Breaking Down the Top 10 Athletes in the 2026 Ranking Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The initial ranking for the class of 2026 is finally here! It has been so fun to watch this class improve and impress throughout their freshman high school seasons and 15s club years. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 ranked athletes in the class of 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["277430"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Peyton took the top spot in the class of 2026. She is currently playing libero for FC Elite 18 Elite and is absolutely incredible to watch. Last year, she was a 14-year-old playing on FC Elite 16 Navy, where she not only helped them win USAV Nationals 16 National division but was also named MVP of the entire tournament! Before this year, she has been a pin hitter, but her incredible talent on serve receive, and high volleyball IQ make her an elite level libero. Peyton has near-infinite potential and is an athlete who continues to impress.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["221048"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Natalie is a six-rotation pin who is nearly unstoppable on the court. She is explosive and has a very high volleyball IQ. She knows when to move her shots around and when to go full blast on her swing. Natalie has been a part of the USAV National Team Development Program and is a passionate and competitive player. She has big energy on the court. At the Top 250 Expo, she hopped in wherever she was needed - as a middle, defender, and on both pins. She was impactful no matter where she was on the court.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["277420"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Allie is playing up a year on Sting 16 Gold, but you would never know she is a grade younger than everyone else on the team. She plays with the maturity and finesse of athletes much older than her. Allie has a high contact point and a keen eye for blocking. She can play out of the middle and on the right side and is an asset to this very talented team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["249678"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Marlee is an impact player. She was a key player in Oconomowoc's State Championship appearance this fall and has continued to have an impact every time she steps on the court. Marlee is disciplined in her form and has a massive vertical. She takes big swings and puts up big numbers on offense. She is a six-rotation athlete with great endurance and puts in full effort on every point.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["277423"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Ella is an incredibly talented setter who is competitive and gritty on the court. She is a smart and savvy athlete who moves the ball around with speed and strategy. She is a leader on the court and can run a 5-1 offense. Ella is disciplined on the court and runs a fast offense. She spreads her sets around and keeps all of her hitters involved.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["247272"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Sari is a high-level setter and right-side hitter. She is explosive, powerful, and impactful. Sari is an energizer on the court. She exploded onto my radar at the Prep Dig Resolution in January and has not stopped impressing me for a moment since. Sari is a player to watch and an athlete who could dominate the rankings in this class for the next several years.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["376214"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Molly is another high-level setter in this class. She has a crazy-quick touch on the ball and is a huge competitor on the court. She is impressive on every play and consistently betters the ball. She never seems to miss a beat on the court and is a savvy and strategic setter. She feeds her hitters and has precise placement.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["249644"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"The setters in this class are just next level. Brooke has a soft touch on the ball and is hard to read. She moves the ball around efficiently and is not afraid to take risks. She has a great jump set and pulls a lot of blockers with her. She keeps all her hitters engaged and is a huge competitor on the court.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["249681"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Riley is an energizer on the court. She is a clean platform and is confident on defense and serve receive. She gets her feet to the ball and is a great communicator. Riley is a natural leader on the court. I remember at the Top 250 Expo, and she hopped right on the court for a demonstration despite being the in the youngest age group there. She is a player to watch in this class.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["217332"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Anabelle keeps the ball moving. She has a soft touch on the ball and keeps her body neutral when she is on the move. She never gives away her sets and keeps all of her hitters involved. Anabelle is a high-level athlete who can run a 5-1 and can swing as well. Her placement of the ball is next-level, and she will be fun to watch continue to impress.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644b3cabac8ee"} /-->