23s?
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With the state championships behind us, club tryouts are happening everywhere. As a former coach, I may be no longer directing practice, but the coach brain never stops. In this article, we try to construct a great club team out…
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Continue ReadingWith the state championships behind us, club tryouts are happening everywhere. As a former coach, I may be no longer directing practice, but the coach brain never stops. In this article, we try to construct a great club team out of the class of 2023 from Indiana. Here are my rules:
- OH1 is a three-rotation hammer
- OH2 is a six-rotation outside that makes very few attacking errors
- MB1 is the middle next to the setter
- MB2 is the middle next to the RS
- Only one S; we’re running a 5-1
- One libero
- Two DS positions; one to sub out the OH1, the other to sub out the RS
- most recent high school and club listed
Before you start rage-typing at me, please understand the this is a subjective list. These players aren’t actually going to get together and create a super-team. I just thought it would be fun to have an unlimited list to choose from.
OH1: Quincy Thomas, 6-3, Brownsburg, Circle City
By the end of this past fall season, Quincy was never removed from the lineup. That being said, we will have passers that can receive serve better than Quincy, so we’ll take advantage of her size in this exercise. This kid can bang, and, at the height of her attack touch, can hit indefensible angles and extreme terminal balls that very few at her age can hit. And she still has two more years to get better. Watch out.
OH2: Chloe Chicoine Chloe Chicoine 5'9" | OH McCutcheon | 2023 State #1 Nation IN , 5-9, McCutcheon, Circle City
This U.S. Youth National Team member is a no-brainer for the six-rotation outside hitting position. Her ridiculous 6+ kills per set while hitting north of .300 this past fall is unheard of, even at the collegiate level. Add to the thunderbolt that the volleyball gods gave her in her shoulder at birth, and you can understand why she’s been playing up an age group since I can remember. You can find her on the 17 Purple (17-1) team at CC. It’ll be worth the watch, trust me.
RS: Faith Burch Faith Burch 5'10" | RS Roncalli | 2023 State IN , 5-10, Roncalli, Circle City
Another whip of an arm, Faith can also set in a pinch, but I’d love to see more of that hammer of hers. Imagine our setter playing defense on the first ball, and Faith taking the second. Or if Faith is set outright, who might get hammered with the ball? The possibilities are endless.
MB1: Emily Waddell Emily Waddell 6'0" | MB Carmel | 2023 State #137 Nation IN , 6-0, Carmel, Circle City
I flipped a coin, and put Emily here. Her speed and athleticism catch up to lumbering players and she can jump and attack over the rest. Springy, quick and terminal. That’s how a middle should be. With her return to the Greyhounds for two more seasons, a sectional title isn’t too far out of the question. Especially if Miss Waddell has anything to say about it.
MB2: Gabby Dean Gabby Dean 6'5" | MB Columbus East | 2023 State #53 Nation IN , 6-4, Columbus East, Team Indiana
Our first TI mention in these fantasy club teams, Gabby is big and can MOVE. Attacking against her is like playing in a phone booth. Blocking her might have you lose a finger. Gabby is, far and away, the best middle option for the ’23 class for the state of Indiana, and it isn’t close. She’s already getting looks from high-profile Power Five programs. It’s only a matter of time before she’s considered elite.
S: Grace Purichia Grace Purichia 5'7" | S Providence | 2023 State #149 Nation IN , 5-7, Providence
Volleyball runs in this kid’s blood, as mom is the head coach of Providence High School and director of a successful club program in Union. Grace’s talents are multiple, as she’s already placed in the top five in national BEACH qualifiers. Her athleticism and natural volleyball instincts transfer well to the indoor game. Although undersized, I like her ability to get to any ball, set any ball, and make any ball hittable for her hitters.
L: Reese Baker Reese Baker 5'4" | DS/L Wapahani | 2023 State IN , 5-4, Wapahani, Munciana
Even when the chips were down in the 2A state title match against Barr-Reeve last Saturday, Reese kept going. Pursued every ball, took more space in serve receive, and tried to will her team to victory. She was unsuccessful, but her surrounding cast of fellow sophomores will mature right along side her. I like her ability to lead, to take more in serve receive, and, oh by the way, she’s a Munciana kid. Miss Baker can flat out pass. Add to it that she’s a winner; Wapahani has made it to the 2A title match two years in a row.
DS: Vanessa Del Real Vanessa Del Real 5'6" | DS/L Crown Point | 2023 State #164 Nation IN , 5-6, Crown Point, Epic United
I realize I’m going against my own opinions from previous lists, but Vanessa cannot be overlooked in this class. Inarguably the #1 reason Crown Point was as successful as they were this past fall, Vanessa has two more years to make herself in an untouchable class of exceptional defenders. The Chicagoland area already knows about her; she’s received multiple awards for conference and regional accolades, and soon enough, Indianapolis will know about her. She can pass, defend, serve and lead, all while being quite coachable.
DS: Ramsey Gary Ramsey Gary 5'5" | DS/L Pendleton Heights | 2023 State #165 Nation IN , 5-5, Pendleton Heights, Munciana
OK, back to reality. Another Munciana kid, but from a not-so-volleydork high school like the other players listed above. Ramsey is the real deal, though, and as her season this past fall wore on, she was forced to cover more and more in serve receive. Teams playing against her had one simple task; don’t hit it to Ramsey. Period. That’s good enough for me to include her on this list.