Must See Available 2026s in the 2025 Club Season

The Class of 2026, the junior class is preparing for what will be an important recruiting season for them as they head into their 17s year.  There are some who are already committed, but there are so many great available players and also plenty of schools who are looking heavily for 2026 athletes.  Whenever I write about athletes, I try to never label them as a certain division. In the volleyball world not all divisions are created equal.  If you watch any of the D2, D3, or NAIA national tournaments there are plenty of these teams who would compete (and beat) some D1 schools.  All I know is that these athletes can compete at the next level and I'm so excited to see them take the court this upcoming club season.     Kremer has had a year to remember where she went from good to great in many ways.  She started the year off with a state basketball tournament appearance with Pleasant Valley while being a key piece to the [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 16R team who was a match away from qualifying for 16 Open.  However, this summer was a transformation from being long and athletic to an attacker who could also defend in the backrow, serve receive, and handle a high volume of swings while contacting higher and higher.  She won a Class 5A state title with Pleasant Valley while earning All Tournament Team Captain and was Class 5A Player of the Year.  She will be playing with one of the top clubs in the country with 1st Alliance out of Chicagoland and could be a big impact player.      I have always been a big fan of [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'] since first watching her at the state tournament her freshman year for West Des Moines Valley.  She plays with such poise and maturity where she is always doing something positive for her team.  A true swiss army knife player who can attack and run the show as a setter.  When it comes to club ball, she is primarily a setter which I'm assuming will be the route she goes at the next level.  She is a “Yes” meaning she knows how to get it done and has really positive court intangibles.       Moeller is the type of athlete who plays with a fierce, competitive edge that everyone will want on their side of the net.  She had a huge high school season for North Scott earning All Conference, All District, and All State honors.  She is a six rotation player who is extremely terminal from the outside, but can also score points out the backrow.  With as much volleyball as I watch there tends to be certain moments that I associate with certain players and for Moeller it was her performance at the Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis this past spring.  She kept finding ways to score points in a tight three set win to advance in bracket play.  That's the type of player she can be, the one others look to in order to get that win.      Another dynamic athlete and volleyball player is [player_tooltip player_id='215390' first='Jovi' last='Evans'] who preps at Mid Prairie High School in the Iowa City area.  I emphasize ATHLETE for Evans because she does a little bit of everything in every sport. At the high school level she is a triple double machine where she sets, swings, and defends where she was a key piece to leading her high school team to the state tournament for the first time in 20 years.  When it comes to the club courts, she is a lockdown libero. Her movement and platform is controlled and efficient.  The common denominator for Evans no matter what sport or position she is playing, she is a gritty competitor.     <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">[player_tooltip player_id='389834' first='Ava' last='Lloyd'] having a nice match for <a href="https://twitter.com/BishopHeelanVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BishopHeelanVB</a> 2026 outside hitter with a big arm. She knows how to vary her angles and change speeds. 13 kills and 10 dogs nearing the end of set three.— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepDigChris/status/1853582663530988030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>    [player_tooltip player_id='389834' first='Ava' last='Lloyd'] is coming off a state championship run for Sioux City Heelan in Western Iowa where she was a key six rotation outside hitter.  What I enjoy about Lloyd's game is her consistency and well rounded skill set.  She was named to the Class 4A All Tournament Team and was 3rd Team All State.  She is in the heart of some of the top NAIA volleyball in the country as well as the NSIC where plenty of those schools would love to add her to the roster.  Her high school setter, Maddie LaFleur was named captain of the Class 4A All Tournament Team and is heading to Morningside.      Welcome to Wisconsin.  [player_tooltip player_id='403531' first='Addison' last='Buckner'] made waves as an outside hitter for DSHA enroute to their third consecutive state championship.  With her dad, Greg Buckner, joining the Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff, that brought along Addison Bucker and [player_tooltip player_id='524605' first='Abigail' last='Buckner'], the Buckner twins who will play at [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'].  [player_tooltip player_id='403531' first='Addison' last='Buckner'] brings a lightning type armswing on the pin where she is incredibly fast.  She is dangerous on a “go” set and knows how to use her angles as well as the block.  She will be one plenty of college coaches will have an eye on in about a month when the live period opens up over MLK weekend.     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/Sari-Marks1-crop-3477x2283-1711568909.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-525719" style="width:450px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='247272' first='Sari' last='Marks']</figcaption></figure>    [player_tooltip player_id='247272' first='Sari' last='Marks'] plays for Sting United out of the Madison area with other top Madison area athletes.  She is another swiss army knife athlete where she can set and swing.  In the front row she can score from the outside or rightside where she has a heavy arm and create plenty of shots, hitting with IQ. As a setter, she has the speed and footwork to get her hands on the ball and is a pure playmaker.  With her athleticism and physicality, she can make plays at the net and is a strong blocker as well.      