2026: The Stock Risers
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With rankings updates come a lot of shifts in where athletes were previously ranked. There were a handful of athletes that jumped up a significant number of spots in the 2026 rankings. Below are the athletes in the top 50…
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Continue ReadingWith rankings updates come a lot of shifts in where athletes were previously ranked. There were a handful of athletes that jumped up a significant number of spots in the 2026 rankings. Below are the athletes in the top 50 with the most movement.
Previous State Rank: #10
New State Rank: #7
Why the rise? Standing at 6’3”, Schaaf is an intimidating and formidable force from the middle who has shown some impressive play this season. With a quick arm swing and solid footwork, Schaaf reaches high on the ball to hit any spot on the court. She is an athletic attacker, and has used her athleticism well to become quicker in transition over the course of the season and stronger both offensively and defensively. Schaaf’s dominance at the net has proved hard to defend against.
Highlights
Previous State Rank: #31
New State Rank: #11
Why the rise? Moving up from 31st to an impressive 11th in the state is Sherby, who really stepped up for her team as a six-rotation outside hitter this season. Part of Sherby’s movement in the rankings is due to her solid play all around: Sherby is quick on defense and makes great reads and digs on the ball, and she is an offensive weapon, moving the ball around the court effortlessly with her quick arm swing and strong court vision. Sherby has a lot of potential for continued growth.
Highlights
Previous State Rank: #23
New State Rank: #14
Why the rise? Godard dominated from the middle for the OJVA 15-1 team this season, showing her abilities as an offensive player and her improvement from the front row. Godard’s court awareness is impressive, and she has developed an ability to run any play effectively. Her slide footwork and contact are particularly strong, and she combines her height with a powerful arm swing to hit high and put the ball away.
Highlights
Previous State Rank: #40
New State Rank: #32
Why the rise? Making the move into the top 35 is Ennes, whose rise in the rankings is largely due to her strong court awareness and solid plays. Hitting from the middle, Ennes showcased her ability to see and hit openings on the court this season, making smart tips and drilling the ball into the court’s corners to score. On defense, Ennes is a tough blocker to get around, and she has also proved that she can play from the back row well after serving, a skill that not many middle hitters possess.
Previous State Rank: #47
New State Rank: #37
Why the rise? ShivaKumar solidified her home in the back row this season, where she impressively anchored her team’s serve receive and defense. ShivaKumar is incredibly quick and reads the attack well, and she covers her hitters effectively. Her constant movement around the court is smooth and effortless. ShivaKumar is also disciplined on defense, popping up any ball that comes her way to kickstart her team’s offense.
Previous State Rank: #68
New State Rank: #38
Why the rise? Quiroga’s rise in the rankings, which is the largest of the 2026 stock risers, is due to her impressive all-around play, especially her incredible blocking skills on defense. Although she is undersized as a middle, Quiroga combines an explosive vertical with a strong press at the net to shut down hitters of any height. She also showcased her quick reaction time to dig hard-driven balls from the middle front and left back this season.
Highlights
Previous State Rank: #66
New State Rank: #50
Why the rise? Hitting on the right side for the Athena 15-1 team, Green showed off her explosive approach and powerful arm swing this season. She is a very physical pin hitter who can put the ball away consistently, hitting deep into the court and away from defenders. On defense, Green is quick to put up a large and dominating block. Her improvements offensively and defensively this season have pushed Green up into the top 50 for the class of 2026.