Players to add Immediately to your Recruiting Boards

<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>   Club season is beginning to wind down, but for many athletes, some of the biggest opportunities of the year are still ahead.   Nationals. College camps. Summer training. High school season.   The athletes featured below are all arriving at those opportunities from different places. Some are building confidence. Some are learning how to trust their training. Others are discovering how much they can impact a match when things stop going according to plan.   What stood out throughout their reflections was not necessarily the result of a match or tournament.   It was how they think about the game.   The adjustments they made.   The details they notice.   The goals they are chasing.   And the excitement they have for what comes next.   These are a few players to add to your boards immediately.    Jael Smith's favorite moment from the weekend started with a call that did not go her team's way.   After a hard swing forced a shanked pass into the next court, a ball rolled onto the playing surface. Even though the game ball was no longer near the play, the referee called a replay.   Her team was frustrated.   Jael's response was simple.   Get the next point.   On the very next rally, the opposing team set their outside hitter. Jael pressed over the net, sealed the block, and sent the ball straight down onto the floor.   The point mattered because of the moment.   Instead of focusing on something she could not control, she immediately shifted her attention to the next opportunity.   That approach reflects one of the biggest areas of growth in her game this season. Early in the year, mistakes had a tendency to linger. Then a coach shared something that stayed with her.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> It took you less than two seconds to make that mistake. Don't let those seconds determine the hour you played during this game. </blockquote>   That perspective changed the way she competes.   As she prepares for another NTDP opportunity, Mater Dei summer training, and her first college camps, Jael seems excited about every chance to keep learning. She repeatedly referenced gaining knowledge, building confidence, and remaining open to feedback.   Her goal is not to become a different player.   It is to keep becoming a better version of the player she already is. Jael is becoming.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     The biggest change in Brooklyn Lopez's game this season has not been physical.   It has been confidence.   This weekend, she found herself seeing opportunities sooner and trusting her instincts more often.   Instead of hoping a play would work, she approached rallies expecting herself to make the play.   That shift may sound small, but athletes know the difference.   Confidence changes decision-making. It changes aggressiveness. It changes how quickly athletes react when opportunities appear.   Brooklyn credits much of that growth to trusting the work she has already put in during practice.   The more confidence she gained in her preparation, the less hesitation showed up during matches.   This summer includes Nationals, college camps, and continued strength training, all opportunities she sees as stepping stones toward becoming a more complete athlete.   As she looks ahead to high school season, she knows that confidence will continue growing into leadership.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Kennedy McCracken's favorite play from the weekend did not end with a kill.   It started with effort.   A tipped ball dropped into open space, and instead of assuming someone else would get there, Kennedy chased it down and kept the rally alive.   The point eventually ended in a loss. The momentum shift did not.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> That rally changed our energy and mindset. We gained confidence, started playing more aggressively, and ended up winning the game. </blockquote>   Kennedy is focused on team success, effort, confidence, and finding ways to contribute even when things are not perfect individually.   Throughout the season, she has worked to become a complete six-rotation player instead of being known only for offense.   The transformation required technical growth, but it also required a different mindset. Learning to trust herself. Learning to trust the process. Learning that confidence allows skills to show up when they are needed most.   As she prepares for Nationals and her upcoming high school season, one goal sits at the center of everything.   Honor the legacy of coach Ron Whitmill.   And continue building on the lessons he helped teach her.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Ella Simeoni's favorite sequence from the weekend came in a semifinal match against Synergy Force 15-1s, with her team leading 19–16 and working to close the set.   In Rotation 2, she hustled across the court for a 3-ball and swung down the line off a set from Izzy Saavedra. The kill gave her team its 20th point and helped create momentum heading into the final stretch.   That play connected directly to the growth she has built throughout club season.   Ella has focused heavily on becoming a more disciplined blocker, improving her reads, lateral movement, footwork, and eye work. She set that goal early in the year and has continued applying feedback from her coaches in match situations.   With AAU Nationals and GJNC still ahead, Ella is excited to keep challenging herself against strong competition while carrying the discipline, confidence, and competitive mindset she has developed into high school season.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Katerina Malhotra Guerrero expected to spend the weekend at libero.   