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<p>June 15th came and went! It is the day volleyball players anticipate; for the class of 2026, this was their year. This is the first-day athletes and coaches can have official contact. I won't pen my big op-ed on recruitment but a couple of things I will say. It's a marathon and not a sprint, every single person who is an athlete who reads this must understand their experience will look different than every other player in the world. Secondly, find your fit. Don't get caught up in the bells and whistles of big programs, find a program that speaks to you academically, athletically, and mentally. If you get an opportunity to play at any level, it's a win as the percentages tell you a small number get the chance. Please don't have a mindset that a program is too good for you. With that said, with June 15th coming and going, has anything happened in the week since?</p>
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<p>Let's start with the top player in our latest rankings. [player_tooltip player_id='221230' first='Bennett' last='Raterman'], the 6'4" enforcer in the middle has decided the beautiful weather and the Atlantic Coast Conference will be in her future by choosing Florida State. The HPSTL and St. Pius product has been tremendous this spring and will be an impact player for the Seminoles. </p>
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<p>Our top-ranked defender in the state is off the board. Mavs 816 and Lee's Summit North's [player_tooltip player_id='220462' first='Madilynn' last='Benne'] have pledged to the Razorbacks of Arkansas. She has proven to be a dependable defender and will head to the SEC.</p>
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<p>Because I also focus on the Kansas City area, let's add [player_tooltip player_id='154038' first='Ella' last='Florez'], the dynamic setter for [program_tooltip program_id='515466' first='Pohaku' last=''] and Mill Valley state champion. Florez will travel up I-35 a few hours to Ames where she will compete for Christy Johnson-Lynch at Iowa State. This is a huge get for the Cyclones as Florez controls the match at a level I haven't seen this spring in the 16s division locally. </p>
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<p>The Big 12 will feature more match-ups with local players. When Iowa State plays Kansas, Kansas will have the luxury of having [player_tooltip player_id='222097' first='Taylor' last='Stanley'] on their side. The 6'1" pin who plays for [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] won't travel far to play for the Jayhawks. She is a powerful player who plays high above the net. When these teams play Houston, Mavs KC's [player_tooltip player_id='355656' first='Leah' last='Robinson'] will be suited up. Robinson made her decision to join the Cougars. At 6'2", she has the physicality and skill set to compete for Houston and is a great pick-up for them. </p>
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June 15th came and went! It is the day volleyball players anticipate; for the class of 2026, this was their year. This is the first-day athletes and coaches can have official contact. I won't pen my big op-ed on recruitment but a couple of things I will say. It's a marathon and not a sprint, every single person who is an athlete who reads this must understand their experience will look different than every other player in the world. Secondly, find your fit. Don't get caught up in the bells and whistles of big programs, find a program that speaks to you academically, athletically, and mentally. If you get an opportunity to play at any level, it's a win as the percentages tell you a small number get the chance. Please don't have a mindset that a program is too good for you. With that said, with June 15th coming and going, has anything happened in the week since?
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