Sneaky Good - Prospects Play Up or Down an Age Group

Throughout the club season, I always find athletes where I think to myself, “How did I miss them?”. Sometimes this happens when these athletes are playing up or down an age group?  Why play a different age group than what matches the graduation year?  There are multiple variables such as birthdate, level of play, what the team or club needs, and what is best for the athlete.  Here are some athletes who are playing in a different age group than their graduation year.     [player_tooltip player_id='522075' first='Lucy' last='Mulder'] has shown she is one to watch in the Class of 2028, but she is able to play down an age group on the [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 14 Navy team. She has great anticipation with a strong first step and can beat the ball to the spot. Her leadership is apparent on her 14 Navy team who has their ticket punched to Dallas for the 14 National Division. She preps at Wrightstown High School in the Green Bay/Appleton area where they are building plenty of momentum this offseason heading into the fall.     Evelyn Shirk is a Class of 2029 prospect who is playing up on the 1st Alliance 15 Gold team where she is a key part to their success. They were able to get a 15 Open bid at the Windy City Qualifier. Shirk has experience with NTDP where she is a setter/right side combo player. She has athleticism and physicality where she makes positive plays happen. She knows when to be aggressive and terminate as a hitter versus when to hit the IQ shot. This Class of 2029 from Illinois looks like they are going to be pretty deep with Shirk being one to lead the way.     I was ready to write about [player_tooltip player_id='546846' first='Haven' last='Enselman'] in my article on 2028s to get to camp this summer until I realized she was a 2029. I was able to see her and the [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 15 Adidas squad at the JVA World Challenge where her athleticism really stood out on the 15s court. She is a setter/right side combo athlete who just has this grit about her. Her competitive edge brings a no fear style to her game where she will be very exciting to watch develop over the summer as she will probably get on courts of college camps.     Attie Benz is a 5'9 outside hitter from the Class of 2029 playing up on the [program_tooltip program_id='432160' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432076' first='[program_tooltip program_id='430137' first='[program_tooltip program_id='429142' first='MVP' last='']' last='']' last='']' last=''] 15 Blue Smack team out of the Milwaukee area. I saw Benz for the first time at the Northern Lights Qualifier in March and again at the JVA World Challenge and was like, “Wow, what high school is she from?” Well…she's in middle school. She will be one to watch and be a breakout star in Wisconsin this fall. She plays with no fear, an aggressive approach where she has plenty of highlight worthy kills. This is a really balanced [program_tooltip program_id='432160' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432076' first='[program_tooltip program_id='430137' first='[program_tooltip program_id='429142' first='MVP' last='']' last='']' last='']' last=''] group who has put together a really strong season.     [player_tooltip player_id='554786' first='Piper' last='Moyer'] has been a high volume point scorer, playing up an age group for [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 16 National TJ. At 5'10, Moyer has the length, but also has the bounce of an outside hitter. She swings with no fear and is ready to put a hurt on the ball, causing chaos on the other side of the net. She preps at Adams-Friendship High School where she will be a rising sophomore to watch. [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] will be playing at the Prep Dig Gauntlet in Milwaukee the first weekend of June where Moyer is definitely one to have on the radar.     [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen'] is an Iowa Class of 2029 prospect who has been playing up on the Iowa United 151 Elite team. She has shown she can score points on the pins and has quite the physical presence on the court with plenty of pop on her swing. She knows how to set a block and with a continued improvement of her backcourt game she will be one who could score all around. When she steps into the Iowa City West gym as a freshman this fall, they will be ones to watch in their conference as well as in the state.     We head to Northwest Iowa to take a look at Elianna Hoeffert who preps at Central Lyon High School and plays club ball at Kairos out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Hoeffert plays up on the Kairos 17 Beta team who has put together quite a season. She will be finishing up her sophomore year in high school and will be one for college coaches to take a look at come the summer. She is a physical 6'1 middle blocker who has a major presence at the net. Her length and strength is what sets her apart where she is always going to win a 50/50 ball. She is able to get to the pin to close the block and work quickly in transition to be available for her setter.     Spiketown 15.1 has put together quite a season with over 40 wins in the 2025 season. One athlete on this team playing up an age group is [player_tooltip player_id='522523' first='Addison' last='Kiekhaefer']. The 2029 setter plays with poise and maturity and just finds way to make plays for her side of the net, a pure playmaker. She has shined in this role and has been one who has caught the eye of Prep Dig scouts at multiple events this year.     Madtown 15-1 National has put together a really strong season, making a statement throughout the Badger Region. Their libero is [player_tooltip player_id='754908' first='Lexi' last='Sheffield'] from the Class of 2029, playing up an age group who really sets the tone with their ball control. She can handle a high volume on serve receive, can take pace off a hard swing, and anticipates well - beating the ball to the spot. Sheffield along with her teammates will be fun to watch as they build momentum into nationals.     With length, athleticism, and a big upside to her game, [player_tooltip player_id='510475' first='Ivy' last='Boelk'] is one to watch from North [program_tooltip program_id='428569' first='Central' last='Wisconsin']. Boelk is a 2027 attacker playing up on the [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 17 National squad who has put together a strong season. I was able to see Boelk live throughout the season where she was able to play on the right side for this team, setting a strong block, and being terminal with her swing. The way Boelk jumps and has a high contact point, there is a lot of exciting potential for her game where she could have a big high school season this fall.     The [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 16 Elite team has been electric this season. One athlete to take note would be [player_tooltip player_id='761380' first='Claire' last='Evans'] who is a 2026 playing an age group down from her graduating class. They were the Windy City 16 USA runner ups and have played a high level schedule where Evans has shown she can thrive in a big time environment. I have seen her attack, score, and put up a strong block on the right side. She might be a hidden gem in the Illinois Class of 2026.

Throughout the club season, I always find athletes where I think to myself, “How did I miss them?”. Sometimes this happens when these athletes are playing up or down an age group? Why play a different age group than what matches the graduation year? There are multiple variables such as birthdate, level of play, what the team or club needs, and what is best for the athlete. Here are some athletes who are playing in a different age group than their graduation year.