By the end of the tournament, she had played defense, spent time on the right side, and helped her team capture gold despite dealing with injuries throughout the lineup.   The experience was unexpected, but she embraced it.   The trust her coaches and teammates showed in her stood out, and so did the opportunity to contribute in different ways when her team needed it most.   Her serve receive is one of the biggest areas of growth in her game. As the level of competition increased, she quickly realized that first contact becomes even more important when facing servers capable of reaching 40 mph or more.   That realization changed the way she trained.   Today, she takes pride in becoming one of the most reliable passers on her team and credits countless reps spent improving platform control, reading serves early, and staying disciplined in her technique.   With AAU Nationals ahead, and the Nike Unsigned Showcase on her schedule, Katerina is eager to continue building exposure while pursuing her long-term goal of playing Division I volleyball.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Avery Reed entered the match with a clear job to do.   Her team was facing a middle-heavy offense, and once she got on the court, she started reading tendencies quickly and working to take away what the other side wanted to run.   Her blocking helped create a momentum shift, and even after taking a ball to the face, she reset and returned to the court ready to keep competing.   That moment matched the work she has put into her blocking habits all season.   Avery credits a major part of her growth to eye work and timing, especially the sequence her coach calls BSBH: ball, setter, ball, hitter. That focus has helped her improve her front-row defense and become more consistent at the net.   This summer includes Nationals, training, and an invitational Montana State camp, one of the programs high on her list. She is also hoping to expand her game in high school by earning opportunities at pin positions and adding more tools to her offensive game.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     "Nothing hits the floor without maximum effort."   That is how Leah Miles describes her approach to defense.   One rally from this weekend captured that mindset perfectly.   The sequence included multiple digs, two second-ball contacts, a scramble play near the net, and one final diving effort to keep the rally alive. The point eventually went the other way, but that was never really the point of the story.   The rally reflected exactly how Leah sees the game.   Every ball is worth chasing. Every point is worth fighting for. Every opportunity to extend a rally matters.   Leah is only in her second season as a libero after previously playing six-rotation outside hitter, but she already speaks about defense with a maturity beyond her years. Film sessions, private lessons, practices, clinics, and support from her coaches and family have all played a role in her development.   The work is showing up.   This summer includes camps at Utah, USC, and Cal Poly Pomona, but Nationals may be what excites her most. Her team earned a National Division bid, the highest division her club has ever reached.   For a player who loves competing and extending rallies, that stage feels like a perfect fit.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Lucy Stillwell's favorite play from the weekend came from staying disciplined until the whistle.   During a tight game, her teammate pancaked a tipped ball and the other team immediately argued that it was down. Lucy never heard a whistle, so she kept playing, popped the ball up, and gave her teammate a chance to send it over and win the point.   That is the kind of detail that shows up when practice habits become automatic.   Lucy connected that moment to something her team has been working on consistently: playing through the point until the whistle blows. It was not just an effort play. It was a reflection of discipline and intention.   Her offensive growth has also expanded this season through learning how to tool the block and use her hitting toolbox more effectively. She understands that going around the block is not always the only way to score.   With Nationals ahead and a bigger role waiting in high school, Lucy is looking forward to bringing the physicality and confidence from club season into her junior year.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Avery Milburn's best sequence came in a tight third set against Vegas Aces, tied 12–12.   The play started with her libero, Kaleia Zeits, digging a sharp-angle attack. Her setter, Grace Ge, then found Avery on the right side. Avery saw the block was pinched toward the outside, recognized she had a one-on-one opportunity, and swung hard down the line.   The point mattered because the read mattered.   Avery has spent much of the season adjusting to a new role on the right side after coming back from surgery. Hitting line was not always her strongest option from that side, so she worked on getting her feet around, rotating through her hips, and using her full body to generate power.   That work is starting to show in how she sees the block and finds the right zone to attack.   This summer, Avery is looking forward to visiting colleges, learning from different coaching styles, and better understanding what she wants in a future program. As she heads into high school season, she hopes to bring the energy, encouragement, and team-first presence that have become a big part of her identity.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Peyton Wings found a way to make her hitters even more dangerous this weekend.   Her setter dumps were a major part of that.   Because she has strong hitters around her, Peyton does not always need to score on second contact. But this weekend, she used that option to keep blockers guessing and create more open looks at the net for her attackers.   