Class 3 – 2026 Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222579' first='Lilly' last='Bott'] – 5'6" – St Charles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All conference 1^st team returns after leading the 2026 class for Class 3 with 595, surpassing 1000 for her short career. She is a quick and feisty libero who covers more court than she should, but that makes her elite. She will once again be one of the top Class 3 liberos in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taylor Wray – 5'7" – Rogersville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rogersville has been a top Class 3 team for years, and last season went through a rebuilding process. They returned one of the top liberos in the SWMO area in Wray, who led the area in digs with 399 for the 2026 class. She plays middle-back defense and, with her speed, keeps a lot of balls from hitting the court. She quickly covers sideline to sideline and gives her team a solid first contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225326' first='Brie' last='Rubel'] – 5'9” – Cape Notre Dame</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Rubel from ND is on one of my lists. She is an unselfish player who will do what is asked of her for the team's sake. Brie has the height to be a pin hitter but patrols the backcourt for the Bulldogs. She is a very athletic player who will excel in whatever position she plays, but keeping her as a libero might be the best move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Annie Rhoney – 5'7” – Harrisonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Annie had to play out of position several times last year and held her own on the left pin. She's a libero and should significantly impact the team in that position. She's a solid defender and passer with an excellent platform. She's still raw, but her potential is there to be a tough libero.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rosie Kuegele – 5'4" – St. Charles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big-time high-flyer on the outside for the Pirates, she led her team in kills with 131, but where she impacts the team is her ability to play defense and pass at an extremely high level. Rosie is a tiny but mighty volleyball player, and whatever position she plays on her team, she will be one of the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->