Updated Class of 2020 Player Rankings: #1-10

<p>With the updated player rankings this week, we are taking a more in-depth look at the top 25 players from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 classes. The 2023 watch list was published earlier this week.</p> <p>Without any further delay, here is a look at the players ranked #1 through #10 in the updated Class of 2020 rankings.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#1 - Kalynn Meyer, 6'3, MH, Superior (committed to Nebraska)</strong></span></p> <p>Meyer keeps a firm grasp on the top spot in the rankings as she continues her rapid development. Meyer has turned herself into a dominant high school player, but she is still really just scratching the surface of what she could become down the road. Once she gets to Nebraska and is focused on only volleyball, there really is no telling just how good she can become.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#2 - Marriah Buss, 6'1, OH, Lincoln Lutheran (committed to Wichita State)</strong></span></p> <p>Buss stays at the #2 spot in the rankings and really solidified it with how well she bounced back from off-season hip surgery. She came back faster than expected and was back to her usual dominating self on the outside this summer. She is capable of carrying her team all the way in Class C-1 this year and without a doubt she has the ability to make an impact quickly at Wichita State.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#3 - Paige Fixemer, 6'2, MB, Millard South (committed to Army)</strong></span></p> <p>Fixemer jumps all the way from #10 to #3, which is a really rare accomplishment, but Fixemer is proving herself to be a really rare player as well. She's a physically imposing presence at the net and has outstanding athleticism and explosiveness for a player her height. Perhaps the thing that has impressed me the most about Fixemer during her career is that her motor is always going. She's a legitimate threat to win the Player of the Year honors in Class A.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#4 - Megan Skovsende, 5'11, OH/DS, Skutt Catholic (committed to Creighton)</strong></span></p> <p>At the high school level, Skovsende is one of the best full-rotation outside hitters there is. But, it was her transition to libero at the state tournament last season that helped Skutt to the Class B state title and she has big-time potential as a back-row specialist at Creighton. She's fluid, hard-nosed and extremely athletic.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#5 - Mattie Johnson, 6'0, OH, Sidney (committed to South Dakota)</strong></span></p> <p>Johnson's game is somewhat similar to Skovsende's, it's just that most people don't get to see her play. Johnson is a little more explosive and powerful at the net, which should allow her to be a really nice attacker in the Summit League for South Dakota. Her back-row skills are very good, but not quite as polished and as consistent as Skovsende, but she's certainly proven to be capable of playing very good defense.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#6 - McKenna Ruch, 6'2, OH, Millard North (committed to Omaha)</strong></span></p> <p>Ruch has been a centerpiece of Millard North's two Class A state titles in the past three years and she has the versatility to play all along the front row at the high school level. Her array of shots and versatility should be beneficial when she gets to the next level at Omaha. To get into the top five, she's going to have to demonstrate more power, athleticism and lateral quickness in the back-row.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#7 - Jordan Hopp, 6'2, MB, Alliance (committed to Iowa State)</strong></span></p> <p>Last summer Hopp's stock really grew after a very successful few months on the college camp tour as coaches fell in love with her easy athletic ability and her fluidness and power on slides. She's still pretty raw and simply hasn't played as much volleyball as others who are ranked higher on the list and how well she does at Iowa State is largely going to depend on how quickly she gets acclimated to the speed of the game,</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#8 - Lauren Taubenheim, 6'1, OH, Lincoln Pius X (committed to Nebraska-Kearney)</strong></span></p> <p>Taubenheim is a flat-out freak athlete and I think we are just starting to catch a glimpse of what she is capable of on the volleyball court. She is long and is a tremendous leaper and has been playing with more power each season and is such a good athlete and has such good hands that she could even spend time at setter if Lincoln Pius X needed her to handle that role at any point. Nebraska-Kearney got an absolute steal with Taubenheim.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#9 - Sam Steele, 5'8, Libero, Millard South (committed to Ohio)</strong></span></p> <p>The best pure libero in the state, for my money, Steele has been a starter for Millard South since her freshman year and has gotten better each year. She has really blossomed into a leader and true quarterback from the back row and she's one of the most consistent passers I've seen. She reminds me a little of Creighton libero Britt Witt from Omaha Marian is just how well she always has herself positioned.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>#10 - Annika Evans, 5'8, Setter, Waverly (committed to Nebraska)</strong></span></p> <p>Evans recently opted out of her commitment to Colorado State to walk-on on Nebraska and she certainly has the skill set to be an important part of the program in the coming years. Evans has the kind of moxie you look for in a setter and while she might not have the talent of former home-grown Husker setters like Lauren Cook or Kelly Hunter, Evans is an outstanding setter who will probably give the Huskers a nice comfort level in its setting depth in the coming years.</p>