After Day 2, Who Is Winning the 2028 Recruiting Battle?
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<p>We are two days into the recruiting process for the Class of 2028 and we are already starting to see some wild recruiting classes coming together. Who is winning the battle? Who could still build some momentum. Here is a look. </p>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Louisville Strikes First</strong></p>
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<p>Chloe Burbage was the first one to commit out of everyone with a post on her Instagram around 9:00 Eastern Time announcing she was heading to the Cardinals. She is one of the top setters in the country and based on past setters who have attended Louisville, it just makes sense. Following Burbage was setter/right side Tegan Loechler who has been a setter/right side combo player for Milwaukee Sting as well as a libero from Munciana in Chloe Ritchie. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Rank</strong></td><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>State</strong></td><td><strong>Position</strong></td><td><strong>High School</strong></td><td><strong>Club Team</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment Date</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>7</strong></td><td>Chloe Burbage</td><td>North Carolina</td><td>S</td><td>Green Hope</td><td>NC Academy</td><td>Louisville</td><td>June 15</td></tr><tr><td><strong>45</strong></td><td>Tegan Loechler</td><td>Wisconsin</td><td>S/RS</td><td>DSHA</td><td>Milwaukee Sting</td><td>Louisville</td><td>June 15</td></tr><tr><td><strong>56</strong></td><td>Chloe Ritchie</td><td>Indiana</td><td>DS/L/OH</td><td>Yorktown</td><td>Munciana Volleyball Club</td><td>Louisville</td><td>June 15</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Big June 16 For Texas</strong></p>
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<p>Texas made a splash on day one with the top libero in the Class of 2028 in Cala Haffner who plays for Team Piineapple out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has been playing up two age groups at the open level since she was 13 and has been the U19 libero with USA Volleyball. The Longhorns followed up with the top setter in the country in Taimane Ainuu out of Hawaii and Sarah Floyd, a lethal right side attacker with a big lefty swing who plays for TAV out of Dallas. That's three top ten athletes who are going to enjoy that brand new volleyball facility coming to Austin. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Rank</strong></td><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>State</strong></td><td><strong>Position</strong></td><td><strong>High School</strong></td><td><strong>Club Team</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment Date</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>2</strong></td><td>Taimane Ainuu</td><td>Hawaii</td><td>S/OH</td><td>Iolani</td><td>Ka'Ulukoa</td><td>Texas</td><td>June 16</td></tr><tr><td><strong>5</strong></td><td>Cala Haffner</td><td>Indiana</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Carroll</td><td>Pineapple High Performance</td><td>Texas</td><td>June 15</td></tr><tr><td><strong>8</strong></td><td>Sarah Floyd</td><td>Texas</td><td>RS</td><td>Highland Park</td><td>TAV</td><td>Texas</td><td>June 16</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pitt Is It</strong></p>
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<p>Pitt continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail. They have made their run of final fours and with the talent they continue to bring in, they will continue to be in the hunt to play in the final weekend of the season. Mesa Jameson and Shaun Waller just finished playing for the U17 Pan Am Cup where they took home a gold medal. Jameson is out of the Minneapolis metro where she is the top player from the Minnesota Class of 2028. Waller plays for Tennessee Performance out of the Nashville area and has been rising real fast among the Class of 2028 middle blockers. Pitt also picked up a local product in one of the top setters from this class in Alex Knox who plays club for 3DGE right out of Pittsburgh. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td><td>Commitment Date</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">13</td><td>Mesa Jameson</td><td>Minnesota</td><td>MB</td><td>Eagan High School</td><td>Mizuno Northern Lights</td><td>Pittsburgh</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 15</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">14</td><td>Shaun Waller</td><td>Tennessee</td><td>MB</td><td>Centennial</td><td>TPV</td><td>Pittsburgh</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">27</td><td>Alexandra Knox</td><td>Pennsylvania</td><td>S/RS</td><td>Peters Township</td><td>3DGE</td><td>Pittsburgh</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Homegrown Huskers</strong></p>
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<p>Nebraska picked up two big time commits and didn't have to go very far. Shalya Rautenberg lives just West of Lincoln and the bloodlines run deep for her with her mom being a Husker Hall of Famer. Josalyn Samuels out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota plays for the same club as current setter Bergen Reilly. She has plenty of length and athleticism where she has a high ceiling for her college career and beyond. Make this two top five commits for Nebraska. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Rank</strong></td><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>State</strong></td><td><strong>Position</strong></td><td><strong>High School</strong></td><td><strong>Club Team</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment Date</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>3</strong></td><td>Shayla Rautenberg</td><td>Nebraska</td><td>MB</td><td>Milford</td><td>Nebraska One</td><td>Nebraska</td><td>June 15</td></tr><tr><td><strong>4</strong></td><td>Josalyn Samuels</td><td>South Dakota</td><td>S/RS</td><td>Harrisburg</td><td>Kairos Elite Volleyball</td><td>Nebraska</td><td>June 15</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The SEC is Rising! </strong></p>
