Five States, Storylines, and Names From Indy Spring Showcase
Prep Dig ran it’s first event in Indiana with the Prep Dig Indy Spring Showcase at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on the eve of the Adidas Naptown Jamboree. With 100 athletes competing from five different states it really shows that volleyball is a universal language of bringing people together. There were athletes all across the spectrum of those who are ready to commit and make their college choice to others who are just getting their feet wet. It’s been a wild year for all, but Friday night was a great chance to have athletes come together and spark the weekend. Here are five storylines that keep coming back to me from Friday.
Some 2024s making a name early. Lot of talent in this class
57 – Lindley Martin
43 – Julia Johnson
1 Marlina Anderson
90 – Alaleh Tolliver
95 – Madison Wilson pic.twitter.com/s1L3UgJdxI— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 23, 2021
More 2024s! Great energy to start the session!
80 – Whitney Sherrer
84 – Katherine Smith
37 – Caroline Harvey
25 – Amanda Evers
34 – Ella Guilfoy pic.twitter.com/VNi2Td01D5— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 23, 2021
The Improvement of the Class of 2024
I was able to see a lot of these athletes at Central Zone which was at the end of January. In a full club season, four months is a lot of time (especially at the 15s level) to see plenty of improvements. They looked like different players, competing at another level. Alaleh Tolliver was one of the top players in the gym regardless of graduating class with her ability to fly and swing away. She has a whip of an arm creating plenty of velocity and top spin. Julia Johnson came over from Illinois, playing for Illini Elite and really stood out among the setters in the Class of 2024. Great hands and footwork where she was able to get everyone involved. This group also seemed to really click, playing with a lot of energy and smiles.
Solid connection from setter to right side with Kaitlyn Mullen to Maliyah Buford. Mullen a high IQ setter and Buford is an explosive lefty right side pic.twitter.com/nGWgTAMUmQ
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 24, 2021
Athletes From Five States
Outside of Indiana, we had athletes coming from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Illinois had a really solid group of setters which included Johnson (Illini Elite) and Kaitlyn Mullen (VC United) along with Madison Kmetz who preps at Andrean High School (IN), but plays club at Michio Chicago who is always a premier club in Chicagoland. Vanessa Del Real is another one who represents Indiana and Illinois where she preps at Crown Point and plays for one of the top 16s teams in the country at 1st Alliance 16 Silver. Wisconsin brought a solid core of athletes from Western Wisconsin near the Eau Claire area which is about 90 miles East of Minneapolis/St. Paul – lots of small school talent in the area. Those athletes included Isabelle Schmidt (Rice Lake), Samantha Perlberg (Chippewa Falls), Emily Nelson (Mondovi), and Mya Martenson (Altoona). Our Michigan athletes came from the Lansing area with three from Attack 16U in Katelynn Davis, Isabella Schultz, and Eliza Wortz.
Hang In There 2022’s
The Class of 2022 has been through the ringer when it comes to the recruiting process. Navigating rule changes in recruiting along with way too many zoom calls and visits, there are plenty who are ready to commit and then breathe a sigh of relief. The 2022’s court was so solid with athletes who were incredibly dynamic. Kaitlin Fassbender of Academy has a scary upside to her game where she’s 6’0 tall and so physical at the net, she’s also got grit to her that is tough to match. Madison Kmetz was on point from the setter position where attackers would love to have her on their side. There were also plenty of combo players where I could see them playing in multiple positions such as Delaney Martin, Amaya Lowry, and Avery Holubar to name a few.
Two middle prospects out of 2023 going head to head.
17 – Gabby Dean
72 – Jessica PickettBoth move extremely well and are right around 6’4ish pic.twitter.com/znWaRkSHez
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 23, 2021
Power Play Out Of The Middles
Very rarely in volleyball do we have a chance to talk about a one on one matchup. There could be two top setters from both teams, but its not like they are setting against each other. Friday night, we got to see two powerful middle blockers go head to head. These athletes are going to be on some form of ESPN in a few years in 2023 middles Jessica Pickett (Carmel HS/Academy) and Gabby Dean (Columbus East HS/Team Indiana). Picket stands at 6’5 and Dean is 6’4. “Tall Aint All”. These two can move, have plenty of strength, and know what to do with ball when it’s in their area. Their motor is high and upside even higher. This was a joy to watch and exciting to know they are just finishing their Sophomore year of high school.
Solid connection from setter to right side with Kaitlyn Mullen to Maliyah Buford. Mullen a high IQ setter and Buford is an explosive lefty right side pic.twitter.com/nGWgTAMUmQ
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 24, 2021
Big swing and kill by 2023 pin Reagan Ealy pic.twitter.com/nACguVNd2C
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 23, 2021
2023s Ready For More
There were athletes from the Class of 2023 who will be getting calls from college coaches come June 15. Seeing athletes go through the recruiting process, I like to use the phrase “You are not defined as a person by who does or doesn’t call you on June 15”. For these athletes, it can be a stressful process, but there is support along the way. The 2023’s had two courts where there were plenty of highlights. The Academy 16-1 squad was in full force with the powerful play of Mya Ayro who is so physical at the net. Raegan Burns is one of the top liberos out of the Class of 2023 in Indiana and she is so quietly effective. She’s not the libero who is diving all over the place because she doesn’t need to, she anticipates well and is so under control with her platform. Ohio athlete, Mitha Hatwar was solid from the setting position. She had great command of the court and also showed positive body language and intangibles. Also, don’t sleep on those Western Wisconsin athletes. Samantha Perlberg is a 5’10 outside hitter that is long and athletic. She hung with some of the top players out of Indiana and then some. This is what I really enjoy about events like this is seeing the athletes who are the hidden gems no longer be hidden.