Tiering the Class of 2027 Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/12/previewing-sundays-prep-dig-exposure-tour-in-clive/">Previewing Sunday's Prep Dig Exposure Tour in Clive</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Dig Iowa Class of 2027 rankings were updated this week. If you missed it, check out the update <a href="https://prepdig.com/iowa/rankings/2027-watch-list/">HERE</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The downside of the rankings is that they're rigid. They're posted in numerical order and lack context. Sometimes the difference between No. 1 and No. 2 is stark but more often than not, it's slight. That's the case throughout the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's why I like tiering the rankings. They group people of like ability together with the understanding that, like the rankings, student-athletes can move up to higher tiers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With that in mind, here's how I would tier this week's updated rankings for the 2027 Class: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TIER I</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] moved up to the top spot in the rankings. She earned that with her play throughout the season and the potential she shows for the future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That said, I don't think the top tier of these rankings changed. [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'] continued to join her in it. Each of them has a case to be No. 1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vogt, an Iowa State recruit, is an explosive athlete that improved a lot in 2025. She added power and consistency at the pin, and became sharper in the back row and defensively at the net. Her exploits in Northwest winning the 5A state title were not outdone by anyone else on the Wolves' roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Austen helped lead Iowa City West back to the state tournament this season thanks to further development in all areas of her game despite an early injury. The Iowa State commitment also guided United to the 16U Iowa Regional title this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opponents must prepare for the impact Rogers can make on a match. The Purdue pledge's athleticism and explosion off of the court can be deadly unless you get her teams out of system often. Rogers' potential is through the roof.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TIER II</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can't remember how I tiered this class after the previous update, but that's OK. I don't want to have a bias based in past views.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I see Tier II this time around, it includes two student-athletes - [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'] and [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller']. This duo also is close to the top tier and could push up into it with a strong club campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ladwig, another Cyclone commitment, has a high ceiling. With her athleticism and long arms, her potential is as high as anyone in the class if everything comes together along her development path. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miller is the top libero in the state and one of the best to come through Iowa in recent years. She found a nexcellent fit with a solid Dayton program, which benefits from getting a Power-4 level prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TIER III</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This tier is deep. The third group includes 12 student-athletes, which is more than double the size of the first two tiers combined.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kansas State likes Iowa middle hitters from Eastern Iowa. The Wildcats took [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'] in the 2026 Class, and secured a commitment from Durant's [player_tooltip player_id='493971' first='Allison' last='Toft'] in this recruiting cycle. She's close to the tier above her as a two-way performer with a ways to go before reaching her considerable ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] accentuated her prospect profile by adding setter duties in helping Pleasant Valley get back to the state tournament this season. The same could be said for [player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'], who gave college coaches something else to think about with how she improved her attack to complement her talent at setting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='403543' first='Addie' last='Bollier'] (Samford) locked down the back row for Regina, which reached the state tournament for a second season in a row. [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] (Valparaiso) provided excellent setting for a Dallas Center-Grimes outfit that returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2020. [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'] (uncommitted) has proven to be a high-end setter for Wilton and Iowa Select.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Clara pledge [player_tooltip player_id='500340' first='Kaylie' last='Klein'] took another step forward as a powerful pin with more room to grow. [player_tooltip player_id='818213' first='Ryanne' last='Brubaker'] committed to Marquette this week after getting Grundy Center back to the state tournament. She's joined by [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493609' first='Madison' last='Grover'] in making this tier very strong at middle hitter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'] (Drake) is one of the more well-rounded players in the state, capable of wearing the libero jersey with success or ending points at the pin in the state's largest classification. Her teammate at Northwest, [player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor'], is not far behind Miller in terms of the state's top players in the back row and should be getting more attention on the recruiting trail. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TIER IV</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fourth tier, the last one we'll discuss today, is comprised of four student-athletes poised for important upcoming club campaigns. These players aren't far off from the tier above them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='495803' first='Ava' last='Jones'] are dynamic, six-rotation outside hitters capable of getting going at the pin to take over a match while also being able to pass cleanly out of the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='493984' first='Kyla' last='Ramler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'] are two-way middle hitters that have experienced great growth in their games during the last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This foursome is worthy of more attention from college scouts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->