The trajectory of [player_tooltip player_id='388457' first='Eden' last='Roethel'] has been pretty special to watch.  She was on our radar at Prep Dig Events when she was a 15s player and now she is rising among one of the top middle blockers in the Class of 2026 in the state.  She had a ton of momentum from nationals this past summer playing for MKE Sting 16 Black.  She is a lengthy 6'2 who has to be touching over ten feet.  Her block causes plenty of problems where she can get out of her block and terminate in transition anywhere along the net to score points.      [player_tooltip player_id='324002' first='Maddie' last='Mauser'] has been putting together quite a club and high school career as a libero for Westosha Central (WI) and [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] out of Northern Illinois.  She has a great savvy for the ball and anticipates well whether it's a first or second contact where she can bring calm to the chaos.  She will be one to watch out of 2026 liberos and will suit up once again for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'].      Lightning in a bottle.  [player_tooltip player_id='376273' first='Audrey' last='Johnson'] will be playing for [program_tooltip program_id='431479' first='Wisconsin' last='Juniors'] 17-1 this season where she can do a little bit of everything.  She is a high flying outside hitter who has a violent approach and attack.  I remember seeing her at MEQ last spring for Juniors and will be exciting to see her take the court again.  She could be next level defensive specialist or outside hitter.  She has the ability to score points out of the backrow.  Her skill set and demeanor allows her to create action on the court in a positive way.      Another [program_tooltip program_id='431479' first='Wisconsin' last='Juniors'] athlete is [player_tooltip player_id='376274' first='Maddie' last='Mietus'] who is a dynamic right side attacker. She is 5'10, high flying and has a fast armswing that allows her to score points in a variety of ways. She preps at Glenbrook South in Illinois and could be a high academic athlete who lists her GPA as 4.5 on her HUDL page. She will have plenty of options at the next level.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Charlotte-Kozak-e1719857694417.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-549009" style="width:467px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='488367' first='Charlotte' last='Kozak']</figcaption></figure>    I really noticed the play of [player_tooltip player_id='488367' first='Charlotte' last='Kozak'] of [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] out of the Chicago suburbs when they played in the Prep Dig Gauntlet in June.  At the libero position, she made a lot of difficult plays look easy with her controlled platform.  She knew how to take pace off the ball and keep things in system on her side of the net.  I saw her again at nationals in Vegas and it was much the same.  Seeing athletes in multiple settings produce the same results shows a level of consistency which is exactly what Kozack does for her [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] team.      Lambert is a true floor general no matter what team she is playing for.  The 2026 setter played up on the Top Flight 17 Elite team last year and will most likely stay with her age group and play with the 17s again where they have plenty of athletes available from 2026.  Lambert is uber quick and has great fundamentals with her footwork and her hands to get in position to allow her attackers to terminate.      <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">[player_tooltip player_id='323927' first='Kelley' last='Crowley'] with the kill, but let's just appreciate this defense and transition work by <a href="https://twitter.com/1stAllianceVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1stAllianceVBC</a> 16 Silver. They could have a big couple days coming up. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gjnc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gjnc</a> <a href="https://t.co/hpydJt7VF3">pic.twitter.com/hpydJt7VF3</a>— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepDigChris/status/1808903256145547626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>    The aggressive play of [player_tooltip player_id='323927' first='Kelley' last='Crowley'] is exciting.  She preps at Downers Grove North and has been a key player for 1st Alliance Silver where she scored a lot of points for them during the 2024 club season. She is able to change up her approach angles for a violent arm swing.  She is not afraid to create chaos on the other side of the net.  Aside from her big swing, she knows when to hit the off speed roll shot to keep the defense off balanced.  As her backcourt game continues to evolve, she will continue to score more points for her side and is one to keep tabs on during the 2025 club season.      I remember watching Hadeler for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] early in the 2024 club season as she was a key player in every rotation for their 16 Elite team.  Hadeler has an all around skillset that allows her to contribute in all facets of the game.  She can defend, serve receive, and score points from the pin.  She has a high contact point that allows her to take the ball a variety of angles. She is more than just cross and line.  She can take it zone four to four, go deep cross, and use the block to her advantage.  This will be a big season for Hadeler and her [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] squad where there is plenty of talent from the Class of 2026 who would be a great fit at the next level.

The Class of 2026, the junior class is preparing for what will be an important recruiting season for them as they head into their 17s year. There are some who are already committed, but there are so many great available players and also plenty of schools who are looking heavily for 2026 athletes. Whenever I write about athletes, I try to never label them as a certain division. In the volleyball world not all divisions are created equal. If you watch any of the D2, D3, or NAIA national tournaments there are plenty of these teams who would compete (and beat) some D1 schools. All I know is that these athletes can compete at the next level and I'm so excited to see them take the court this upcoming club season.