Class of 2025 Rankings Update: Outside Hitters

The outside hitter position for the class of 2025 is one of the strongest classes I have ranked. There aren't just very high level players but there is a plethora of depth at the position. When ranking outside hitters I first look at their ability to execute and score on offense. Once I'm able to determine what level they can play at offensively, I then look at the other skills that outside hitters needs to be proficient at such as serve receive passing, defense, and blocking. Depending on their level at each of their skills and the relative level of play they're able to play at will determine their final place on the rankings list. I'm going to highlight some of the newcomers onto the rankings as well as some players who were able to move up within the rankings itself.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newly Ranked Prospects</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='526000' first='Annika' last='Groom'] - OTVA 17 O Felix   Anika is a long and athletic threat from the outside position. She uses her athleticism to use different arm angles and speeds to exploit the opposing defense. She's a refined hitter who really has all of the tools that you would look for when recruiting at the next level. At her size she's just as willing to get on the ground or run through the ball when playing defense in the back row and to help set up blocks in the front row. Anika is a great prospect overall who still has a ton of upside to grow into.   [player_tooltip player_id='526002' first='Julia' last='Rose Rivera'] - Miami Hype 17 Emilio   Julia might be one of the most athletic and bouncy outside hitters that I have seen in this class. She may be "small" but makes up for all of it with her vertical leap, core strength, and shoulder mobility. She's able to hit over open level blockers at her age group which girls twice her size would have trouble doing. Offensively Julia was one of my favorite watches and was glad to put her on the rankings purely based on her offense. What makes Julia a different level prospect is her defense and serve receive game. She's a proficient passer who has the skills to be a legitimate defensive specialist on a lot of college programs.   [player_tooltip player_id='203434' first='Sarahbelle' last='Jameson'] - JJVA 17 Teal   Sarahbelle is a different type of player than Anika and Julia, but her game is predicated on her size and length advantage at the position. She's not the most athletic but has all of the athleticism and body control to put a ball down or to put the ball in a spot on offense. She really does a great job diagnosing the opposing block and defenders to make the correct type of swing to the correct spot. She's the type of player that could really blossom into something special with her continuing to train and compete at a high level.   [player_tooltip player_id='526003' first='Ashlee' last='Tenkley']   Like Sarahbelle, Ashlee is a tall and long hitter who uses that size to her advantage. She shows a great understanding of using her high contact point to use the block to tool side to side or even power through the block past the back row defenders. When the block gives her space, she takes advantage of it and gets on top of the ball to put it down in front of the defenders. Because of her size she's a problem for opposing offenses if they run anything in front of her. She uses that length to press over the net and give the opposing hitter limited space to swing around and she's strong enough to not let them tool. Ashlee really brings the skills that you'd look for especially for her height and length.   [player_tooltip player_id='526005' first='Julia' last='Lewkowitz'] - Miami Hype 17 Emilio   Julia is different than all of the previous players added to the list because she brings a different level of power to the position. She has one of the most powerful swings I was able to see in this class. She uses her entire body to drive herself through the ball leaving the defender very minimal time and essentially no way to control the amount of power behind the ball. Julia doesn't just have power to one spot, she uses the whole court and can hit from anywhere on the court. Offensively Julia is the type of hitter who could dominate if put into the right situations and to the right school.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stock-Risers</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='397443' first='Maggie' last='Dostic'] - OTVA 17 Aaron   Maggie really surprised me at her level of play and the consistency she plays at that level at this past MEQ. I knew she was good, but I didn't realize how consistently good she really is at every skill. Everything she does looks easy and almost always make the right decisions in very key situations in the game. No matter if they are in pool play or in a gold bracket match, she plays with a level of calmness and understanding of what needs to be done and she's able to execute off of that.   [player_tooltip player_id='455037' first='Victoria' last='Hill'] - GP 17 Rox   I knew Victoria was athletic, but over the last few tournaments watching her play online it became apparent that her athleticism and her ability to use it is at the top of the class. When she jumps it looks like she's just floating in the air and watching the block and defenders under her. It is impressive by itself, but when you add her hitting IQ to the mix she's one of the most deadly offensive options in the class. No matter her size she's able to make a massive impact for her team no matter where or how fast or slow they set her.   [player_tooltip player_id='499510' first='Charlotte' last='Thompson'] - Tampa United Academy - 17 Black   Charlotte has been a force for sometime, but I think this year she has really taken the next step. Her offensive impact was evident early on, but I wanted to see her grow into the other skills that the position needs. She has shown that she has been working to improve her game and having a stronger team definitely allows her to focus on her job and trust her teammates to do theirs. She's been asked to carry the offensive load for a few years, but now having help to open up space for her to work with has really shown her ability to dominate when given the opportunity.   The outside hitter position has shown great promise for college coaches to recruit in the state of Florida. No matter the level, there are prospects that are going to be pivotal additions to their respective future programs. I can't wait to see how the other positions stack up, but as I was fine tuning the rankings it was apparent to me that the outside hitter position in Florida might be one of the strongest in the nation.

The outside hitter position for the class of 2025 is one of the strongest classes I have ranked. There aren't just very high level players but there is a plethora of depth at the position. When ranking outside hitters I first look at their ability to execute and score on offense. Once I'm able to determine what level they can play at offensively, I then look at the other skills that outside hitters needs to be proficient at such as serve receive passing, defense, and blocking. Depending on their level at each of their skills and the relative level of play they're able to play at will determine their final place on the rankings list. I'm going to highlight some of the newcomers onto the rankings as well as some players who were able to move up within the rankings itself.