Trends and Highlights from 2024 National Rankings

With our new 2024 rankings released and recruiting for this class in full swing, it’s time to take a look at some standout moments and trends from this talented group. The Class of 2024 has been under the microscope at nearly every event I’ve visited this year. That’s not just because this class was on the precipice of open recruitment this summer, but 2024s have given us so much exciting volleyball over the past several months. This feature will look to revisit some of those moments as I hope to offer a bit of my own perspective on these rankings. It’s been quite a ride, and I’m incredibly grateful to have covered so many great athletes throughout the season. Now, here are a few storylines, trends, and moments that stand out in our group of ranked 2024 athletes.   Stacked Squads It’s no secret that the 16s division has some teams full of athletes that appear on our 2024 rankings. Dynasty 16 Black is a surefire GJNC championship frontrunner with multiple entries in our list. [player_tooltip player_id="119707" first="Skyler" last="Pierce"], our #1 overall player in the 2024 class, just made headlines with her commitment to Nebraska. This dynamic outside hitter has dazzled us throughout the year as a go-to terminator for a 16 Black squad that seldom loses matches. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Add another one to the résumé!<a href="https://x.com/dynastyvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dynastyvbc</a> 16 Black is your <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/NLQ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NLQ</a> 16 Open champion! <a href="https://t.co/Fc5YmQkPuU">pic.x.com/Fc5YmQkPuU</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1505642613180973064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   But, of course, the credit for 16 Black’s success can be distributed to so many more top-tier talents on the roster. [player_tooltip player_id="119226" first="Carlie" last="Cisneros"] is another six-rotation hitter on this team who has impressed us with her ability to do just about anything in any rotation. She is accompanied in the frontcourt by [player_tooltip player_id="201027" first="Jada" last="Ingram"], a nimble middle blocker who has been thriving off of one foot this year. And, if you move over to the back row, [player_tooltip player_id="150068" first="Ryan" last="McAleer"] helps keep this whole eye-popping Dynasty offense in rhythm with her unflappable passing and relentless floor defense. That’s a lot for any opposing team to overcome, but our 2024 rankings reveal a few more 16s teams who have really stockpiled some talent. A5 Mizuno immediately comes to mind with its enviable core of frontcourt attackers. [player_tooltip player_id="201006" first="Mia" last="Hood"], [player_tooltip player_id="201011" first="Molly" last="Kate Patten"], and [player_tooltip player_id="201014" first="Logan" last="Wiley"] all have the size and skills to dominate at the middle blocker spot, though Patten has done much of her work at opposite this year. We saw A5 and Dynasty go toe-to-toe for the NLQ championship this spring, and we may be in store for another meeting in Indianapolis. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://x.com/a5volleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@a5volleyball</a> 16-Gabe does it again! The undefeated ATL squad fends off a strong effort from Premier Nebraska to move to 2-0 in Gold! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/NLQ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NLQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/HqXWdsh8OF">pic.x.com/HqXWdsh8OF</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1505556287475625990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Texas, of course, will naturally have a couple of "super teams" represented in just about every class. TAV 16 Blacks boasts five entries in our 2024 rankings with [player_tooltip player_id="162764" first="Ayden" last="Ames"], [player_tooltip player_id="142201" first="Jadyn" last="Livings"], [player_tooltip player_id="124104" first="Mikala" last="Young"], [player_tooltip player_id="124142" first="Anna" last="Boatner"], and [player_tooltip player_id="142220" first="Favor" last="Anyanwu"] all making an appearance. These are players who make their headlines in the frontcourt, too, so there’s a lot to defend with this TAV bunch.   Big Plays in Big Matches Here’s where I relive some of the best moments from our ranked 2024 athletes. Time to jump around the leaderboard a little bit. Among all the showstopping outside hitters I’ve seen this year, few made an impression like Lauryn Lambert at the Northern Lights Qualifier. Uber-athletic outside hitters will never fail to capture my attention, and Lambert was certainly one to watch that weekend. With [player_tooltip player_id="124101" first="Lauren" last="Perry"] joining forces with Lambert on the left pin for Skyline, there’s some serious Texas depth that we’ll be watching as more 2024 commitments roll in. Triple Crown NIT was also a great venue to watch some can’t-miss talents from the Class of 2024. [player_tooltip player_id="107399" first="Julia" last="Hunt"] was particularly dominant that weekend as she helped lift NKYVC to a runner-up finish in one of the most competitive environments of the 2022 season. 16-1 Tsunami is also represented in our rankings by [player_tooltip player_id="139272" first="Abby" last="Yoder"], a dynamic setter who helps tie the entire offense together. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Can’t say enough about how strong <a href="https://x.com/NKYVC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NKYVC</a> 16-1 Tsunami was this weekend en route to a runner-up finish. Terrific ball control, and [player_tooltip player_id="107399" first="Julia" last="Hunt"] can do it all in the frontcourt. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TCVolleyballNIT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TCVolleyballNIT</a> <a href="https://t.co/fFL1eHQJJx">pic.x.com/fFL1eHQJJx</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1495825960222052353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Then, there’s the Show Me Qualifier. This turned into quite an event for the 2024s. This was a big breakout moment for [player_tooltip player_id="110503" first="Ava" last="Utterback"] and her entire Circle City team as 16 Purple surged ahead to claim the championship. We also got to see the continued growth of KC-area setters like Pohaku’s [player_tooltip player_id="119689" first="Ava" last="Martin"] and [player_tooltip player_id="119693" first="Janelle" last="Green"] from KC Power. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> That’s a championship ROOF.<a href="https://x.com/circlecityvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@circlecityvbc</a> 16 Purple comes from behind in the third set to win the 16 Open title at Show Me! <a href="https://t.co/hjEQMyeecs">pic.x.com/hjEQMyeecs</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1513624645622284302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   I also have to give a shoutout to those players who excelled on the Prep Dig Circuit this year. Cleveland hosted the Prep Dig Open in late April this year, and that was a great chance for me to check out some top-tier 2024s who now appear on our rankings. [player_tooltip player_id="122568" first="Lilly" last="Wagner"], [player_tooltip player_id="122475" first="Anna" last="Bjork"], and [player_tooltip player_id="122523" first="Claire" last="Luoma"] form such a spectacular trio that has helped take home a lot of Circuit hardware, including the Cleveland event. We also got to see the setter-middle combination of [player_tooltip player_id="139304" first="Lucy" last="Mott"] and [player_tooltip player_id="110282" first="Mallory" last="Bohl"] shine for Legacy 16-1, and we’ll be looking for more of the same in the seasons to come on the Circuit. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> It was never an easy road, but <a href="https://x.com/sting_gold?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sting_gold</a> emerges victorious! 16 Open champs at <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDTheOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDTheOpen</a>. <a href="https://t.co/5KjFGMdJ6p">pic.x.com/5KjFGMdJ6p</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1520805376760893443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Playing Up That’s a lot of talk about 16s competition, but I want to make sure you don’t miss out on the 2024s who are climbing up the age ladder this year. I’ve been lucky enough to document the progress of MN Select 17-1’s group of stellar 2024s. [player_tooltip player_id="107264" first="Stella" last="Swenson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="108666" first="Kaia" last="Caffee"] have left an indelible mark on that team and were a big part of Select’s incredible march to a bid at Show Me. This is a pair I’ll be thrilled to watch again at Nationals. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> More sweet slide hitting on display. Kate Simington does the honors here for <a href="https://x.com/MNSelect?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MNSelect</a> 17-1. Awesome connection with [player_tooltip player_id="107264" first="Stella" last="Swenson"]. <a href="https://t.co/cmMosD5gOM">pic.x.com/cmMosD5gOM</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1512850328231849990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Idaho Crush 17 Bower is another group that gets much of its production from the 2024 class. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="201009" first="Alex" last="Acevedo"] committed to Oregon way back when the modern-day rules weren’t in place, but that hasn’t stopped her from bringing her best with Crush. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id="201008" first="Alex" last="Bower"] is carrying on the family tradition of skilled setting and has helped her 17s team battle with some of the nation’s best. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This Idaho Crush team can really swing away. Here’s a look at [player_tooltip player_id="201009" first="Alex" last="Acevedo"], one of the country’s only committed 2024s — headed to <a href="https://x.com/OregonVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OregonVB</a>. <a href="https://t.co/ZAKmpnY8tT">pic.x.com/ZAKmpnY8tT</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1487436209936863237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Swenson and Bower are just a couple of high-impact 2024 setters playing up this year. [player_tooltip player_id="126024" first="Alexis" last="Haury"], our fourth-ranked overall prospect, has been competing all the way up with the 18s at NPJ. No one will question her ability to hang with that age group. Likewise, [player_tooltip player_id="110509" first="Macy" last="Hinshaw"] has set the offense for Circle City 17 Purple, arguably the top 17s team in the nation. That’s quite an accomplishment that has certainly boosted Hinshaw’s standing on this rankings release. Dynasty pops again in this section, as [player_tooltip player_id="119704" first="Cy" last="Rae Campbell"] has put together a remarkable 2022 campaign while playing up with the 17s this year. Her place in these rankings is a testament to her quickness and physicality, which always seem to stand out in spite of playing up. We’ll close this section out with a couple more outside hitters to know. [player_tooltip player_id="122483" first="Ella" last="Demetrician"] is another 18s participant who regularly produces highlight moments with FC Elite. That high-level experience only expands her potential for future growth. The same can be said of [player_tooltip player_id="124216" first="Claire" last="Morrissey"], a Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite hitter who saved her best moments for her "home tournament" at the Show Me Qualifier.