Rank Risers: Class of 2027

Last week we went live with our updated 2027 player rankings. If you haven't had a chance to check out the rankings you can see them here: <a href="https://prepdig.com/arizona/rankings/2027-rankings/">2007 AZ Rankings</a>   Out of the 170 players on our ranking list we saw new faces come into the rankings and some familiar faces make some great strides. We expect this list to continue to be volatile over the course of the club season with so much talent coming from this class.    We had some massive risers in this class and plenty of new faces coming through. We won't be able to get through all the people who made big leaps or are brand new to the rankings but we want to congratulate all the girls on how well they have done in their club season that made leaps.    Lets dive into these rankings and see some jumps!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Welcome to the top 10:</h2>    Lila is a high level 6 rotational outside hitter who has made the jump this round from 19th on our ranking, all the way into our top 10 at number 8. She has a combination of size, explosiveness, and a fearless attacking mentality, and more importantly she brings the kind of presence as an outside that immediately changes the rhythm of a match.   Her offensive game is built on balance and versatility. She's comfortable attacking in system with a full approach and strong arm swing, but what really stands out is her ability to produce points when plays break down. Give her a high ball on the outside and she'll find a way to keep the rally in her team's favor, mixing heavy swings with smart shot placement to keep defenses guessing.   In the back row, she's just as valuable. She's a steady passer in serve receive, showing the platform control and composure needed to handle tough serving runs. Defensively, she reads hitters well and covers a lot of ground, turning difficult balls into transition opportunities for her team. She is one of those players younger outside hitters can look up to and strive to be.   Lila was already a top level player but recently her play has demonstrated that she is a level above what we thought. Utah State is getting a good one in Lila!     MaKenna makes the leap into our top 10 from her spot last ranking at number 21. She is the type of setter that every coach would love to have on their team as she can do it all as a 5-1 setter when called upon.   Her greatest strength is game management. She reads the floor exceptionally well for her age, consistently putting hitters in positions to score while keeping opposing blockers guessing. She can do it all with the offense whether it's pushing tempo to the pins, delivering a clean ball in transition, or running a quick middle attack, she shows advanced touch and precision as a setter.   She also can contribute on the defensive end and with her serving. She is very capable of keeping a team out of system with her serving and has the technique to put the ball where it is needed when serving. For defense she can read hitters well and is always getting good touches on the ball for her team.   Overall she is someone who has the game play alone to be a top level player in AZ. However, she also plays with a high motor, communicates well with teammates, and embraces the responsibility that comes with being a high level setter that really sets her apart from others in this class. A easy pick to make a big leap in our rankings and can't wait to see her continue to move up as the season goes on.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Welcome to the rankings:</h2>    Welcome to the rankings Kinsley! She has made a massive jump from going from unranked all the way to #30 on the list. If you see her live and in person it is easy to know why!   She is a physical presence on the right side both with her offense and her defense. She sets a very dominate block on the right side and gets her hands up and pressed over the net. She will gets a lot of blocks and block touches which makes hitters have to go around her to get any points. She does well to take up a lot of space and force hitters to put the ball where the defense is.   Her offensive game is well rounded as well, she can hit a out of system ball just as well as she can hit an in system ball. She swings with a very fast and heavy arm swing and gets a lot of balls terminated not only throughout a block, but also by tooling high hands as well. She is very dynamic with her game and can do a lot for her team in the scoring department with her offensive ability.   Beyond the physical tools, she plays with a noticeable competitive motor. She brings leadership energy and embraces big swings in high-pressure moments. With continued physical development and experience against top national competition, she projects as a high-impact pin at the next level.     Another newcomer to the list is Aubrey who debuts at #59 for the class of 2027. Aubrey is a very versatile player who stands out as someone who is quick with her footwork and has soft hands that can run a fast high level offense.   She plays with poise under pressure and shows a natural feel for when to speed up the offense or she can settle things down when it gets hectic. I really like how she can run the offense even when it seems to be out of system and have the offense be quick as well. She can get balls to her middle hitters or perfectly on the pin, even with not the best passes in serve receive or defense. She is very capable of running a high level offense from all over the court.   Where she really separates herself is defensively. She's quick, fearless, and incredibly active in the back row, often turning what looks like a sure point for the opponent into a playable ball. Her instincts and reaction time allow her to extend rallies, and she competes on every touch. That defensive presence gives her team another layer of stability.   Although she wasn't on the rankings prior to this round, she has demonstrated through her game play that she deserves to be ranked and is someone that is trending upward as we head into the second half of the season.     Kadyn joins us in the top 80 for this round after being unranked in our initial rankings. Kadyn is the type of player who can lead a team with her offense or with her defense. She does a lot for her team in terms of her all around game play, and can contribute in so many areas.   Her biggest strength is serve receive and defensive stability. She's a polished passer who reads servers well, keeps her platform quiet, and consistently delivers quality balls to the setter. In the back row, she covers a ton of ground with quick feet and sharp instincts, extending rallies and frustrating opposing offenses with her ability to dig hard-driven attacks.   On the offensive end she has a high IQ and just plays the game so smart by taking what the defense gives her. One way is rather than trying to overpower bigger blocks, she plays a savvy offensive game—finding seams, using the block, and scoring through high-level decision making. She also can use power and go through a block or high hands when needed, don't think she doesn't have the power and finesse as she brings both each time.   What makes her particularly compelling is the growth curve. With continued physical development and exposure against top competition, she has the tools to rise quickly on recruiting boards and has really showed up in the last few months.