Athletes to Know on the 2026 Watch List

Nikolija is one of the top young setters in the country. She has been invited and played with the USAV National Team Development Program as well as the USA All Star Games. As a setter, she brings a balance of aggressiveness, court awareness, and pure talent to the court. She moves the ball around quickly and jump sets nearly every ball making her very tough for opposing blockers to read.

Carolyn is a 6’4″ middle blocker who is athletic, disciplined, and aggressive at the net. She has trained with the USAV National Team Development Program and was a key player for Benet Academy this past season. Carolyn is making a splash as a dynamic young athlete who is lethal on the slide and explosive across the court as a blocker.

Don’t take your eyes off of Ellie! She is a top-tier setter and recruit in this class. She is athletic, has great court awareness, and is aggressive on the court. Ellie isn’t afraid to take a swing or tip the ball. She has a lot of tempo on her sets and moves across the court efficiently. Ellie is fast and athletic, puts up a massive block, and is an incredibly talented setter.

Haley is an athlete who is playing up an age division for one of the top clubs in the country. She is a 6’0 pin hitter who manufactures points. She can hit over and around blocks and uses her speed, explosive approach, and massive vertical to out-pace her opponents. Haley is talented in all of her skills and is sure to impress throughout this club season and beyond.

Avery is a pin hitter with huge potential. She is well-rounded in all her skills and plays all 6 rotations at a high level. Not only does Avery have power, but she also knows when to mix up her shots to earn points. She is smart and aggressive in her play. Avery also has a competitive serve and is consistent on defense and serve receive.

Zoe is a high-impact player both in her play and the energy she brings to the court. She is incredibly strong on offense and has a lightning-fast approach and arm swing. Zoe is an energizer on the court and can manufacture points on either pin. She also plays scrappy on defense and is always ready to pass to attack.

Hailie is a high-impact middle who swings well on fast-tempo balls. She is disciplined across the court and has good court vision. Hailie has a high contact point and fast snap on the ball. She can earn points by out-pacing opposing blocks and by powering through them. She is a talented middle with a lot of potential in this class.