Ready to Shine in Class 3

Vernon Birmingham August 19, 2024 @ 06:49 PM

We move on to class 3 players we expect to shine even brighter in 2024 after quality seasons in 2023. This is my attempt to forecast players I think may elevate their games and numbers based on what we saw out of them last fall. If it's more court time or more opportunities to make plays, here is a small group of players I think you should keep an eye on this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='735578' first='Tanna' last='Howe'] - L/DS - Warsaw - 2026   Howe is the top defender back for Warsaw after they graduated numerous seniors in the back row. She played in 67 sets and racked up 221 digs, good for 3.3 per set. I expect her play to elevate due to her experience and the success she had in 2023.   Addy Cussinger - L/DS - Winfield - 2026   Another quality defender who displayed the ability to make plays over and over again, Cussinger returns for her junior season looking to keep balls off the ground for Winfield. In her sophomore year, she tallied 217 digs in 62 sets. She brings positive attributes to the back row and displays a good volleyball IQ.   Sarah Negre - L/DS - Monett - 2025   Negre showed she is capable of leading the defensive charge behind the block in her junior season. She saw action in 74 sets and was able to snatch up 234 digs along the way. She is a scrappy defender who reads attacks well and positions herself accordingly.   [player_tooltip player_id='737560' first='Addie' last='Goff'] - S - Logan Rogersville - 2025   Logan Rogersville will return a pair of setters who showed they are vital pieces to a team looking to break out in 2024. Goff is the older of the duo heading into her senior season. As a junior, she saw court time in only 49 sets but averaged 8.1 assists per set. She is a player who even in a two-setter system can eclipse 500 assists this fall.   Kamryn Marshall - S - Logan Rogersville - 2026   Joining the above-mentioned Goff will be junior Kamryn Marshall. Marshall would finish the season as the leader in assists with 486 in 54 sets. This was good for 9 per set. She is very good with ball placement and decision-making, two things that give her team chances of scoring points. Look for her numbers to be even higher in 2024.   Haylee Cobb - OH - Warsaw - 2025   Cobb's numbers from last season won't jump out at you, which is why we have her tabbed as a player to watch this fall. The senior played in only 64 sets but put down 140 balls, up from the 69 she had as a junior. We believe she can build on this for a successful final season.   Wendy Chingnong - MH - Eldon - 2026   We have a middle to look for this fall in Chingnong. The Eldon junior averaged 2 kills per set in 66 played last season. She is a player who displayed flashes of being able to put it all together and can build on her sophomore year if her team passes the ball well, which creates more opportunities in the middle.   Emma Blechle - OH - Perryville - 2027   Blechle is the youngest player we are giving love to in this piece. As a freshman, she showed she could be ready for a big step after getting 103 kills in only 60 sets. After a year of figuring the high school game out, I think she can go to another level and get over the 200-kill mark.

We move on to class 3 players we expect to shine even brighter in 2024 after quality seasons in 2023. This is my attempt to forecast players I think may elevate their games and numbers based on what we saw out of them last fall. If it's more court time or more opportunities to make plays, here is a small group of players I think you should keep an eye on this season.