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Look at how high we jumped:</h2>    Made a massive leap from 152 to 71 this last update. Sometimes we don't get to see as much of the Tucson crowd as we should but I can tell you Peyton was someone we have taken notice of!   Peyton is the type of prospect that brings the kind of size, athleticism, and scoring ability that naturally draws attention from college programs. Built with the frame coaches look for in a modern outside hitter, she combines a long, explosive approach with a heavy arm that allows her to challenge blocks and consistently terminate from the left side.   She's comfortable passing in serve receive, competes defensively in the back row, and brings a steady presence that helps balance the lineup. At the net, she competes hard as a blocker and shows improving timing when closing blocks along the pin. While she already has the length and athletic tools to be disruptive, continued strength and jump development should make her an even more effective presence against high-level attackers.   Overall, Peyton is someone who can do a lot for her teams, with her defense, offense, and overall game play. She may have been under the radar last time, but she has continued to progress and show out and has a well deserved jump in this ranking.     Nola jumps up 42 spots from 91 to 49 in our latest rankings. Nola brings a rare combination of length, timing, and offensive upside that makes her one of the most intriguing front-row prospects in AZ.   Her reach alone takes away huge portions of the court, and she's learning to pair that size with disciplined footwork and strong hands to seal blocks rather than just get touches. Opposing hitters quickly realize they have very little margin for error when attacking into her space. She closes quickly along the net and shows the instincts needed to become a high-level collegiate middle.   Offensively, her ceiling is just as exciting. With long strides in transition and a naturally high contact point, she's a tough matchup on quick sets and high balls alike. As her tempo continues to speed up, she's becoming a consistent threat in the middle and is capable of drawing blockers and opening lanes for the pins.   Nola is a high ceiling prospect who has made some great strides in her game and is someone who is going to continue to only get better with time. We think she could end up being a top 30 prospect with time and continued improvement. Time will tell but keep your eyes open for this fast riser!     Another big leaper, we have Madeline who went from 144 to 67 this round. Madeline is someone who is thriving at EVJ this season and is jumping up on the radars of both Prepdig and college coaches with her game play recently.   Her biggest weapon is speed. She gets off the floor quickly and reaches a high contact point with impressive vertical explosiveness, allowing her to run a variety of quick sets and stay ahead of opposing blockers. Whether it's a fast “1,” a push tempo, or sliding into space, she creates matchup problems because of how quickly she transitions and elevates   At the net defensively, she plays with excellent timing and instincts. She closes blocks well laterally and reads setters effectively, allowing her to be disruptive even against taller hitters. Most importantly she's disciplined with her hands and presses over the net, and she can be a disruptive presence against other teams.   Madeline is the type of middle who is a bit undersized and went unnoticed until recently. However she is so explosive and fast with her game play that it was only a matter of time before people took notice. She is going to turn a lot of heads as the season progresses. We have already taken notice of her rise, and you should as well.     Kylie jumps over 40 spots in our new rankings from being just outside the top 100 and comes up to 66. Kylie has really done well at Arizona Sky this year and is showing that she can be a go to option for a college program in the years to come.   Her approach is fast and explosive, and she plays well above the net with the hang time needed to make smart decisions mid-air. When rallies break down, she's the type of outside a setter can trust with a high ball and expect a quality swing. She can score from all areas on the court and is an asset both in the front and back row for her team with her ability to score.   Beyond offense, she brings the traits coaches value in a true six-rotation outside. She's steady in serve receive, competes defensively in the back row, and plays with the kind of composure that stabilizes a lineup. While flashier hitters may grab headlines, players like this often become the glue of strong teams because of their dependability across every phase of the game. She is just so consistent with her game in all areas it is impossible to not have her on the floor when the game is on the line.   What stands out most is her competitiveness and overall feel for the game. She plays with energy, communicates well with teammates, and embraces the responsibilities that come with being a primary pin option. She is easily someone who shoot up our rankings and could even climb higher in our next round with her continued game play.     Emma makes a big leap into the top 20 from outside the top 50 last time around. Emma has been showing up on our radar for a while but really has taken off with her game play these past few months.   One big strength with Emma is she moves effortlessly to the ball, squares her shoulders quickly, and delivers a consistent, hittable set from all areas of the court. She runs a very fast offense and is always getting her feet and hands to the ball in a effective manner. Her hitters are always in the best positions to terminate balls and Emma is very capable of making some tough sets to keep the defense guessing.   Beyond the setting, she contributes in several other phases of the game. Defensively, she show good range and instincts, reading tips and covering hitters well. Her serve is consistent and puts pressure on opposing passers, often allowing the defense to get organized behind it. Communication and leadership are clear strengths as she is vocal, composed, and constantly organizing the team between points.   Overall, Emma is a setter who blends technical skill, leadership, and game intelligence. She project as the type of player who can efficiently manage a fast, balanced attack and elevate the play of everyone around them. We can't wait to continue to watch Emma rise up the rankings!    We can't wait to see what the rest of the 2026 club season will bring!   As always, make sure you are following us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigarizona/?hl=en">@PrepDigArizona </a>as well as our scouts<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdiganthony/"> @PrepDigAnthony</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/coachmarissamorah/">@CoachMarissaMorah</a>.   Want to get on our radar? Do the following:Follow us on Instagram, Nominate Through our<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGWSR1w3a_ZgKVLmUouN7ymhvldIHGmG6f6zWs54-pGTM_-A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=116487285663927782556"> Form</a>, and Send us your Highlights!

Last week we went live with our updated 2027 player rankings. If you haven't had a chance to check out the rankings you can see them here: 2007 AZ Rankings