New Liberos That Landed On Our Rankings

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">150+ college coaches shared this article. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a>   Just a brief reminder about rankings before we get into this list. The rankings are never permanent. They are always changing with new evaluations, tournament results, growth, consistency, level of competition, athletic development, positional needs, and the information we receive throughout the year. Players appear. Players emerge. New names continue to make compelling cases each game.   A big challenge for us in rankings is making sure we see as many athletes as possible. If there is a player you think we should evaluate, please send film, tournament schedules, accomplishments, and player information to theresa.prepdigs@gmail.com. The more information we have, the better picture we can form   With that said, let's talk about defense.   Here are a few of the newer names who are still making an impression in the back row. Defense can sometimes be one of the hardest positions to evaluate because the best defensive players often impact matches in ways that aren't always seen in the spotlight. They are making rallies longer, keeping runners on base, eliminating scoring chances and giving their hitters another opportunity to score.   These players have done well to keep themselves on the radar over the past several months with their effort, court awareness, consistency, and ability to make plays when their teams need them most. Whether it's serve receive, defensive range, ball control, or just finding a way to keep a rally alive, these athletes are showing why they need to be in the conversation.    [player_tooltip player_id='957081' first='Brynn' last='Hill'] is one of those players who always seems to be right in the thick of rallies. The more I watched her, the more her name kept coming up in my notes. I was amazed at how much territory she takes in the back row. There were a couple of times it looked like a point was over, but Brynn managed to get a touch on the ball. She keeps her feet moving and stays active and does a nice job keeping plays alive. Good defensive players can keep rallies going, and Brynn has shown she can do just that. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     The one thing that kept coming back to me was how in control [player_tooltip player_id='938275' first='Cali' last='Weber'] looks. Volleyball can get hectic fast, especially in the back row, but Cali doesn't appear to be in a hurry. She gets herself in a good position, tracks the ball well, and gives her team a chance to run offense. I like tough plays that make them look routine. Cali has done that several times this season. Her game has a confidence that continues to stand out. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='923051' first='Charlotte' last='Fullerton'] appears to enjoy the challenge of defense. Charlotte reminds me of the type of player who takes pride in frustrating hitters, and some of my favorite defenders are those types of players. What struck me was her ability to come up with digs at important moments. She stays involved. Competes hard. Never looks like she's taking a play off. Charlotte seems to settle into, not wear out, when rallies get long. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     What struck me most [player_tooltip player_id='947809' first='Elise' last='Scott'] was her capacity to read the play before the ball even crossed the net. Good defenders don't just react. They look forward to it. Elise effectively does a nice job of seeing plays develop and putting herself in positions to make things easier on herself. She consistently gives her team playable touches and helps keep rallies organized. The game seems to slow down a little when she's in the back row, and that's something I appreciate watching. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='924025' first='Kinley' last='Dillman'] plays defense the way a lot of coaches want it. She is employed. That's the first thing that stood out to me. She doesn't appear to be interested in taking plays off or watching the ball hit the floor. If there's an opportunity to make a play, she's going for it. The intensity is high, and that energy has a way of spreading through a team. The longer I watched her, the more I appreciated how hard she competes for every point. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='963671' first='Maddilyn' last='Biegler'] is one of those players I found myself liking more the more I watched. Sometimes you don't notice defensive players right away because they're doing so many little things right. But I was impressed with how calm she looked in the back row. She seemed to give her team quality touches and keep things under control, whether it was serve, receive, or defense.   I also liked how she dealt with pressure. There never seemed to be a whole lot of panic in her game. She stayed calm, believed in her platform, and kept putting her team in good situations. They aren't always the plays that stick out in a game, but they are often the reason teams are able to stay successful throughout one. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='894162' first='Maryn' last='York'] was one of those players who kept making me look up from my notes. The first thing you notice is that it draws my attention away in the last row. She doesn't stand still for long. She's reading, moving, and setting herself up before the ball even gets to her side of the court.   The other thing I noticed was her desire to go get a ball. Some defenders are okay with dealing with what's right in front of them. Maryn was prepared to run a few extra yards if it meant getting a rally going. The plays that attracted me. The energy, the effort, the will to fight for one more touch, all of those things kept popping up when I watched her play. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. Every player deserves a shot, and I'm honored to help tell their stories.</h2>   Please help us continue to grow this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at PrepDig.com. With your support, we can create unforgettable memories and experiences!   This journey is created by the village, athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers.   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman</h4>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</h3>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h2>   <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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