The "New" Names of the Class of 2028 Illinois Rankings

The Class of 2028 Prep Dig Illinois Rankings are live!  This is our initial rankings which started as a “Watchlist”.  All of the athletes would technically be new to the rankings, but there are some who are relatively new to that have really taken off this past year.  Who are the ones we've seen soar in 2026?     I remember watching [player_tooltip player_id='546211' first='Sage' last='Olson'] last year for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] and was so impressed, I didn't even realize she was playing an age group up. [player_tooltip player_id='546211' first='Sage' last='Olson'] is a 2028 setter who is playing on the [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 17 Elite squad where calling her dynamic would be an understatement.  She is a left handed setter with a physical style.  She also has the ability to play on the right side.  When it comes to her offense, she knows how to score points - she picks her time wisely on when to swing as a setter.  Her ability to defend at the net and the backrow is also impressive where she is someone who is going to stress the other side of the net.  The trajectory for her at the next level is exciting where teams could use her in a variety of ways.      [player_tooltip player_id='725645' first='Sophia' last='Polec'] lights up the court as a middle blocker for [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Adidas. I was able to watch her at Triple Crown where [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] advanced deep in the tournament before falling to A5.  She plays with no fear, a true motor out of the middle where she can close the block from pin to pin while transitioning to be available for her setter. With her block, she's active, hungry for the ball.  The speed and athleticism that Polec has will be welcomed at the next level.  Her ceiling is extremely high with what she has shown this 2026 club season.      [player_tooltip player_id='846643' first='Sommer' last='Shaw'] will be one of the top middles to watch in the Illinois Class of 2028.  She has been key in the success of 1st Alliance 16 Gold this 2026 season.  I was able to see her first at Triple Crown where I was most impressed with her blocking.  Before she gets above the net, she gets her feet set and is under control.  I don't see her getting tooled, she knows how to lockdown the opposing attackers.  Offensively, she is highly efficient, she knows how to use her offspeed as well as finding the deep corners.      I do remember watching [player_tooltip player_id='836674' first='Olivia' last='Hill'] for [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 15 Adidas last year at the JVA World Challenge.  At 6'4, she's imposing on the right side, however she was quiet and still finding her footing at a high level.  However in 2026, especially this past weekend at the Windy City Qualifier I saw her yelling “LETS GO”, celebrating big with her team, she was key in their three set win over Metro to advance to day two of the gold pools in 16 Open.  On the right side, she's an outlet out of system, terminal with a heavy swing.  Her block is something that the opposing outsides need to be aware of.  She is another athlete where her best volleyball is ahead of her, she will have an exciting recruiting journey.      [player_tooltip player_id='750142' first='Katy' last='Zumerchik'] has been a key piece to [program_tooltip program_id='432158' first='Attack' last='VBC'] 16 Select success in 2026.  She is a threat to score anywhere on the court.  The six rotation outside hitter brings an aggressive approach and a violent arm swing.  She is able to create chaos on the other side of the net that even when they are prepared for her, it is tough to keep her swing in system.  This past weekend at the Windy City Qualifier, Attack was able to advance to the 16 USA Gold bracket.  Zumerchik might have came into the 2026 season a little under the radar, but she is definitely one to get to a college camp this summer where she could be a steal in the 2028 class.      What a privilege it was to watch Blue Steel out of O'Fallon in the 16 Open Division at MEQ.  This is a small club with a big game, their group of 16s has a lot of 2028s who are ones to watch.  [player_tooltip player_id='962002' first='Harper' last='Whitworth'] is a setter with a huge upside to her game.  She is athletic and physical with a big left handed swing.  The other side of the net has to be ready for her to attack whenever she jumps.  She preps for Mascoutah where she teams up with another exciting Class of 2028 prospect in [player_tooltip player_id='962006' first='Kinze' last='Reese'], a lethal outside hitter.  Whitworth will be one to keep tabs on as well as the rest of Blue Steel 16 Black.      [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] is always producing high level athletes where they are well trained with the fundamentals of the game.  [player_tooltip player_id='947453' first='Olivia' last='Williams'] is an emerging prospect in the Class of 2028 as a middle blocker.  Seeing her block and the reach above the net was impressive.  Her athleticism and physicality allows her to score points while also being a major defensive presence.  She will be heading to Louisville for the JVA World Challenge this upcoming weekend where [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] will be competing in the 16 Open Division.       Wisconsin Juniors pulls some high level talent from Northern Illinois and Charlotte Sheperd has been one making a name for herself.  The Class of 2028 setter just glides on the court, she is so smooth with how she gets to the ball to how she finds a favorable matchup for her attackers.  She's not afraid to establish the middles and is tough for the defense to read where she is going with the ball.  There's great tempo to her ball and her overall intangibles are so positive.  She was a 15 Premier AAU All American and her 16-1 team at Wisconsin Juniors grabbed a 16 American bid to Indy.       This Illinois Class of 2028 has quite the group of setters. [player_tooltip player_id='522629' first='Kelly' last='Ryan'] is one to watch in this group playing for 1st Alliance 16 Silver.  The 1st Alliance setting core is always well trained.  Ryan has great footwork, she gets to the ball quickly and finds a way to get a swing for her attackers.  Her game goes beyond the setting fundamentals where she defends her position extremely well whether she's in the back or front row.  Her length and athleticism is fun to see on display where she is continuously making a positive impact on the game. 1st Alliance 16 Silver is crushing it this season, they have taken home the titles for the USA Division at MEQ and Windy City.      I was able to take note of [player_tooltip player_id='522625' first='Eileen' last='Carroll'] for 1st Alliance 16 Black at MEQ.  Her 16 Black team is always in the mix in the USA division.  What Carroll is able to do for her team is serve receive, defend, and score points on the outside.  She has quick feet, she is fast to the ball, and a whip of an arm swing.  She also knows how to use her angles as well as change up speeds that causes plenty of stress for her opponents.       A six rotation outside hitter who preps at Oswego and plays club ball for Sports Performance 16 Elite is [player_tooltip player_id='768821' first='Sara' last='Gilio']. I was able to see Gilio at Triple Crown and noticed her ability to score points in multiple ways. She is able to go hard cross, line, and is able to use the opposing block to her advantage. She has a well rounded skillset where she can do a little bit of everything that all outside hitters need to be successful. Sports Performance 16 Elite and Gilio will be heading to the JVA World Challenge this weekend, competing in 16 Open.

The Class of 2028 Prep Dig Illinois Rankings are live! This is our initial rankings which started as a “Watchlist”. All of the athletes would technically be new to the rankings, but there are some who are relatively new to that have really taken off this past year. Who are the ones we've seen soar in 2026?