Saint Louis Area 2026 First Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 was an exciting year for Saint Louis and the surrounding area, with several teams winning state championships. Each year the classes get bigger and better, and this year is no different. The 2026 class is talented deep in the area and throughout the state. Over the next week, I will release my first and second team members for each class. Here are the first team members for the 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221231' first='Elena' last='Ruble'] – Setter - St. Pius X</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Already one of the best setters in the area for any class, this newbie for the Lancers will leave St. Pius as one of the best. Quick, has excellent hands, has a high volleyball IQ, and plays solid defense. Elena helped St. Pius to a district title with 839 assists, 173 digs, and 30 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222058' first='Katherine' last='Byergo'] – Opposite - Parkway West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opposite for the Longhorns was such a joy to watch this season. She possesses a lot of D1-type qualities already. Katie is a 6'5" hammer on the opposite pin that puts up a monster block, excellent footwork, and vertical. She'll be battling it out for the top 2026 in Saint Louis in the next few seasons. Katie finished the season with 196 kills and 46 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221230' first='Bennett' last='Raterman'] – Middle - St. Pius X</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'3" middle for the Lancers took the area by storm finishing the year with 321 kills and 49 blocks. She had a season-high 30 kills in a 4-set win over Hillsboro. You can't teach height, and this one has the skill set to be one of the best in the state. That fist pump! Watch out for this one as the offers start to pour in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225325' first='Kate' last='Rubel'] – Middle - Cape Notre Dame</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one will be the best in a long line of Rubel's from Notre Dame. Raw, but her potential is off the charts. A 6'0" middle whos quick to the pins and has a great vertical. If she picks volleyball over basketball for a couple more years, she could be a D1 player. Kate finished the year with 258 kills and 88 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220349' first='Teagan' last='Pocius'] – Middle - Marquette</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teagan led the area in blocks for freshmen this year with 98 and added 124 kills. Another long line of young middles to make significant impacts for the Mustangs. Teagan will keep improving and develop into a top middle in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222069' first='Lauren' last='Ortwerth'] – Outside - Cor Jesus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you can start for the Chargers as a first-year student, then we know you are tough. Ortwerth is a big physical solid outside hitter that finished the year with 222 kills and 199 digs. Another next-level player in a long line of Chargers playing college volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223931' first='Ashley' last='Theiss'] – Outside - DeSoto</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 5'11 outside hitter for the Dragons leads her team in kills per set, hitting %, aces, aces per set, and second in digs. Theiss will leave DeSoto as one of the best after finishing with 379 kills and 348 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222577' first='Rosemary' last='Kuegele'] – Outside - St. Charles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye on Kuegele as she becomes one of the best defenders out of St. Charles. She might be tiny, but she packs a powerful punch. The 5'4" outside hitter finished the year with 202 kills and 343 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237000' first='Jenna' last='Cochran'] – Libero - Pattonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She played with two of the most potent outside hitters in the area, so she better be one of the top liberos. Jenna finished the year with 374 digs and gave the Pirates a solid backcourt for three more years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222579' first='Lilly' last='Bott'] – Libero - St. Charles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bott stepped onto the court for the Pirates and never came off, as she led her team in digs with 469 and was a primary passer. Smart, quick, athletic libero will leave St. Charles as one of the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->