Rising Stars: Colorado’s Top Players from the Class of 2027

The 2027 class is brimming with talent, and as the club season kicks off, it's time to highlight some of the top performers to keep an eye on. From powerful outsides to precise setters, these athletes are already making waves in high school and club. Here are a few of the players setting the stage for the class of 2027.    Roberts is an athletic outside hitter who has earned the number one recruit spot in her class. Her sophomore high school season, she earned CHSAA All-State Honorable Mention, and for good reason. She has a great volleyball IQ, and takes aggressive swings, even out of system, helping her garner a 40.5 kill percentage. She puts up a big block, and plays solid defense, allowing her to stay on the court for six rotations. Roberts is a 2027 recruit to keep your eye on this season. She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='429602' first='Colorado' last='Juniors'].     McCollum is a 5'11” setter from Timnath who plays for [program_tooltip program_id='429602' first='Colorado' last='Juniors'] and ranked 5th for assists in 4A her sophomore season with 761. She also boasts an impressive hitting percentage of .304, making her a formidable offensive player as well. She does an excellent job changing the direction of the ball and utilizing all of her hitters. She has impressive strength and keeps a fast tempo with her sets.     Bayley is another tall, athletic outside hitter who definitely has the potential to play at the next level. She has a fast, aggressive arm swing and is extremely effective as a back-row attacker. She also plays solid defense and is one of the best serve receivers on her club team. Her all-around skill earns her a top spot in the 2027 class. Bayley plays for Colorado Elite.     Johnson is an outside who plays for NORCO. She helped her high school team earn a 3rd place state finish her sophomore season with an impressive .225 hitting percentage. She has a fast transition, and long arms allowing her to reach high for the ball and put some real speed behind it. She also plays solid defense, picking up corner shots and pieces off the block, rounding her out to be an asset in all six rotations.     Our second setter on our top recruits list, Piece plays for Elevation. At 5'8”, she is what many would consider undersized, however, that doesn't stop her being an aggressive offender up at the net, scoring her team valuable points off skillfully placed dumps. She runs a dynamic 5-1, and does a great job playing defense first when she's in the back row.     Turner is a setter who plays for NORCO. She has been a star player in the state, earning bids to beach nationals three times during her career. Her beach experience makes her an extremely well-rounded player. She ran a 6-2 in high school, no doubt to use her as an offensive player in the front row.     Cheatham is a 5'11” middle who also plays for NORCO. She's a quick middle who does a great job remaining available in transition and is able to turn her swing to either sideline with ease. While having a middle in the back row serving is typically a weaker rotation for teams, this isn't the case with Cheatham. She plays great defense, making solid reads on hitters and putting up great passes, protecting her serve and allowing her team to run in system.     Smiley is a top defender in her class. She is athletic, quick, and moves with intention, a quality a lot of other defenders in her class lack. She remains calm and relaxed in the back row, allowing her to pick up tips and shots that otherwise would result in a kill for the opposing team. She provides the back row coverage and defense that allow her teammates to trust her and depend on her. Smiley is a 2027 libero to keep an eye on, she has a very bright future.       Bailey is still raw, but at 6'1” with a 10'1” approach jump, the potential for her to play at the next level is there. Her freshman year club season, she broke her ankle and was out for the majority of it, however, she used high school season as a time to hone her skills and make up for what she lost last season, and has started her sophomore club season with a bang, hitting at a whopping .390 her first tournament and garnering a 57% kill percentage and eight blocks. This is the season to watch Bailey.

The 2027 class is brimming with talent, and as the club season kicks off, it's time to highlight some of the top performers to keep an eye on. From powerful outsides to precise setters, these athletes are already making waves in high school and club. Here are a few of the players setting the stage for the class of 2027.