Five 2026 Prospects with Big Upside
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Emma Cugino Emma Cugino 5'7" | DS/L Oletangy Orange | 2026 State OH – L | Oletangy OrangeCugino is establishing herself as one of Ohio’s best liberos in this class. She proved her value well over the club season and…
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Emma Cugino
Emma
Cugino
5'7" | DS/L
Oletangy Orange | 2026
State
OH
– L | Oletangy Orange
Cugino is establishing herself as one of Ohio’s best liberos in this class. She proved her value well over the club season and is backing that individual success and impact in her first varsity season with the Pioneers. At 19 digs per match, she makes things happen with a veteran-like presence in the back row. She sees the opponent’s court well, prepares with good balance, and reacts with a quick and efficient first step that helps her create good range and angle production.
Layla Hoying
Layla
Hoying
6'0" | OH
Bishop Watterson | 2026
State
OH
– OH | Bishop Watterson
At 5’8, Hoying can make things happen at the net with her arm. She has good slow-to-fast movement in her approach work and can generate good power at the peak of her jump to challenge blockers well. She was a key offensive piece towards her club team’s national title success this past summer and is gaining good experience with a competitive high school program. She is averaging 1.8 kills per set and recently established her career high with 15 kills, hitting .310 and in terminating 52% of her attempts in a 3-2 win over Bishop Hartley.
Rachel Morgan
Rachel
Morgan
5'9" | DS/L
Milford | 2026
State
OH
– OH | Milford
Morgan is outperforming all other athletes in the ECC in the defensive phase of the game a she has totaled 235 digs for an average of nearly 15 digs per match. She is second on the team offensively to complement her work on the other side of the ball. Morgan averages 2.2 kills per set and ranks in the top 10 in the league in total kills. Milford is 13-3 overall and currently sits one match out of first place in the ECC.
Malia Romes
Malia
Romes
6'2" | MB
Kalida | 2026
State
OH
– MB | Kalida
Romes has established herself as a major component of Kalida’s effort on both sides of the ball. At 6’1, she has great length and shows good movement as a freshman middle to get herself to the ball and swing aggressively. She averages 3.1 kills per set and established a career high of 19 kills, then repeated that performance in the Wildcat’s two matches last week. Romes is a big presence on the defensive side also as she ranks in the top-20 in Ohio in total blocks and averages 4.8 per match.
Lyla Stewart
Lyla
Stewart
6'0" | RS
St. Francis Desales | 2026
State
OH
– RS | St. Francis DeSales
Stewart has a promising prep career in front of her. She helped her club team to a 14U gold medal at nationals and is bringing that experience and her skill set to the high school court for the Stallions in a big way as she is leading her team offensively at 3.6 kills per set. At 5’11, she can create good pace off of her arm and continues to develop range. She also adds nearly 10 digs per match.