Top 2026 Athletes Set to Have a Huge Impact at State
The class of 2026 has some incredibly talented athletes who are already making a significant impact at the state level. They are smart, experienced, and aggressive on the court. Here are some of the 2026 athletes who could be key…
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Continue ReadingThe class of 2026 has some incredibly talented athletes who are already making a significant impact at the state level. They are smart, experienced, and aggressive on the court. Here are some of the 2026 athletes who could be key players throughout the state tournament.
Emily is absolutely unstoppable in the back row. She has 323 digs this season, 48 aces, 87 assists, and 499 service receptions. This is after having played 1 set as a freshman on varsity last season. She has stepped up into this roll as libero beautifully for this Sussex-Hamilton team and is a spark of energy on the court.
Brooke is fresh off of a National Championship win at USAV Nationals with her club team. She can set and swing and is incredibly smart with the ball. Brooke has great hands and movement to the ball. She is disciplined yet willing to take risks on tough sets. She has 700 assists in her first year on varsity as well as 72 aces, 216 digs, and 121 kills.
Highlights
Holly is a pin hitter who has played a heavy defensive role on this state-bound team. She is a player I have not had the opportunity to see play much and am excited to get onto my radar at state. She has 147 digs, 285 service receptions, and 54 aces this season. Her ability to play competitive defense elevates the play of her teammates around her.
Aubrey is a middle on the rise in this class. She is fast, powerful, and fearless in her swings. Aubrey has a great connection with setter Brooke Baldwin and knows how to earn points. Aubrey was also a member of the Sting 15 Gold team that won USAV Nationals this past season. She has 136 kills in her first year on varsity as well as 58 blocks. Aubrey is hitting 0.210 and averaging 1.5 kills/set.
Maddie has stepped into a huge role as a middle hitter on this DSHA squad. She is a player with huge potential and sees the court incredibly well. She mixes up her hits and tips in order to ear points. Maddie has 124 kills and is hitting a 0.403. She also has 96 total blocks on the season. Maddie does a great job balancing the different jobs that being a middle entails and is only continuing elevate her game.
Marlee is one of the best pin hitters and well-rounded athletes in the state. She has 276 kills and is hitting 0.253. It is hard to believe she is only a sophomore – and was on the Sting 15 Gold team that won the National Championship as well. She was a key player on Oconomowoc in their State Runner-Up finish last season. Marlee also has 55 aces, 209 digs, and 389 service receptions this season.
Grae has become very established in her middle role for the Raccoons. She has nearly 100 more kills than she did last season and has nearly doubled her hitting percentage. This season she has contributed 127 kills and is hitting 0.297 with 1.2 kills per set. Grae is a huge contributor on the block and has 61 blocks heading into the state tournament. I am excited to see her be a big piece of this talented offense.
Olivia Doerre Olivia Doerre 5'7" | DS/L River Falls | 2026 WI
Olivia Doerre Olivia Doerre 5'7" | DS/L River Falls | 2026 WI
Olivia has been a varsity athlete for River Falls since her freshman year. This season she has 355 digs and 425 service receptions. I am excited to see River Falls play in person for the first time this season at the state tournament. Olivia is a defender to watch in this class and one I am excited to see play.
Kennedy is a new addition to this Pewaukee program and has had a huge impact for the Pirates. She has 238 kills and is hitting 0.359. Kennedy also has 85 blocks. Kennedy has elevated her game in the past year and was a key player for Sting 15 Gold in their National Championship run this year.
Highlights
Hannah has great hands and really knows her team well. She has a lot of experience playing with the athletes on the team and knows her hitters. She feeds them incredibly well and has 686 assists this season as well as 260 digs, and 39 aces. Hannah is a talented volleyball player who is always improving and it will be fun to see her play on the State Tournament stage.
Kayla Landerud Kayla Landerud 6'1" | MB McFarland | 2026 State WI
Kayla Landerud Kayla Landerud 6'1" | MB McFarland | 2026 State WI
Kayla is an incredibly talented middle hitter who has really established herself this season. She has 288 kills and is hitting 0.398. She also has 80 blocks and is a key piece of the McFarland defense. Kayla is an athlete I have yet to see live this high school season and I can’t wait to see her and the McFarland team take on state in a few short days.
Adaline is an absolutely dominant hitter who can swing from literally anywhere on the court. She can terminate out of the middle, on either pin, and out of the back row. She is also a key passer for Rice Lake. This season she is hitting 0.311 and has 328 kills. She has also contributed 360 service receptions, 212 digs, and 94 blocks. Adaline is absolutely key for Rice Lake.
Samantha is a talented athlete who is a leader on this team. She has 415 assists and averages 4.6 assists per set. She also has 120 digs and 53 aces. Her all-around athleticism helps elevate her team and has helped them in their run to the state tournament.