Show Me 2026 Five Day 2 Players That Deserve Headlines

Day 1 in Kansas City came and went. The ballrooms were full. The dipped strawberry kabobs were delicious (no seriously, we need to start stepping up our game in tournament food, and this was a great start). The competition was really getting serious. The alpacas were immaculate. Yes. I know what I said. Anyone who played at the Hyvee Arena knows what I'm talking about. Come for the volleyball, stay for the alpacas.    So, Albany is an all around 6. She's got pretty good height, she's extremely quick, she hits pretty well. Honestly, she's got cred in that as a hitter on it's own, she's committed to a D2. But what really jumped out at me for her was her defense. She played back row defense better than a lot of 'Bros I've seen. She laid out for balls consistently, played hard hit shots and got them up and playable, everything you want from a DS. She illustrates perfectly an issue that more hitters need to pay attention to. Work on your defense, learn to pass. Too many kids grow early and get pigeon-holed as a middle, because they are tall are automatically the middle everywhere they go. They get middle practice, middle games, middle film. But what happens when that middle gets older, moves to a more competitive team where everyone is tall, and now she's moved from middle to pin, or even back row? When you've never done the back row work, you suddenly aren't good enough because you are only a 3 rotation player, or can't play defense in the back. Albany is the poster child of how you should model your game and be able to play anywhere on the court.     Here's one I don't know how she got slept on. There are plenty of reasons for being down in the rankings, we have to see you to be able to get you in and up there, and that's a lot harder than you'd think with the sheer volume of players these days, but she's legit and committed to a D1. She's got a ton of power, is great on the block, and has good agility for someone over 6 foot. I'd say she's still got some growth in her game coming too, you can see glimpses of things refining and picking up more advanced tricks, she's going to get better than where she is right now, which is something to keep an eye on seeing that she's already D1 level.     Jaida can play all over the front row. She's athletic and is extremely strong. On the block she's incredibly tough to beat, plus she's athletic enough that she adds some offense to the game with a strong shot as well. This team in particular is one of the physically strongest teams I've ever seen, and Jaida is a big part of that.     Yep. That tracks. When I start my write up blocks I have to search for the player, and select them if they are in the system, so most times I don't know their ranking until I pull it up to write. Addison was an absolute monster for Metro, and seeing her as the no. 1 prospect in the state, makes perfect sense. She's committed to Ole Miss, which I figured out mid game when watching them. She's just one of the most pure athletes I've seen. Strong, physical, smart, fast...she's a problem if you have to play her.     Here's another that should get some more press. A middle for Carolina that causes problems for teams. She's got good size and is athletic enough to get left to right to help with the doubles on time. In the air she adjusts well and can shift her shot to find open court if facing a tough block. A good part of their offense runs through her and it makes sense, she's about as solid of a middle as they come, and there aren't a ton of those around.

Day 1 in Kansas City came and went. The ballrooms were full. The dipped strawberry kabobs were delicious (no seriously, we need to start stepping up our game in tournament food, and this was a great start). The competition was really getting serious. The alpacas were immaculate. Yes. I know what I said. Anyone who played at the Hyvee Arena knows what I'm talking about. Come for the volleyball, stay for the alpacas.