2026 Pins – Small Town Talent

Ryan Johnson January 9, 2025 @ 02:19 AM

Class 1 pin hitters are usually where the best players will play, as they are typically the top defensive and offensive players. In the 2026 rankings, here are the top eight pin hitters.   94. [player_tooltip player_id='234466' first='Melanie' last='Rice'] – Outside – Galena   Melanie's kill total improved the most from last year to this year, with 387. After helping her team to a fourth-place finish at state in '23, she followed up this season with another district championship. The all-state player currently has 1084 career kills and 1047 digs. Melanie has the skills to play basketball or volleyball at the next level.   103. [player_tooltip player_id='236994' first='Ashley' last='Hawkins'] – Outside – Bismarck   Ashley might be one of my favorites of all the players I watched this year in Class 1. She is a machine on the left pin and can score at will. At 5'10", Ashley is tall, can jump out of the gym, has a mighty swing, and never leaves the court. She is a vocal leader and finished the year with 557 kills and 1106 for her career.   113. [player_tooltip player_id='237006' first='Emma' last='Eilers'] – Outside – Advance   An undersized outside hitter gets the job done with her volleyball IQ and her big-time vertical. She's played in three straight state championships, racking up two titles. Emma can play at the next level, but it will be on the defensive side of the ball—one of her team's top passers and diggers with 1046 career digs.   128. [player_tooltip player_id='490115' first='Ava' last='Mueller'] – Outside – Concordia   Ava is a multi-sport player who has the potential to play volleyball or softball at the next level. Ava is a six-rotation outside hitter who has been her team's top player since her sophomore year. The bruiser at the plate in softball carries that [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] over into her hitting on the left pin in volleyball. Ave finished this season with 201 kills.   169. [player_tooltip player_id='735557' first='Piper' last='Lincoln'] – Outside – Leopold   The 5'8" jumping jack is probably one of the more underrated pin attackers in class 1 because of Leopold running into Class 1 [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] Advance in the districts the last three years. Piper has a rocket of an arm and finished the year with 328 kills, putting Piper in need of 284 next season to pass 1000 career kills.   172. [player_tooltip player_id='236999' first='Halie' last='Dickey'] – Outside – Bismarck   Halie's one of those I'll play wherever you want me to play the type of players. She has played libero and hit on the outside. After missing most of the first part of the season, Halie came up big in two of the team's most important games. In the district championship win over Lesterville, she finished with a season-high 11 kills, and in the five-set quarterfinal loss to eventual champion, Winona finished with ten.   203. [player_tooltip player_id='236989' first='Avery' last='Presley'] – Outside – Riscoe   Avery missed the year for Riscoe because she had an MCL tear and had to set out. Her return to the team next season will be vital to its success, as she was one of the top outsides in Class 1 after her sophomore season.   206. [player_tooltip player_id='490142' first='Kaitlyn' last='Tuttle'] – Outside  – Tipton   Tipton had a first this year, winning districts but then losing in the sectional round to Bismarck. Tuttle is a versatile hitter for Tipton, hitting in all three positions. She will return as the team's top attacker, finishing this season with 266 kills.

Class 1 pin hitters are usually where the best players will play, as they are typically the top defensive and offensive players. In the 2026 rankings, here are the top eight pin hitters.