UA Next Camp Series: Athletes to Know at the Net

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: Coachable247</a>   The Under Armour Next Camp Series bringing together some of the most competitive athletes in the game.   In an environment where touches are limited, chemistry forms quickly, and every rep matters, some of the fastest separation still happens above the tape. A middle who closes the block before the hitter sees daylight. A pin who scores with range, vision, and confidence. A right side who changes momentum with one swing, one press, or one perfectly timed read.   The athletes featured below have not stepped onto the UA Next court yet, but each is arriving with the type of physicality, timing, competitiveness, and net presence that could quickly turn heads when the whistle blows.    Yemaya Chappell is already playing faster and thinking faster, two traits that tend to separate young middles early, especially in environments like UA Next where touches come quickly and first impressions happen even faster.   Blocking is what she is most excited to showcase, and the word she used that immediately caught my attention was aggressive. Middles who attack the net instead of simply occupying space tend to change how offenses operate, and Yemaya is clearly starting to embrace that part of her game.   Her offensive growth is expanding right alongside it. The development of her slide has opened up new scoring opportunities this season, while reps on the right side and in the backrow are already stretching her game well beyond the traditional middle blocker label. For a 2029 athlete still early in her recruiting journey, that kind of versatility is hard to ignore.   What may serve her just as much at this event, though, is how she processes the game when the pace starts to rise. Instead of forcing swings or chasing points, she slows down, reads what the defense is giving her, and trusts her decision-making.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> I will go for the smart shots even if it doesn't mean swing hard at every ball. </blockquote>   Yemaya is already building an impressive early résumé. Returning as a previous UA Next MVP, preparing to compete with the USA Volleyball NTDP, and in invitation to Nebraka's Dream Camp, she is arriving with both experience and momentum, and looks ready to shine once the camp begins.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Sauimoana Purcell is building the kind of game that keeps pin hitters on coaches' boards longer.   Attacking range is clearly part of what excites her heading into UA Next, but the work she has put into serve receive may end up serving her just as much once the camp begins. Pins who can score are always valuable. Pins who can keep teams in system while still terminating tend to separate even faster.   Confidence and calm have become much more consistent parts of her game this season, and that growth shows up most when momentum starts to shift.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> It's okay, next ball. </blockquote>   That simple message is what she is giving teammates when pressure rises.   For a 2029 athlete still early in her recruiting journey, that type of emotional control, paired with six-rotation value, could make Sauimoana someone evaluators remember long after the final whistle.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Anaya Dela Fuente is building a game that is becoming harder to label.   For years, much of her value showed up on the right side, using her length and blocking instincts to slow offenses and create touches at the net. This season, though, her game has started expanding in a big way.   Backrow reps. Defensive confidence. Serve receive. Left-side opportunities.   UA Next rewards athletes who can step into unfamiliar groups and impact multiple phases of the game, and Anaya's growing six-rotation confidence could serve her well once the camp starts.   What may stand out just as quickly as her physical tools, though, is her voice.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> I'm very driven and loud on the court. I like to demand the ball. </blockquote>   That type of confidence usually shows up early… and tends to make teammates better fast.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Aylee Rose Pizzo looks like an athlete who genuinely enjoys challenging blocks.   Attacking range is what she is most excited to showcase at UA Next, and the way she describes higher-level competition makes it clear she is not looking for easy points. She wants the big moments.   Her blocking and decision-making have both taken major steps this season, and one coaching cue in particular seems to have changed how she sees the net. Slow down. Read. React.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Think of every block as trying to grab the ball from the hitter. </blockquote>   That mindset is helping her become more patient, more efficient, and much harder to beat with the same play twice.   For a sophomore heading into one of the biggest showcase environments of the spring, Aylee's combination of competitiveness and growing net awareness could turn some heads quickly.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Makayla Ziegler is arriving at UA Next with something every 2027 athlete should want...a ticket to Orlando.   Verbally committed to University of San Diego, Makayla is not showing up to validate a commitment. She is showing up to compete for something bigger.   Attacking, blocking, and leadership are the three areas she is most excited to showcase, and the technical growth in her blocking this season could serve her well in an environment where net play gets evaluated quickly.   Stay loaded. Get out fast. Keep the outside hand in.   That coaching feedback is now showing up in how she closes space and changes what hitters see.   Just as valuable, though, may be the emotional control she brings when things get tight.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Staying positive during a tough time keeps me and the players around me more confident. </blockquote>   That kind of leadership will shine at this event.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Raneighla Gonzalez is not walking into UA Next trying to fit the traditional mold of a middle. She is arriving with the kind of versatility that immediately makes coaches pay attention. A middle who can close the seam, read off-block touches, chase down balls in transition, and still terminate above the tape already creates problems. Add in the ability to pass, defend, tool the block, and confidently mix in a soft shot when defenses start sitting on power, and her game starts looking very different than what many people expect from the position.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> I love debunking the stigma of ‘middles can't pass.' </blockquote>   That mindset is not just something she says. It is clearly showing up in how she is developing. Her aggression has become one of the defining parts of her game this season, and it shows up in every phase, whether she is attacking a pass, pressing over the net, taking a big swing, or bringing energy to the players around her.   What may serve her just as much at UA Next, though, is how she handles the speed of the game. When rallies start moving faster, she slows her breathing, studies the mannerisms of her opponents, and resets quickly with what she describes as a goldfish mentality, understanding that one mistake can never carry into the next point. That type of emotional control is a big reason why her game feels mature beyond her years.   When college coaches ask what drives her, the answer goes well beyond volleyball. Nutrition, recovery, faith, game IQ, and a commitment to constant growth are all part of how she approaches development.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> I am a forever student, so I will forever be coachable. </blockquote>   For a Sophomore heading into one of the most competitive identification environments in the country, Raneighla is the kind of player who is ready for June 15th.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes Study this group closely. Notice how they talk about timing, blocking, shot selection, emotional control, and the little details that allow athletes to dominate above the tape. The players who separate in camp environments are rarely waiting for perfect opportunities. They create them. Keep building your game, keep owning your story, and keep showing coaches what makes your style of play hard to ignore.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors These athletes are walking into one of the most respected identification platforms in the country, carrying the habits, standards, and competitive edge your programs helped build. If your athletes are featured, celebrate them. Share this article, tag @PrepDigCA, and help college coaches see not just who can score at the net, but who continues to grow, lead, and compete when the level rises.   🎯 College Coaches Camp environments often reveal the details film cannot. The speed of the transition, the discipline of the block, the ability to reset after mistakes, and the athletes who still make winning decisions when touches are limited. Use University Athlete to continue tracking these players as they compete for national recognition and future roster opportunities.   🙏 Parents & Supporters Behind every invitation to the Under Armour Next Camp Series are years of sacrifice, early mornings, long drives, extra reps, and unwavering belief. Thank you for helping these athletes chase big stages and bigger goals. If a player in this article inspired you, share it, celebrate them, and help their story reach the right eyes.   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Follow these athletes beyond camp season with deeper evaluations, recruiting insights, exclusive rankings, and the full Prospect Index. Because exposure should not end when the whistle blows.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_e90cce.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-985003" style="aspect-ratio:1.948368241597662;width:318px;height:auto"/></a></figure>

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