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<p>When it comes to recruiting classes we are accustomed to the programs above bringing in multiple top ranked athletes. However, there are some other programs who have already brought in at least two nationally ranked athletes and more. Teams who have been midtier in the SEC are now making a play to have a top class with Georgia, LSU,and South Carolina. </p>
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<p><strong>South Carolina</strong></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Rank</strong></td><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>State</strong></td><td><strong>Position</strong></td><td><strong>High School</strong></td><td><strong>Club Team</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment Date</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>35</strong></td><td>Jada Skinner</td><td>Texas</td><td>OH/RS</td><td>Fulshear</td><td>Houston Skyline</td><td>South Carolina</td><td>June 15</td></tr><tr><td><strong>95</strong></td><td>Kennedy Davis</td><td>Georgia</td><td>MB</td><td>North Forsyth</td><td>A5</td><td>South Carolina</td><td>June 16</td></tr><tr><td><br><strong>LSU</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Rank</strong></td><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>State</strong></td><td><strong>Position</strong></td><td><strong>High School</strong></td><td><strong>Club Team</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment Date</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>23</strong></td><td>Payton Woodruff</td><td>Michigan</td><td>S</td><td>Detroit Country Day</td><td>Legacy Volleyball Club</td><td>LSU</td><td>June 16</td></tr><tr><td><strong>37</strong></td><td>Sara Gonzalez</td><td>Texas</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Cornerstone Christia</td><td>Alamo</td><td>LSU</td><td>June 15</td></tr><tr><td><br><strong>Georgia</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Rank</strong></td><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>State</strong></td><td><strong>Position</strong></td><td><strong>High School</strong></td><td><strong>Club Team</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment</strong></td><td><strong>Commitment Date</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>33</strong></td><td>Chelsea Torrence</td><td>Georgia</td><td>S</td><td>East Forsyth</td><td>A5</td><td>Georgia</td><td>June 15</td></tr><tr><td><strong>90</strong></td><td>Mali Nyankori</td><td>Georgia</td><td>MH</td><td></td><td>A5</td><td>Georgia</td><td>June 16</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>All June 16th Commits </strong></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td><td>Commitment Date</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">2</td><td>Taimane Ainuu</td><td>Hawaii</td><td>S/OH</td><td>Iolani</td><td>Ka'Ulukoa</td><td>Texas</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">8</td><td>Sarah Floyd</td><td>Texas</td><td>RS</td><td>Highland Park</td><td>TAV</td><td>Texas</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">11</td><td>Taylor Johnson</td><td>Texas</td><td>OH/RS</td><td>Hebron</td><td>Skyline Juniors Volleyball Club</td><td>SMU</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">14</td><td>Shaun Waller</td><td>Tennessee</td><td>MB</td><td>Centennial</td><td></td><td>Pitt</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">15</td><td>McKenzie Andrews</td><td>Michigan</td><td>MB</td><td>Mercy</td><td>Legacy Volleyball Club</td><td>Stanford</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">16</td><td>Taylor Freeland</td><td>Utah</td><td>OH/RS</td><td>Riverton</td><td>South County 16 Nina</td><td>Wisconsin</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">23</td><td>Payton Woodruff</td><td>Michigan</td><td>S</td><td>Detroit Country Day</td><td>Legacy Volleyball Club</td><td>LSU</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">24</td><td>Julia Clarke</td><td>Georgia</td><td>MB</td><td>Mount Paran Christian School</td><td>A5</td><td>North Carolina</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">27</td><td>Alexandra Knox</td><td>Pennsylvania</td><td>S/RS</td><td>Peters Township</td><td>3DGE</td><td>pitt</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">38</td><td>Audrey Utterback</td><td>Indiana</td><td>OH</td><td>Plainfield</td><td>CIRCLE CITY VBC</td><td>UCLA</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">39</td><td>Caroline Hayes</td><td>Florida</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Berkeley Prep</td><td>OTVA FL</td><td>UCF</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">40</td><td>Tatum Kelly</td><td>Illinois</td><td>S</td><td>Neuqua Valley</td><td>1st Alliance VBC</td><td>Illinois</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">48</td><td>Charli Niu</td><td>Texas</td><td>S</td><td>Salado</td><td>Austin Junior Volleyball</td><td>Indiana</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">79</td><td>Izzie Penrose</td><td>Arizona</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Casteel</td><td>Arizona Storm Volleyball Club</td><td>SMU</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">90</td><td>Mali Nyankori</td><td>Georgia</td><td>MH</td><td></td><td>A5</td><td>Georgia</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">95</td><td>Kennedy Davis</td><td>Georgia</td><td>MB</td><td>North Forsyth</td><td>A5</td><td>South Carolina</td><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">June 16</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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We are two days into the recruiting process for the Class of 2028 and we are already starting to see some wild recruiting classes coming together. Who is winning the battle? Who could still build some momentum. Here is a look.
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