It's Back: The Highlight Vault

<p>Every club season, my inbox fills with highlight videos from players across the region. One of the best ways for me to acknowledge those submissions is by breaking down the athletes and their skill sets. I call this weekly series “The Highlight Vault.” Here's who stepped into the vault this week.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='913297' first='Sophia' last='Hiltgen'] – 2029 – Mamba 15-1 – Pin/Setter</h3>   <p>Hiltgen put up big numbers as a freshman, earning all-state honors and establishing herself as a high-volume scorer. On film, she takes many of her swings from the right pin and converts at a strong rate. Interestingly, her footwork looks its cleanest when attacking out of the middle or left side, especially her timing and ability to stay in rhythm. A small but important detail: she consistently lands on two feet, which is a major long-term advantage for an athlete with her workload. Another standout trait is her setting. She moves well, delivers clean balls, and uses her size effectively. It wouldn't surprise me if setter becomes her true college-level position.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='937918' first='Ella' last='Kurtz'] – 2029 – L/DS – Mamba 15-1</h3>   <p>Kurtz is steady and dependable along the back row. Her first-step reaction is excellent, allowing her to get touches on balls that most players arrive late to. Her out-of-system second-ball contacts to the pins are consistent and accurate, an underrated but essential skill for defensive specialists. The film also shows her covering hitters with urgency, a mentality that translates directly to the college game.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='782250' first='Maggie' last='Nash'] – 2029 – L/DS – [program_tooltip program_id='515493' first='Club' last='North'] 16-1</h3>   <p>Nash is competing up an age division this season after navigating the defensive space for [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] 14-1 last year. The move suits her perfectly. The faster pace and heavier swings highlight her strengths rather than expose them. Both in person and on film, she commands the back row like a true libero. She reads hitters early, drops high-quality passes in serve-receive, and communicates nonstop. At only 15, her court presence is advanced, and she is trending toward becoming one of the top defensive players in her class.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='774923' first='Kaylee' last='Ballard'] – 2028 – OH/RS – [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 16-2</h3>   <p>Ballard has taken a major leap this club season. She's scoring from all three front-row zones and has become a reliable, go-to attacker on the left pin. She's also terminating “2-balls” in the middle of the court and showing confidence in tempo attacks. Her six-rotation game continues to improve, with cleaner platform angles and stronger defensive reads. Ballard's stock is clearly rising, and she's positioning herself among the top outside hitters in the 2028 class statewide.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='789377' first='Leah' last='Hargis'] – 2028 – OH/DS – Topeka Fury 16-1</h3>   <p>Hargis is what I call a “quiet problem” for defenses. Her arm swing is sneaky-quick, and the ball gets on defenders before they're ready. Whether she's tooling the block or attacking the seam, she consistently finds ways to score. In the back row, she passes confidently and is not a liability in serve-receive. Her ability to contribute on both ends makes her a valuable two-phase outside.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='916414' first='Chloe' last='Rousseau'] – 2029 – OH/RS/DS – Shockwave 15-3</h3>   <p>Rousseau brings immediate impact from the service line, mixing short, dying serves with fast, deep balls that force opponents out of system. She isn't afraid to take attacking risks, showing sharp cross-court angles and smart off-speed reads over the block. Her ability to see the court and attack open space points to a strong volleyball IQ. She's developing into a versatile three-phase player with notable upside.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='784351' first='Autumn' last='Neblett'] – 2028 – OH – [program_tooltip program_id='428876' first='Club' last='MVP']</h3>   <p>Neblett had a standout President's Day weekend, showcasing both aggressive line swings and heavy cross-court shots. She's strategic with her shot selection, choosing when to go full [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] and when to take pace off the ball. She also provided quality touches in the back row, proving she can contribute beyond just scoring.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='789619' first='Isabella' last='Marecek'] – 2029 – L/DS – HPSTL 15 Royal</h3>   <p>Marecek is sharp and disciplined as a back-row defender. While featured as a DS in the footage I reviewed, she covers the court with libero-like command. Her lateral quickness is impressive for her age, and her ability to pass to target with consistency stands out. Her length gives her an extended range on touch balls and scramble plays. She's a player to watch closely in the coming years.</p>   <p></p>

Every club season, my inbox fills with highlight videos from players across the region. One of the best ways for me to acknowledge those submissions is by breaking down the athletes and their skill sets. I call this weekly series “The Highlight Vault.” Here's who stepped into the vault this week.