Summer Work, Fall Impact: Players to Track Now

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: digdakotas30</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a>   The matches aren't always the focus right now. It's the reps in the gym, the extra touches, the adjustments being made when no one is really watching. But this is where the gap closes for some and widens for others, and it's something we'll be tracking closely all summer. You can start to see it if you've been around enough gyms. Players are moving differently. The ball is coming off cleaner. Decisions are quicker. Confidence is starting to show up in moments that used to feel rushed.   That's what shows up in the fall.   These are players who aren't waiting for the school season to figure it out. They're building into it now, and we'll be following that growth as the summer continues. The work they're putting in is already starting to translate, and it's only going to carry more when matches matter. For coaches, this is the time to get ahead of it. For players, this is what the process looks like.   These are the names we'll be tracking before everyone else catches up.    [player_tooltip player_id='956905' first='Hattie' last='Rose'] is starting to show more consistency in how she impacts both sides of the ball. She's staying available in transition and working to stay connected to the setter, which gives her a true first-tempo option when the pass is on. At the net, her timing is improving, and she's getting her hands across earlier instead of pressing late, which is starting to take away seams instead of just reacting. As that continues to tighten up, she becomes someone who can both hold the middle offensively and take away space defensively, and that's where her value continues to grow. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='896022' first='Allie' last='Mauer'] brings a steady presence in the back row with clean platform angles and controlled first contact. She does a good job getting stopped to the ball, which allows her to keep passes on line and limit overcorrection in serve receive. She's also showing more range in how much court she can cover, especially when handling seams. That ability to consistently deliver a pass that keeps the setter in system is what separates defensive specialists as the level gets higher. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     Olivia Tennehill continues to show growth in how she manages pace and controls the ball off harder contacts. She absorbs speed well and keeps her platform stable, which allows her to turn tougher swings into playable balls. What's starting to stand out more is her ability to keep those digs in system instead of just keeping them alive, which gives her team a chance to transition instead of resetting. As that continues, her impact goes beyond defense and into creating offense. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     Cara Thiemann's value shows up across all six rotations. In serve receive, she maintains a consistent platform and keeps passes on line, allowing her to stay involved offensively. As an attacker, she adjusts well to different set locations and stays high through contact, which allows her to manage swings instead of forcing them. She's effective in transition because she stays available and maintains her approach tempo, and as she continues to expand her shot selection, she becomes even more difficult to defend. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='944552' first='Kaylee' last='Kleppe'] shows control in the back row with disciplined footwork and positioning. She works to beat the ball to the spot, which allows her to stay balanced and deliver consistent first contact. She handles float serves well and keeps her platform quiet through contact. What stands out is her ability to stay composed under pressure, which allows her to deliver the same level of pass late in sets as she does early, and that consistency is what keeps teams in system. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='940240' first='Audrey' last='Raddatz'] brings consistency to first contact and does a good job managing the ball when plays break down. She keeps her movements efficient and avoids overplaying the ball, which allows her to stay in control through contact. She's also starting to do a better job directing digs to target instead of just keeping them in play, which allows her team to transition more cleanly. That shift from reactive to intentional contact adds another layer to her game. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='747009' first='Kate' last='Thompson'] is showing growth in how she manages tempo and controls the flow of the offense. She's working to stay square to target and deliver a consistent release, which allows hitters to stay in rhythm. When the pass isn't perfect, she's making better decisions on when to push tempo and when to reset, which keeps the offense from becoming predictable. As she continues to read the block and distribute based on what's in front of her, she becomes someone who can control not just the play, but the pace of the match. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    <h1 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h1>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://prepdig.com/dakotas/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_5b1fa1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-987083" /></a></figure>

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