Under the Radar: 2027 and June 15

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>June 15th is the day prospective student athletes can't wait to arrive. It's the first day college coaches can reach out to communicate their interest in them as a college volleyball player. It's met with lots of anxiety as athletes wonder if their performances over the last couple of years will equate to their phone ringing. The one thing I will say is that June 15th isn't the end of the world. If you don't get a call or only a call or two, there is still time to make an impression. Keep working; hard work typically always pays off. With all of that said, there are players in this class we expect to get a lot of phone calls, like [player_tooltip player_id='475339' first='Shaye' last='Witherspoon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='544673' first='Marlee' last='Steiner'], who sit atop our rankings. Today, I want to focus on some players who may not get a ton of pub but should expect quite a few calls or text messages come Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='396499' first='Kinley' last='Gillihan'] - MB/RS - Mavs/St. Michael</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gillihan has flourished as a middle but she has shown the ability to hit from the pin. With her size, I think she will receive calls to play on the right side for some programs, while targeted as a middle for others. Her flexibility gives a team options. She's very agile and moves well. She has exhibited the ability to hit in front and behind the setter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='485579' first='Mikayla' last='Fox'] - OH - Club North/St. Pius</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fox is another player who I think caught the eyes of coaches this spring. She is explosive off the floor and brings a heavy punch with her swings. I'm most impressed with her growth defensively in the back row. She has taken quite a few swings in the middle, but I still see her as a good pin at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='475328' first='Audrey' last='Schaeffer'] - DS/L - Rockwood/IWA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong anchor in the back row is a must for any program, as the passing game goes a long way to the success of a team. Schaeffer is one of the stronger defenders in the class and should expect to hear from schools looking to strengthen their ball control. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='472890' first='Jaden' last='Monroe'] - OH - PVA/Staley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monroe is a player who has made major strides in the last year. Her ability to score points from the outside is something scouts will like about her. She has good size listed at six feet and has a few shots in her toolbox. She is also good in the passing game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='487562' first='Mara' last='Coulter'] - DS/L - 417/Nixa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another strong defender, Coulter, is as tough as they come. She is small in stature but brings a big game to the court. Her ability to read the defense and anticipate shots is among the best in the class. She isn't afraid to stand in front of the heat and has a quick first step that makes her a pancake master. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525973' first='Dakota' last='Fraase'] - RS - KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']/LS West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fraase is a player who has made the right side her home on the court, and you can see the growth in the play of the position. She is really strong at tooling the block for points, but also shows she can spread the ball around the court. I imagine a ton of D2 schools and low D1 schools will be in her messages in the coming days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='485611' first='Ashtyn' last='Van De Ven'] - S - [program_tooltip program_id='428797' first='Pursuit' last='']/Leopold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After seeing Van De Ven in action this spring, she is a player who will be moving up the rankings next go around. She is an athletic setter who utilizes her jump-setting abilities to freeze the defense and keep them guessing. She has strong ball placement and shows not to be a liability when she's in the front row with her jumping and blocking ability. She is going to be a good pickup for a program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->