Some of those dumps came in important moments and helped her team earn the serve back.   That confidence connects directly to the work she has put into jump setting. Through weekly setter training, she has focused on getting her feet to the ball faster, contacting high, staying neutral, and finishing strong with her wrists.   Now those reps are showing up in games.   Peyton is excited for Nationals, A5 14U tryouts, and continuing to grow as an offensive setter. She also wants to keep developing as a blocker and right-side option so she can become a more complete player each season.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Calise Hawley's favorite moment from the weekend started in the middle of a long rally.   Both teams were scrambling. Digs. Blocks. Coverage. Great effort on both sides of the net. The point had already lasted longer than most, and nobody seemed willing to let the ball hit the floor.   As the rally continued, Calise noticed something.   The opposing setter kept pulling up to the ten-foot line, leaving deep line exposed behind the block. She quickly relayed the information to her outside hitter and told her to attack that open space.   A few touches later, the ball went exactly where Calise had seen the opening. Point over.   In a match that had already pushed beyond 25 points, the timing could not have been better.   That play says a lot about how Calise views the libero position. Throughout her responses, communication continued to surface. Not just talking for the sake of talking, but using information to help her teammates make better decisions.   One message from her coach stayed with her all season. As a libero, her energy affects everyone else on the court.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> If I stay calm, communicate, and keep pushing my teammates, it helps the team reset faster after mistakes instead of getting stuck on them. </blockquote>   That perspective helped her become more vocal, more confident, and more comfortable stepping into leadership opportunities during pressure moments.   Away from the court, Calise is equally proud of balancing AP classes, volleyball, beach season, travel, and the demands of junior year. She also credits experiences through Link Crew and volleyball for helping her become more outgoing and willing to step into leadership roles.   What excites her most moving forward is the opportunity to show coaches that she brings more than passing and defense.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes   The athletes featured here are all at different points in their volleyball journey, but they share something important in common. They are paying attention to their game. They are recognizing moments that matter, identifying areas of growth, and learning how to respond when challenges show up.   Study this group closely. Notice how they talk about confidence, effort, communication, leadership, and trusting their training. The athletes who continue moving forward are often the ones who can reflect honestly, learn from their experiences, and carry those lessons into the next opportunity.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors   Thank you for helping athletes develop the habits, perspective, and confidence highlighted throughout this article. The moments these players shared did not happen by accident. They are the result of countless practices, conversations, corrections, and opportunities to compete.   If one of your athletes is featured, celebrate them. Share the article, tag @PrepDigCA, and help others see the growth taking place inside your program.   🎯 College Coaches   The athletes featured here provided a glimpse into how they think, compete, and process the game. Beyond the statistics and highlight plays are athletes learning how to adjust, lead, respond to adversity, and contribute to their teams in meaningful ways.   As recruiting continues to evolve, understanding how an athlete approaches challenges can be just as valuable as understanding what they can do physically. These players are continuing to build those habits while preparing for the opportunities ahead.   🙏 Parents & Supporters   Thank you for supporting the journey behind every athlete featured in this article. The growth reflected in these stories comes from years of encouragement, sacrifice, long weekends, extra reps, and a willingness to keep showing up.   If an athlete's story resonated with you, share this article and help celebrate the work, commitment, and growth that often happens long before the spotlight arrives.   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Want More Exposure in front of the California Ranker? Michael Deleon will be scouting the California PrepDig Showcase Series. This is designed for athletes who want to take ownership of their recruiting journey and better understand how visibility, evaluation, and opportunity work together. These events offer more than competition. They provide athletes with a chance to learn how exposure works, compete in front of evaluators, build confidence, and gain valuable insight into what coaches are looking for at each stage of development.   Whether your goal is to improve communication, showcase your skills, earn recognition, receive meaningful evaluation, or simply learn how to stand out in a competitive environment, each showcase is built to help athletes grow both on and off the court. If you're ready to invest in your development, tell your story, and put yourself on the radar, <a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase" id="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">registration is open</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_7a4b01.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-991561"/></figure>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

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