Top Varsity Freshman in 5A Volleyball

Stepping onto the varsity court as a freshman is no small feat. It takes more than just talent. It demands grit, discipline, and a fearless mindset. This season, a new wave of freshmen has done just that, earning their spots among seasoned upperclassmen and proving they belong. These young athletes are not just wearing the jersey; they're setting the tone, pushing the pace, and turning heads with every ace, kill, and dig. As the season picture has sharpened, it's clear that the future landscape of Colorado volleyball has already arrived. And it's making an impact.    Freshman libero Allison Kunkel is making waves this season for Columbine. Kunkel boasts 261 quality receptions, 180 digs, and 16 aces and has played in every set for the Rebels this season. Watching Kunkel move on the court it's uncanny how calm she is in defense and in serve receive. She utilizes great footwork and simple platform movements to get her passes/digs to target, an uncommon skill set for young passers. Excited to see how this young player develops over the years.     Josephine Rubenstein has been running the offense at Fort Collins High School for just one year, but you wouldn't know it from watching her play. The determination she has to get to every ball and set up her attackers is truly astounding, and any observer can tell she has a ton of pride in all of the aspects of her game. Defensively, she's a workhorse, running down tips and working hard on her release to the net. Offensively, Rubenstein does a great job of establishing her middles early and often to open up space for her pin attackers and isn't afraid to mix in a few of her own attacks.     A fantastic athlete with a very heavy arm, Emily Peterson has been a force for Vista Peak in her freshman season. She has 193 kills on the season, averaging about 3.5 kills per set. Peterson is one of Vista Peak's 6 rotation players, and when you watch her it's clear to see that she has earned the right to play all the way around. She contributes in almost every facet of the game, with 111 digs, 33 aces, 13 total blocks, and 191 quality receptions. Watching Peterson play, you can tell she's hungry for the ball in every rep, working hard to get her body in the right spot to either stop the other team from scoring or to score herself. Peterson is a dynamic and fun player to watch.     Etta Dresden is a force of nature on the court. There's no other way to put it, the kid is an absolute animal in the front row. Dresden does a great job of getting her feet to the ball and has a very high contact point when attacking. Dresden also displays great discipline in her blocking, allowing her to add some defensive contributions. As she develops in serve receive and defense, I would expect Etta Dresden to become one of the top outside hitters in the state.     Arguably the most varsity ready freshman on this list (and maybe in the state of Colorado) Ady Millar has been running a stellar offense at Douglas County. No matter where Millar is on the court or which attacker she is setting, Millar does a great job of looking the same every time making her quite the deceptive setter. Millar spreads out her offense utilizing both her pins on the left and right, as well as using the middles in transition. A 5-1 setter, Millar works hard in each phase of the game, whether that's blocking, defending, or serving. She's been one of my personal favorite setters to watch this season and I can't wait to continue to watch her develop.     Middle blocker Raeana Gibbs has done a fantastic job of filling in some big shoes from last year's middles. Quite often, young middles tend to be lopsided in how they contribute to their team...either they're more middle attacker or they're more middle blocker. Impressively, Gibbs manages to produce on offense and defense. Gibbs currently has 59 kills and 25 total blocks, pretty impressive for a freshman who only plays three rotations. Most of what coaches want out of their middles is someone who works hard for the three rotations they're in and that's certainly Gibbs.

Stepping onto the varsity court as a freshman is no small feat. It takes more than just talent. It demands grit, discipline, and a fearless mindset. This season, a new wave of freshmen has done just that, earning their spots among seasoned upperclassmen and proving they belong. These young athletes are not just wearing the jersey; they're setting the tone, pushing the pace, and turning heads with every ace, kill, and dig. As the season picture has sharpened, it's clear that the future landscape of Colorado volleyball has already arrived. And it's making an impact.