University of PrepDig Arkansas: Who Would We Recruit?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's go back to our childhood and play the imagination game. The University of PrepDig Arkansas has become a fully-funded Division 1 Volleyball program. We have to recruit quick with the season around the corner, and 18 full scholarships to give out with the new NCAA legislation that was passed. So, if we built our dream D1 program, who would it consist of? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division I Criteria</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To meet Division I criteria at the University of PrepDig Arkansas, athletes must possess exceptional physical and statistical markers that separate them from the pack. These players typically have a vertical jump of 24 inches or higher, an approach touch of 9'8” or above, and showcase exceptional ability in their respective position. Offensively, they often record kills in the Top 3 on their team with a hitting percentage above their position's criteria. Defensively, elite liberos and defenders average the most digs on their team and maintain above-average serve receive ratings. Setters on this level usually lead their team in assists with strong decision-making and consistent location. In addition to their stats, they carry major honors, such as All-State selections, Gatorade Player of the Year nominations, or national recognition, and show the leadership, work ethic, and coachability required to thrive in the top tier of college volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take a look at most Division 1's requirements for high school hitting percentages:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Outside Hitters</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">.250 - .300 or above</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Middle Blockers</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">.340 - .400 or above</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Opposite/Right-Side Hitters</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">.270 - .320 or above</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outside Hitters &amp; Right Side/Opposite Hitters</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The University of PrepDig Arkansas needs several pin hitters to begin our roster. When selecting our pin hitters for our Division 1 program, we look at height, efficiency, decision-making, blocking, off-blocker defense, productivity, accolades, statistics, and more. Here is our University of PrepDig Arkansas' pin hitters:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743652' first='Michaelyn' last='Freeman']</strong> (6'0 Outside Hitter, Hackett High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743704' first='Chloe' last='Blessing']</strong> (5'10 Outside Hitter, Shiloh Christian School)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743705' first='Wren' last='Jones']</strong> (5'11 Outside Hitter, Conway High School/[program_tooltip program_id='755223' first='Elite' last='Volleyball Academy'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743939' first='Audrey' last='Calva']</strong> (5'10 Outside Hitter, Bentonville West High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569597' first='Emmerson' last='Rehkopf']</strong> (5'9 Outside Hitter/Opposite, Farmington High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749911' first='Avah' last='Brown']</strong> (6'1 Opposite Hitter, Rogers High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743711' first='Kayla' last='Myers']</strong> (5'9 Opposite/Setter, Central Arkansas Christian/[program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Blockers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To continue U of PDA, we will need to continue with four middle blockers. When selecting our middle blockers for our Division 1 program, we continue to look at height, efficiency, hitting percentage, blocking, productivity, decision-making, accolades, statistics, and more. Here is our University of PrepDig Arkansas' middle blockers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743712' first='Madilyn' last='Lenox']</strong> (6'2 Middle Blocker, Cabot High School/[program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750224' first='Caroline' last='Stallbaumer']</strong> (6'2 Middle Blocker, Shiloh Christian School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749837' first='Evelyn' last='Venters']</strong> (6'1 Middle Blocker, Bentonville High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749564' first='Madi' last='Bryant']</strong> (6'1 Middle Blocker, Har-Ber High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Setters</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the quarterbacks of our team, our criteria changes. We continue to look at efficiency, hitting percentage for dumping, productivity, decision-making, accolades, and statistics. We also look at leadership presence, calmness when playing, communication skills, tempo control, and the ability to run a diverse offense under pressure. Setters must be able to adapt quickly, make smart reads against the block, and consistently deliver hittable balls in-system and out-of-system. Here is our U of PDA setters:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749906' first='Molly' last='Miller']</strong> (5'10 Setter, Fayetteville High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='411288' first='Piper' last='Batie']</strong> (6'1 Setter, Fayetteville High School/Ozark Juniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746301' first='Sydney' last='Crowder']</strong> (5'9 Setter, Little Rock Central/[program_tooltip program_id='755223' first='Elite' last='Volleyball Academy'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='535392' first='Mecate' last='Marsh']</strong> (5'10 Setter, Cabot High School/[program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Liberos/Defensive Specialists</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When looking at the anchor of the team, the criteria changes as a whole. For liberos, it's less about size and power and more about consistency, quickness, and court awareness. We prioritize players with elite serve receive ratings, high dig-per-set averages, and strong communication skills. Leadership, energy, and the ability to read hitters before the ball crosses the net are essential. The best liberos make the hard plays look routine and are the emotional engine that keeps the team locked in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='744606' first='Miranda' last='Leslie']</strong> (5'1 Libero/DS, Mayflower High School/Arkansas Volley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746453' first='Breanna' last='Williamson']</strong> (5'3 Libero/DS, Bryant High School/[program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='538288' first='Abby' last='Robinson']</strong> (5'4 Libero/DS, Little Rock Christian/[program_tooltip program_id='755223' first='Elite' last='Volleyball Academy'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The University of PrepDig Arkansas Women's Volleyball Roster</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='749837' first='Evelyn' last='Venters']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743704' first='Chloe' last='Blessing']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743705' first='Wren' last='Jones']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='744606' first='Miranda' last='Leslie']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='749906' first='Molly' last='Miller']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743712' first='Madilyn' last='Lenox']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='750224' first='Caroline' last='Stallbaumer']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='535392' first='Mecate' last='Marsh']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='569597' first='Emmerson' last='Rehkopf']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='749564' first='Madi' last='Bryant']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='411288' first='Piper' last='Batie']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='746301' first='Sydney' last='Crowder']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743652' first='Michaelyn' last='Freeman']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743939' first='Audrey' last='Calva']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='746453' first='Breanna' last='Williamson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='749911' first='Avah' last='Brown']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='538288' first='Abby' last='Robinson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743711' first='Kayla' last='Myers']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No, there aren't scholarships, scholarships offers, or a real team waiting at the end of this lineup, but if there were, this would be the foundation. The University of PrepDig Arkansas isn't an actual program, but it serves as a creative look at what a Division I-level roster might look like if we built it solely from in-state talent. These athletes represent some of the best prospects across the Natural State: players who lead in stats, shine in high-pressure moments, and have earned recognition on both state and national stages. This "fantasy" roster is built on real numbers, real leadership, and real recruiting potential. It's not official, but it's a strong picture of what Arkansas volleyball has to offer at the highest level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay tuned for more University of PrepDig Arkansas' lineups. Coming soon!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Hannah Watkins, PrepDig Lead Scout, @prepdighannah on Instagram/X.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->