The kick-off to the club season officially begins this weekend with the Early Bird Shootout, hosted by multiple clubs on over forty courts on Sunday, January 10. The who’s who of 1s teams will be at Capitol Sports Center in Plainfield, the home of Circle City. There will be distinct morning and afternoon waves, with the younger (read: 15s and 16s) ages playing early. Yours truly will be in attendance, so here’s the preview of whom to watch.
Courts 1 and 4, AM wave
A modified pool schedule, emphasizing social distancing and maximizing sanitation on the court for each and every match, headlines this tournament. The 8am matchups are toughies right out of the gate; Court 1 has Circle City 16 Purple matching up against Academy 16 Yeti, while Court 4 features Union UA 16 and Boiler Juniors 16 Gold. Each have their high-profile class of ’23 players. I’ll be keeping an eye on
Quinci Thomas
Quinci
Thomas
6'3" | OH
Brownsburg | 2023
State
IN
(6-1 OH) and
Faith Burch
Faith
Burch
5'10" | RS
Roncalli | 2023
State
IN
(5-10 RS) holding the pins down for coach Scott McQueen. The Academy brings their own size and jumping ability, with
Mya Ayro
Mya
Ayro
5'11" | MB
Greenwood | 2023
State
IN
moving her athleticism to the left pin after playing middle on her high school team. I’ll
The kick-off to the club season officially begins this weekend with the Early Bird Shootout, hosted by multiple clubs on over forty courts on Sunday, January 10. The who’s who of 1s teams will be at Capitol Sports Center in Plainfield, the home of Circle City. There will be distinct morning and afternoon waves, with the younger (read: 15s and 16s) ages playing early. Yours truly will be in attendance, so here’s the preview of whom to watch.
Courts 1 and 4, AM wave
A modified pool schedule, emphasizing social distancing and maximizing sanitation on the court for each and every match, headlines this tournament. The 8am matchups are toughies right out of the gate; Court 1 has Circle City 16 Purple matching up against Academy 16 Yeti, while Court 4 features Union UA 16 and Boiler Juniors 16 Gold. Each have their high-profile class of ’23 players. I’ll be keeping an eye on
Quinci Thomas
Quinci
Thomas
6'3" | OH
Brownsburg | 2023
State
IN
(6-1 OH) and
Faith Burch
Faith
Burch
5'10" | RS
Roncalli | 2023
State
IN
(5-10 RS) holding the pins down for coach Scott McQueen. The Academy brings their own size and jumping ability, with
Mya Ayro
Mya
Ayro
5'11" | MB
Greenwood | 2023
State
IN
moving her athleticism to the left pin after playing middle on her high school team. I’ll be keeping my other eye on Court 4, where
Cali Cummings
Cali
Cummings
6'0" | MB
Seymour | 2023
State
IN
(6-0 MB/OH) and
Libby Dippold
Libby
Dippold
5'11" | MB
Columbus East | 2023
State
IN
(5-11 MB) will anchor the middle. Prepare to see Miss Cummings on one of the pins as well, as 6-4 MB
Meredith Brown
Meredith
Brown
MB
Mercy | 2023
State
KY
from Kentucky should be the main quick tempo option for setter
Grace Purichia
Grace
Purichia
5'7" | S
Providence | 2023
State
IN
.
Courts 2 and 3, AM wave
Although the younger 15s teams are split between these two courts, they will be matched up in a crossover match to end the day with teams from Courts 1 and 4, depending on their finish. No slouches here; the Boiler Juniors 15 Gold squad is familiar with winning, starting with freshman setter
Allie Shondell
Allie
Shondell
5'9" | S
McCutcheon | 2024
State
IN
(5-10 S).
Riley Whitlock
Riley
Whitlock
6'0" | OH
Lafayette Harrison | 2024
State
IN
(5-11 OH) will also bring a good amount of athleticism to the fold. They immediately are challenged by a Union 15 UA that looks young, but brings a volleyball IQ higher than most. Kylie Minnis (’23, 5-10 OH) should lead the way from the left pin, while Ellie Priddy will anchor the middle.
Courts 1 and 4, PM wave
The big girls finally arrive, with Academy’s 18-1 taking on Circle’s 17-1 on Court 1. Experience lead the Rage, with Purdue signee
Raven Colvin
Raven
Colvin
6'0" | MB
Heritage Christian | 2021
State
IN
and Butler signee
Grace Boggess
Grace
Boggess
6'3" | MB
Center Grove | 2021
State
IN
bringing size and massive ability. Circle will put up a fight, with six foot outside
Courtney Jones
Courtney
Jones
5'11" | OH
Terre Haute South | 2022
State
IN
(Lipscomb commit) and 6-1 middle
Ella Peter
Ella
Peter
6'0" | MB
Noblesville | 2022
State
IN
(Central Michigan commit) carrying their own size and jumping abilities. Court 4 will be a great matchup early as well, with Union UA 18 taking on Impact 18 Scott. Union has their entire roster signed, led by setter
Emma Kaelin
Emma
Kaelin
5'10" | S
Providence | 2021
State
IN
(Indiana State) and heavy-armed outside
Ali Hornung
Ali
Hornung
5'9" | OH
Providence | 2021
State
IN
(Purdue). Impact brings their own talent, starting with senior middle
Madison Ritchie
Madison
Ritchie
6'0" | MB
Fort Wayne Leo | 2022
State
IN
.
Courts 2 and 3, PM wave
The top two Circle teams go head-to-head in the first match of our club season on Court 2. 18-1 has a ton of talent, including thumper
Abby Maesch
Abby
Maesch
5'11" | OH
Avon | 2021
State
IN
(Georgia) and the best hands (IMHO) in the class of ’21 from Indiana,
Bailey DeMier
Bailey
DeMier
6'0" | S
Bloomington South | 2021
State
IN
(Murray State). 18-2 has their fair share as well, starting with setter
Sidney Veatch
Sidney
Veatch
6'0" | S
Southmont | 2021
State
IN
(IUPUI) and lefty hammer
GraceAnn Hartman
GraceAnn
Hartman
6'2" | RS
Perry Meridian | 2021
State
IN
(Ashland). Don’t miss the action on Court 3, however. Impacts #1 team, 18 Jay, matches up against Academy’s 18-2.
Bailey Hartsough
Bailey
Hartsough
5'10" | OH
Lakeland | 2021
State
IN
(Western Carolina) will be the primary attacker on Impact’s side, while
Carly Sobieralski
Carly
Sobieralski
5'10" | S
Franklin Central | 2021
State
IN
(Southern Indiana) brings her brand of "attacking setter" to run a 5-1 for the Fury.
