What 15s Made a Major First Impression This Season?
I do not watch a lot of 14s, actually I don’t watch any 14s until maybe the summer prior to their Freshman season. That’s why it is really exciting to see the 15s take the court because there are so…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingI do not watch a lot of 14s, actually I don’t watch any 14s until maybe the summer prior to their Freshman season. That’s why it is really exciting to see the 15s take the court because there are so many new names to get to know. As I reflect on the 2022 club season, there are a lot of athletes who made a big first impression for me. Obviously these athletes make an impact with their play, but they also interact with their teammates well, and have a dynamic skill set when it comes to how they make their impact. Did I notice more than just these names I listed below? Of course. There will be more to come as we build up to national tournaments in Orlando and Indianapolis. Here are some 15s who made a major first impression.
Karlie Molnau – MKE Sting 15 Gold
This might not be all based on a first impression for Molnau, but this goes back to the D3 state championship match in Wisconsin and the Prep Dig Top 250 last November. Molnau is a middle blocker for MKE Sting 15 Gold. The name to her game is speed and explosiveness. She is able to find the seam and with a fast arm swing she can thump it on some wild angles. Her athleticism allows her to hit multiple tempos and her setters do a great job of finding her in the open spots along the net to really create plenty of scoring opportunities.
Great connections this weekend between @ReiterBillie and Karlie Molnau. Reiter runs such a smooth offense and Molnau runs the middle with such speed. A tough matchup to defend.
2025s from @stingvb1988 15 Gold #pdgauntlet
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) May 30, 2022
Natalie Wardlow – Nebraska ONE 15 Synergy
This whole Nebraska One Synergy team is a first impression that has stuck since seeing this team live back at the Northern Lights Qualifier in March. I could spot light plenty of athletes on this team, but Natalie Wardlow is going to be one a lot of coaches are going to want to see at camp this summer. Wardlow is 6’4, strong, athletic, and dynamic. Her ceiling is extremely high as well as she will be able to grow in a club and in a state who develops all around athletes. She is more than an athlete who can hit the quick as she can be a major presence with her block and can hit multiple tempos to score points. This will be a fun team to watch compete in Indy.
Class of 2025 Kelly Kinney from @BoomersVB is one of the top players in the 15s division. Heavy swing, dynamic is an understatement #nlq pic.twitter.com/2xZ2Vk1ETN
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 19, 2022
Kelly Kinney – Boomers 15 Mizuno
Absolutely electric. Kinney out of South Florida was someone who really stood out at the Northern Lights Qualifier. She is a pure six rotation outside hitter who has a live and loose arm swing where every swing she takes, she’s putting a lot of pace on it. Her game for someone at the 15s level is very mature. She has a mix of shots where she knows where to really rip to score points, when to change it up with something off speed, and handle a large bulk of serve receive into attacking. Again, electric is the word that comes to mind again and again with Kinney.
Carly Gilk – Synergy 151
Gilk is another one who stood out among the elite at the Northern Lights Qualifier. The left handed, six rotation right side has a ton of physicality and athleticism. She can do it all for Synergy who is out of the Twin Cities Metro area in Minnesota. She’s got the swing, the block, and can pass – a six rotation right side is a real gem and adds a lot of options to a roster. She will be a key player for Synergy at Nationals where they have competed in the open divisions all season.
Bayleigh Minor and Bailey Warren- Houston Skyline 15 Royal
This Houston Skyline team is going to be in the hunt for a national championship in Indianapolis. They are long, athletic, and put a ton of pressure on the other side of the net. Minor plays out of the middle and is the total package. She has the length and strength to make the other side second guess what kind of shot they are sending over, she also has great court vision out of the middle to find the open spot. Warren is another six rotation outside hitter who electrifies the court. She is fast to attack, can take it line, sharp cross, or a roll over the block.
Isabelle Brown – Circle City 15 Purple
I saw Brown first play at Central Zone way back in January and I knew based on this setter that her team was going to have a successful season. Her ability to scramble and go pin to pin was extremely mature for a 15s player, she also has that edge to her where she is going to find a way to win. Fast forward to June and her team has a loaded resume of winning qualifiers, 65-13 record, and a number four overall ranking for teams 15 and under in AES. This Circle City team is extremely balanced, but Brown is definitely the one who strings it together. They will have big goals as they get to play nationals in their backyard of Indianapolis come late June.
Ella Florez – Dynasty 15 Black
Dynasty is one of the top 15s programs in the country and Florez is a big part of this. I saw Dynasty 15s play at the Windy City Qualifier where they ended up finishing runner up to Circle City 15 Purple. This is a well balanced, ball control team that will be a tough match up in Indy. Florez seems so cool, calm, and collected on the court. She has great footwork and a smooth release as a setter where she can also defend and swing if she needs to.
Lot of size and athleticism on this @6packvbc 15s team. Outside hitter Abbey Hayes is electric. Definitely one to have on the radar #wcnq pic.twitter.com/KUrQhjtSqz
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 15, 2022
Abbey Hayes, Dakota Mitchell – Six Pack 15-1
Six Pack 15-1 was a whole lot of lightning in a bottle when they came to play at Windy City. Knocking off some of the top teams in the field and punching their ticket to an Open bid for USAV Nationals. Abbey Hayes is the big time outside hitter where she can score everywhere, she knows how to take an aggressive swing and score points from the front and backrow. Dakota Mitchell may be one of the smallest on the courts, but she came up huge for Pack time after time as a libero. She has a controlled platform, can handle a bulk of the serve receive, and make the routine plays time and time again. These athletes from the Cedar Falls area in Iowa are a fun group to watch.
Abigail Vander Wal is lethal from the outside for @1stAllianceVBC #PDGauntlet @PrepDigChris @PrepDig @PrepDigEvents @prepdigil pic.twitter.com/fbPMQHbPjO
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) May 28, 2022
Abigail Vander Wal and Hannah Kenny – 1st Alliance 15 Gold
I was able to watch 1st Alliance 15 Gold quite a bit at Triple Crown back in February, and this team does not lose many sets let alone matches, they are tough to beat. Abigail Vander Wal is one of the top 2025 players in the country where she is a six rotation outside who has to be around 6’3 to 6’4. A complete player who knows how to have a major impact on the game. Her counterpart, Hannah Kenny, is a setter/right side who packs a major punch. 1st Alliance has plenty of athletes who can play multiple positions and Kenny does it extremely well. She is a smash mouth type player where she isn’t afraid to go head to head with a big block and light a fire within her team.
Kennedi Rogers having a big match for @houstonjuniors 15 Elite. Uber athletic with a big swing. Six rotation outside! #wcnq pic.twitter.com/7luQzKCdN0
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 15, 2022
Kennedi Rogers and Kirra Musgrove – Houston Juniors 15 Elite
HJV 15 Elite might be the most physically imposing team at the 15s level with a roster full of athletes who are 6’0 or taller. They also have a lot of athleticism where the more the touches and training they get, the more dangerous they will be. Kennedi Rogers will be one of the top athletes on the court no matter what team they are facing. She did some special things at the Windy City Qualifier where she can pass, attack, block, and always has a huge impact on the game. Setter, Kirra Musgrove is big time. She’s long, athletic, defends her position well, and can dish to all of her attackers. Her ceiling is extremely high, she will be another Texas setter who can attack and swing making her extremely valuable for her squad.