Class of 2018 Rankings: Top 5 Risers

With the release of our updated Class of 2018 player rankings, we take a look at the top five players that made a big move up the rankings.

Bailey Schindler, 6’0, MH, Ewing. Previous rank: Unranked. Current rank: #27

To be blunt, I completely missed the boat on Schindler, a Midland University recruit. With Ewing not putting stats on MaxPreps and it – frankly – not being a very good team at all until this season, Schindler went completely unnoticed by my eyes. That all changed at the state tournament where her quick arm in the middle and outstanding athleticism contributed to her 45 kills and 13 blocks in three matches while leading the Tigers to the Class D-2 runner-up spot.

Riley Sis, 5’9, OH, McCook. Previous rank: Unranked. Current rank: #62

Riley Sis went from being off the rankings to #62 thanks to a solid senior year at McCook. Sis had an alright junior season for McCook and being undersized didn’t help her much, but as the go-to hitter this fall for the Bison, she came through with 197 kills despite getting hurt late in October and not playing in the postseason. She would make a nice addition to an NAIA team for depth if she chooses to play in college.

Felicia Knoerzer, 5’8, OH, Elwood. Previous rank: #105. Current rank: #60

As is the case with so many small school standouts, Knoerzer is undersized but not undertalented. She proved to be one of the best full-rotation players in the smaller classes this year while leading Elwood to the Class D-2 state tournament. She had 334 kills and 541 digs for the Pirates and in the state quarterfinals she went off for 21 kills, 28 digs and seven ace serves in a loss to Hyannis. She has a chance to contribute in the backrow at a NAIA or Two-Year College.

Kaitlynn Simon, 5’10, OH, Johnson-Brock. Previous rank: #63. Current rank: #36

Simon has had to play somewhat in the shadows at Johnson-Brock, but her all-around play has been a huge piece of the Eagles’ three-straight Class D-1 state championships. Simon has always been a capable attacker, but she was also an absolute standout defensively and that’s where she is most likely to be able to contribute for Midland University as it’s extremely difficult to be a 5’10 attacker in the GPAC.

Brooke Fredrickson, 5’11, OH, North Bend (Premier 18 Gold). Previous rank: #47. Current rank: #22

Another Midland University recruit, Fredrickson’s climb into the top 25 to just how powerful of an arm she has and to her work defensively that makes her a potential full-rotation outside in college. She hits a very heavy ball that’s comparable to what #1 overall recruit Jaela Zimmerman and #3 overall recruit Taliyah Flores bring. And while her defensive ability isn’t quite at the level of those two, it’s certainly very good. If she played three or four more inches higher she would be a no-brainer Division I talent.