2026’s Impressive DS/Ls at the Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the Top 250 Expo in Indiana this weekend, there was plenty of talent all under the same roof.&nbsp; I watched every athlete and picked some of my favorite 2026 impressive DS/Ls, so let's discuss what makes them special here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='260998' first='Ellie' last='Hepler'] (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":263626,"width":346,"height":230,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/11-Ellie-Hepler.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263626" width="346" height="230" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hepler is from Warsaw Community High School. She is a very good DS/L, has a great platform, and has quick reflexes. She keeps balls in play that most would not even chase and sacrifices her body to get any ball up. She is a very impressive DS/L.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Kylee Sells (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":263639,"width":355,"height":236,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/26-Kylee-Sells.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263639" width="355" height="236" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sells is from Christian Academy of Louisville. I really enjoyed the intensity she displays on the court. She has a great understanding of when a ball is in bounds, she is very fast, and has great passing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='260992' first='Bella' last='Widmer'] (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":263650,"width":350,"height":233,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/39-Bella-Widmer.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263650" width="350" height="233" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Widmer is from Benton Central High School and is a player with some skill and definitely knows how to use it. She was impressive to watch at the Expo and I enjoyed seeing how good she plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='261045' first='Norah' last='Campbell'] (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":263621,"width":351,"height":234,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-Norah-Campbell.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263621" width="351" height="234" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell attends Seymour High School and looks like she already has a varsity season under her belt! She is a great server, has a lovely platform, and is impactful everywhere on the court. Great player!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='261048' first='Rylee' last='Bumgardner'] (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":263620,"width":354,"height":236,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/5-Rylee-Bumgardner.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263620" width="354" height="236" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bumgardner is from Danville High School and is a beast. She is so good! I saw her almost take a blast to the face but somehow used her great platform and quick movements to salvage the play and get it to her setter. Very impressive!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='260985' first='Aly' last='Stier'] (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":263643,"width":359,"height":239,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/31-Aly-Stier.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263643" width="359" height="239" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stier received some of the hardest hit balls at the Expo and still kept her great platform and ended up with good passes to her setter. It sounds easier than it is. Very consistent all day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='261037' first='Makenzie' last='Mink'] (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":263634,"width":362,"height":242,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/20-Makenzie-Mink.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263634" width="362" height="242" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mink was really good at dealing with short-hit balls, being where she was needed, even if not in an expected place, and had good ups to her target.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Alli Frerichs (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":263625,"width":360,"height":240,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/10-Alli-Frerichs.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263625" width="360" height="240" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frerichs has a very good and aggressive serve and a great back-row attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[player_tooltip player_id='247782' first='Mia' last='Walpole'] (2026, DS/L)</span></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":263648,"width":366,"height":244,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/36-Mia-Walpole.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263648" width="366" height="244" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walpole is from Hamilton Southeastern High School and is very good, has a great platform, setting abilities, nice back-row attacks, and played with the older athletes at the Expo. That takes some composure and she handled it very well. Nice job!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->