Hot Freshman Hitters at Exposure Tour in NorCal: Vol 2

<p>The next wave of freshmen, and one early-rising eighth grader, continued to impress at the NorCal stop of the Prep Dig Exposure Tour. This group showed strong arm talent, balanced ball control, and a willingness to compete in high-tempo drills that typically expose weaknesses in younger outside hitters. Instead, these prospects handled pressure with poise and demonstrated athletic ceilings that make them "ones to watch" over the next several seasons.</p>   <p>Below is the latest breakdown of emerging outside hitters turning heads in NorCal.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dani Barbour</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/IMG_9195.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-912654" style="width:178px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dani Barbour, 2029.</figcaption></figure>   <p>Barbour is a 5'10" outside hitter from Ripon Christian High School. Barbour brings a clean, repeatable swing and standout court awareness that elevate her overall impact. She reads block positioning well, choosing smart angles rather than simply swinging hard. Her height and poise give her strong long-term upside as a six-rotation prospect.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='902001' first='Mina' last='Brown']</h2>   <p>Brown is a 5'10" outside hitter from Laguna Creek High School. Brown is one of the most physically fluid attackers in this group. The approach footwork is smooth, the arm speed is fast, and the contact point is consistently high. Brown thrives in transition, generating attacking momentum even from medium passes, which is an advanced skill for a freshman.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='782462' first='Abigail' last='Ellis']</h2>   <p>Ellis is a 5'7" outside hitter from Turlock High School. Ellis compensates for size with explosive elevation and sharp shot-making. Whether tooling the outside hand or threading the seam, Ellis finds creative solutions against bigger blockers. The defensive instincts also stand out with quick reads, clean angles, and no hesitation on pursuit balls.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='767110' first='Giselle' last='Wahlbrink']</h2>   <p>Wahlbrink is a 5'11" outside hitter from Sonora High School. Wahlbrink showcased one of the more commanding physical frames in the group. Long, athletic, and efficient, she elevates well above the tape and plays with a composed, almost veteran presence. As her ball control continues to develop, Wahlbrink has the potential to become a high-impact hitter with the ability to terminate.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='846554' first='Ellyana' last='Padilla']</h2>   <p>Padilla is a 5'7" outside hitter from Clovis North High School. Padilla brings high tempo and instant energy every time she steps on the court. She attacks confidently off fast sets, showing the ability to beat the block before it forms. Padilla also flashed strong back-row attacking, which adds to her versatility and projects well in modern systems built around speed. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='910340' first='Kaitlyn' last='Dennis'] </h2>   <p>Dennis is a 5'8" outside hitter from Saint Mary's College. Dennis has one of the cleanest approaches and most consistent swings in this cohort. The jumper is smooth and technically sound, allowing Dennis to hit a wide range of shots without sacrificing power. Her serve/receive performance was also reliable, suggesting strong six-rotation potential moving forward. I found her to be one of the best hitters of the day.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='771038' first='Sienna' last='Mattoon']</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/IMG_9196.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-912655" style="width:172px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='771038' first='Sienna' last='Mattoon'], 2029.</figcaption></figure>   <p>Mattoon is a 5'9" outside hitter from El Segundo High School. Mattoon blends athleticism with a high volleyball IQ, making her one of the most well-rounded freshmen in attendance. She sees the court beautifully, identifying open space early and adjusting her swing mid-air when needed. Mattoon's all-around skill set, including attacking, passing, and defensive reads, gives her immediate varsity value.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='907091' first='Brooklyn' last='O'Leary']</h2>   <p>O'Leary is a 5'5" outside hitter in the 8th grade currently and set to graduate in 2030. O'Leary was the youngest athlete in this group, yet she competed with the confidence and fluidity of someone several years older. Quick off the floor, fast to the ball, and fearless as a terminal attacker, O'Leary's early polish is rare. With some added height and strength over the next two seasons, the ceiling becomes extremely high for this athlete.</p>   <p></p>

The next wave of freshmen, and one early-rising eighth grader, continued to impress at the NorCal stop of the Prep Dig Exposure Tour. This group showed strong arm talent, balanced ball control, and a willingness to compete in high-tempo drills that typically expose weaknesses in younger outside hitters. Instead, these prospects handled pressure with poise and demonstrated athletic ceilings that make them "ones to watch" over the next several seasons.