If you have been following along, you know by now the plan is to start releasing our Club National Rankings in the next couple of weeks. We’ve been gearing up for that task by checking in on a few teams while we do our digging in each age division. We’ve made it through the 18s, 17s and 16s. Now, it’s time for the 15s! We preview 10 teams, among them top contenders, teams on the rise and a team looking to crack Open this spring.
MINTONETTE SPORTS M.51: It was Mintonette coming on and capturing the 14 Open gold medal in Indy last summer. It wasn’t a shocker but a surprise nevertheless. It’s a competitive age group, so does Mintonette have enough pieces back to repeat? The short answer is yes, though obviously it’s going to be a very difficult task with all the top teams in the hunt. One of Mintonette’s advantages last season came on the pins with 3-star outsides Sara Snowbarger and Layla Hoying and both return. That’s a great start. Also back is 3-star setter Mallory Matheny and 4-star L/DS Emma Cugino. Among the additions is 6-1 outside Mackenzie Palumbo, who’ll add depth on the pins.
ELEVATION 15 TONY: It was an all-Ohio Valley Region showdown last summer in the 14 Open semifinals, as Elevation fell to Mintonette and finished with the bronze medal. Similarly, there was not much roster movement for Elevation, which will once more look to make a deep run this coming summer. Key contributors back include 3-star setter Makenna Kirlin, 3-star middle Sydney Geselbracht, 3-star L/DS Ella Grimes and 3-star outsides Cara Richter and Sidney Sprada. The only newcomers are middles Kendall Northern and Grace Herzog.
MADFROG 15 GREEN: Madfrog entered JNs as the top seed after a remarkable regular season and ended tying for fifth in 14 Open in Indy. Unlike Mintonette and Elevation, the changes to Madfrog’s roster were more extensive. Six players return from last year – 4-star L/DS Gabi Rodriguez, 3-star right side Dawn Moore, 3-star setter Jaidyn Hartsfield and 3-star OH/DS Balire Bowers, as well as outside Simone Heard and middle Katelyn Lindsay. Joining the team for this season is 3-star outside Kennedy Crayton and 3-star middle Hannah Lee. It remains to be seen if Madfrog can contend for a national championship like last season but there’s plenty of talent on the team to be in the upper half of Open.
LEGACY 15-1 ADIDAS: As 14s last year, Legacy didn’t qualify for Open though the club did take bronze in 14 Open at AAUs. However, there’s plenty of reason to believe an Open bid will come the club’s way as 15s this season. With six of the 10 players returning plus the key additions, Legacy could be among the top teams in the country once things begin clicking. The big news comes with 5-star outside Gabi Divita. She played up on the 15s last season as an eighth-grader and will remain on the 15s as a freshman. She was one of the top outsides in the division last season and figures to be even better this year. On top of that, 3-star recruit and 6-3 middle Ella Andrews is part of the returning group. Andrews was hurt on the 14s last year and missed the second half of the season. Legacy will have the arms with Divita and Andrews combining with 5-star recruit Kayla Nwabueze. The 6-0 middle was also on the 14s last year, along with 3-star setter Eva Long and 4-star L/DS Meredith Martin. Among the players added are outside Aubree Deshetsky and 6-1 middle Gina Fedrigo.
TAV 15 BLACK: Last season TAV was among the top contending clubs throughout the year and proved as much with a fifth-place showing at JNs. While the roster did feature some turnover, many key parts are back and that should keep TAV among the upper echelon of teams. Included in the returning players is 5-star S/RS Danielle Whitmire and 5-star middle Kinsley Young, as well as 3-star outside Kylie Kleckner and 3-star middle Jayla Jackson. Included in the players coming over to TAV is 3-star outside Sophia Davila, 3-star OH Kennedy Simon and 3-star middle Brooklyn Bailey.
SG ELITE 15 ROSH: San Gabriel made a surprise run to the 14 Open semis, leaving Indy with a bronze medal after upsetting Madfrog in the quarterfinals. Any success that comes SG’s way in 2023 will happen with essentially the same roster. Just two spots changed, with just about everyone coming back. That includes 4-star outside Kylie Parker, 3-star outside Aberdeen Callaway, 3-star L/DS Tatawan Vongfak and 3-star setter Ellie Chu.
MKE STING 15 GOLD: Sting showed how competitive of a group it was during a season in which it finished tied for 11th in 14 Open at JNs. With minimal roster change, Sting figures to be a challenging matchup for opponents once more. The biggest switch is middle Allie Beers moving up to the 16s. Returning for Sting though is 4-star middle Margaret Czajka, 3-star L/DS Cassie Bruns, 3-star outside Natalie Surges, 3-star outside Marlee Sivak and 3-star setter Brooke Baldwin.
HOU SKYLINE 15 ROYAL: Hou Skyline turned in a solid performance in 14 Open last year in Indy, going 7-3 and tying for ninth. However, it’s a reworked lineup, though one that should still be in the top half of Open teams. Among those returning are 3-star outside Halle Thompson and 3-star middle Lacy Tinnell, as well as L/DSs Victoria Shupe and Lauryn Wiley. Key additions are 3-star outside Nadi’ya Shelby and outside Jayden Robinson. Both are 6-1 and should add more to the attack.
TOP SELECT 15 ELITE: This is one club we’ll be keeping tabs on to see if Top Select can make the leap into Open this spring. Last in 14s, Top Select finished tied for fifth in 14 Open at AAUs and captured the 14 National gold medal at JNs. That shows they were right on the cusp of breaking through, something they’ll hope to accomplish this season by making the top division in Chicago. Nine players are back. It includes setter Geiliany Del Valle, middles Caroline Vargas and Jaeda Branham and pin hitters Isabella Johnson and Gwenyth Berry.
SCVC 15 ROXY: We conclude with SCVC and the intrigue that comes with this group. SCVC lost to both Mintonette and Forza1 North 14 UA by a combined five points in three-team pool play to get knocked out of medal contention in 14 Open last summer. SCVC showed they were right there were two of the division’s best squads, so we’ll see if SCVC can take the next step and get over that hump this season. Nine of 12 members from last year’s roster are back, with three newcomers giving SCVC 12 players once again. Among the pieces returning is 4-star setter Milly McGee, 3-star middle Taylor Boice, 3-star middle Abby Zimmerman and 3-star outsides Samantha Destler and Audrey Flanagan.
