2027 Rankings: The Top Ten That Didn’t Budge

<p>In a year full of breakout stars, late-season surges, and newcomers shaking up the board, the 2027 Top Ten stood firm. Not one athlete moved out of the elite tier, proof that this group is that good and that consistent. Eight of the ten logged All-State honors, while the two who didn't still delivered stat lines and impact that absolutely justify their hold on top-ten status.</p>   <p>What sets this class apart? Physicality, versatility, high-level commitments… and the kind of postseason production that translates anywhere from high-school gyms to national recruiting courts.</p>   <p>Here's a deeper look at why the Top Ten stayed exactly where they are:</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id='475339' first='Shaye' last='Witherspoon'] – OH, Lafayette</strong></h3>   <p>Nebraska Commit**</p>   <p>No surprise here: Witherspoon remains the clear No. 1. The Huskers aren't in the business of missing on pins, and Shaye showed why with 636 kills, including a ridiculous 32-kill performance in the state championship. Her ability to score out-of-system, dominate long rallies, and take over big moments keeps her in a tier of her own. She's the prototype six-rotation outside who changes entire scouting reports.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id='828314' first='Marlee' last='Steiner'] – MB, Lindbergh</strong></h3>   <p>Missouri Commit**</p>   <p>Steiner's 6'3” frame is only half the story—her lateral speed and read blocking are what truly separate her. With 221 kills and 74 blocks, she continues to be one of the most efficient middles in the class. Mizzou's staff locked down an in-state gem whose ceiling is still years away.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3. " May" [player_tooltip player_id='828205' first='Dorothy' last='Durrill'] – RS/MB, MICDS</strong></h3>   <p>North Carolina Commit**</p>   <p>At 6'4”, May brings ACC-level length and a smooth attack tempo that college coaches drool over. Her 251 kills don't even fully capture her value: she's a matchup nightmare on the right side with the ability to close space on blocks faster than nearly any player in the class. UNC is getting a player who looks increasingly like a multi-year starter.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id='544668' first='Madelyn' last='Mannebach'] – OH/MB, St. Dominic</strong></h3>   <p>One of the two non–All-State players in the top ten, Mannebach absolutely earned her ranking. With 266 kills and a noticeable jump in her blocking numbers, she's trending in exactly the direction college coaches want. Her hybrid ability to play pin or middle gives her huge long-term upside. Expect her 2025 club season to be her breakout.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id='475322' first='Kate' last='Sherry'] – OH, St. Pius (Festus)</strong></h3>   <p>Middle Tennessee State Commit**</p>   <p>Sherry is one of the most high-volume outsides in the Missouri 2027 class, and she REQUIRES volume because she terminates better the more she swings. With 584 kills and 297 digs, she's already producing like an NCAA-style six-rotation workhorse. Middle Tennessee State landed a scorer who can carry a roster.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6. [player_tooltip player_id='446328' first='Tori' last='Massengill'] – OH, Lee's Summit West</strong></h3>   <p>Massengill didn't pick up All-State honors, but she still hammered down 326 kills and remained one of the smoothest, highest-IQ pins in the class. Her ball control continues to improve, and her jump in terminal efficiency keeps her safely inside the Top Ten. She's a player whose best volleyball is still ahead of her.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>7. [player_tooltip player_id='485570' first='Eden' last='Robart'] – OH/RS, Potosi</strong></h3>   <p>Small town, big swings. Robart's 652 kills are absolutely massive, and she continues to prove she can produce no matter the defensive coverage. The exciting part? She's playing on a new club team this year, meaning she'll finally get consistent reps against top-tier competition. Expect her stock to rise even higher once the rest of Missouri sees her against elite blocking.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>8. [player_tooltip player_id='396499' first='Kinley' last='Gillihan'] – MB, St. Michael the Archangel</strong></h3>   <p>Gillihan brings a championship pedigree to the list. With 302 kills and 80+ blocks, she's one of the most dominant point-scoring middles in the class. Her ability to run fast tempos and close seams late in matches makes her the kind of middle every setter dreams of.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9. [player_tooltip player_id='544669' first='Gabriella' last='Schwoeppe'] – S</strong>,<strong> St. Francis Borgia</strong></h3>   <p>The top setter in the 2027 class keeps her place thanks to creativity, tempo control, and the kind of decision-making that only comes from running a high-powered offense. Schwoeppe makes her hitters better—full stop. She's fluid, fearless, and hands-down one of the most complete setters in Missouri's junior class.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>10. [player_tooltip player_id='475328' first='Audrey' last='Schaeffer'] – L/DS, Incarnate Word Academy</strong></h3>   <p>Schaeffer closes out the unchanged Top Ten as the premier defender in the class. Her 548 digs show elite reading ability, but it's her serve-receive consistency that separates her. IWA trusted her with the highest-pressure passing lanes all season, and she delivered. She's the type of libero who stabilizes a roster from day one.</p>

In a year full of breakout stars, late-season surges, and newcomers shaking up the board, the 2027 Top Ten stood firm. Not one athlete moved out of the elite tier, proof that this group is that good and that consistent. Eight of the ten logged All-State honors, while the two who didn't still delivered stat lines and impact that absolutely justify their hold on top-ten status.