Storms Can’t Stop the Talent at Central Zone

The Central Zone tournament in Indianapolis has long held a strong reputation for high-level early-season competition, drawing top programs primarily from the Midwest and South. Unfortunately, severe winter storms across those regions significantly reduced the field, forcing many teams to cancel travel plans. In response, the event was condensed from a two-day format into a one-day tournament, but the level of play remained impressive, especially at the top.

17 Open

In the 17 Open division, Circle City 17 Purple, Pineapple 17U, and Sky High Adidas 17 Elite emerged as the final three teams in the Gold Pool.

Circle City 17 Purple finished third overall but had several standout individual performances. OH Caroline Ward (SMU) showed why she is an elite red-level prospect. Her athleticism and quick arm swing consistently stood out, and she continues to make strides as a six-rotation outside with a developing all-around game.

Miliana Mays (Uncommitted) also caught my attention in matches against both Sky High and Pineapple. She demonstrated excellent lateral movement, worked hard to stay available in transition, and showed noticeable growth in her slide attack. I currently have her graded as an Orange-level prospect with a 150 PPV. Middles who can score consistently on the slide are always in demand, and she’s a player to watch closely as she continues her recruiting process.

Sky High Adidas 17 Elite finished as the runner-up, going 1–1 in the Gold Pool. They earned a three-set win over Circle City before falling in straight sets to Pineapple. That match against Pineapple was one of the best of the weekend, featuring high-level terminal attackers on both sides. While both rosters are loaded with Division I commits, Maizy Agnello (Missouri) stood out for Sky High. A silver-level prospect, she delivered timely scoring from both the front row and back row when her team needed it most.

For Pineapple 17U, Emory Cardinal (Iowa) was a dominant presence. The elite orange-level middle did an outstanding job controlling the net and scoring efficiently throughout the day. She was difficult to slow down and played a major role in Pineapple capturing the 17 Open title without dropping a set.

16 Open

The 16 Open division featured several tightly contested matches and high-level battles.

Pineapple 16U finished third after falling to Munciana 16 Nighthawks in two extremely close sets, both ending 26–24. The back-and-forth nature of the match made for one of the most entertaining contests of the day. Reagan Edwards stood out on the right side for Pineapple. Standing at 74" and now playing six rotations, she was a major blocking presence and used her high contact point to score in key moments. We are giving her an initial PPV score of 167.

Her teammate, OH Elyse Mead, also impressed. Slightly undersized for a pin, she plays with a high motor and takes aggressive swings. She’s a true do-it-all player for Pineapple and someone the team consistently looks to in pressure situations. We currently have her with an initial PPV of 138, and her competitive edge really stands out.

For Munciana 16 Skyhawks, two players were especially impactful. MB Abbie Powell once again validated what I’ve seen previously. She is a smooth, versatile athlete with a very high volleyball IQ. Her ability to close to the pins, score efficiently in the middle, and even contribute on the left side in serve receive makes her incredibly valuable. Based on her performance, we bumped her up to Red level with a 195 PPV.

Libero Brooke Neale continues to be an elite red-level athlete and currently holds a 224 PPV. Her ball control, passing, and out-of-system setting were excellent throughout the weekend. One moment that truly stood out came late in set one against Pineapple. With Pineapple holding set point at 24–22, Brooke went back to serve and delivered two aces, bookended by two blocks from Abbie Powell, to flip the set and secure a 26–24 win. Both players were instrumental in that momentum shift.

Circle City 16 Purple captured the 16 Open championship in dominant fashion, defeating Munciana 25–10, 25–13. OPP Gabriella Gilliard stood out as a difference-maker. A 70" athlete, she is a solid blocker, jumps well, and contacts the ball high, scoring efficiently when called upon. We’re giving her an initial PPV of 141, with orange-level upside.

Her teammate, OH Audrey Utterback (Elite Orange), is another player we’ve highlighted before and she reinforced why she’s considered one of the top 2028 prospects in Indiana. She swings aggressively, hits a variety of angles, and provides strong ball control in serve receive. Her passing played a key role in Circle City’s consistency, as the team dropped just one set all tournament.

Running the offense was Setter Charlee Groninger, who played a critical role in Circle City’s success. Her decision-making and accuracy allowed Gabriella and Audrey to stay in rhythm and be effective throughout the championship run.