Right-Sides Ready for 2026 Breakout

<a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/setters-with-breakout-potential-in-2026/">Setters with Breakout Potential in 2026</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/potential-26-breakouts-in-back-row/">Potential '26 Breakouts in Back Row</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/uncovering-2026-breakouts-at-outside-hitter/">Uncovering 2026 Breakouts at Outside Hitter</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/closer-look-at-potential-middle-hitter-breakouts/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/closer-look-at-potential-middle-hitter-breakouts/">Closer Look at Potential Middle Hitter Breakouts</a>   Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   Life comes at you fast. So does volleyball.   As we hit the middle of June, high school teams are conducting open gyms. The start of training camps are a month and a half away. No time like the present to look ahead at what we might go down in the fall.   Many recognizable names will be back on courts around the state. Others will emerge. That's our focus for this series. It's a rundown of student-athletes with breakout potential in the prep ranks for 2026. We'll split the players up by position.   We continue with right-side hitters:   [player_tooltip player_id='763850' first='Gianna' last='Stanfel'], 2028, Dowling Catholic/PowerPlex: Stanfel played an important role in the Dowling Catholic rotation as a sophomore in 2025. She tallied 107 kills and 34.0 blocks in 86 sets as the Maroons advanced to the state tournament again. Stanfel has continued raising her level of play this club season for a PowerPlex 16U outfit heading to the USAV national tournament later this month. It might be hard to break out on a Dowling team with a lot of options, but I would expect Stanfel to increase her overall numbers in 2026, and become more consistent in ending points and when blocking the opposing attack. She's improved in flowing with the play and reading the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen'], 2029, Iowa City West: Like Stanfel, you could make a case that Austen broke out last season. As a freshman, she started every match and played in all 91 sets, accumulating 104 kills, 26.0 blocks and 176 digs for a team that reached the state tournament for the first time since 2016. Austen also stands out in basketball. She brings the athleticism and explosion required in that sport to the volleyball court. Playing up for Iowa United 16U, the sophomore has become more consistent and well-rounded as a player. I watched her fill in when the team was missing a middle hitter at the Gauntlet, and she looked natural and effective at the position. Like Dowling, West brings back a lot of firepower from last year. Still, Austen has a chance to take a sizable step forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='896589' first='Kaylee' last='Hanson'], 2028, Bondurant-Farrar/Impact: Hanson has been a big riser, literally and figuratively, during the last calendar year. She began flashing the potential during club ball and then recorded 149 kills and a team-high 59.0 blocks playing at the opposite pin for a rebuilding Bondurant-Farrar program. Hanson has lifted her level of play even more this club campaign with Iowa Impact 16U. She led the Bluejay basketball program in scoring and rebounding this winter, and her agility and athleticism show up in her achieving volleyball success. Hanson is powerful, generating a whole lot of velocity in her heavy swing. She gets on top of the ball and drives her left arm through the ball. While still a little raw from a skills standpoint, she's packed with potential she'll continue realizing as she gains consistency through reps.   [player_tooltip player_id='893053' first='Makinley' last='Galvan'], 2029, Solon/United: Galvan is a prospect that's continued her improvement steadily and methodically. The progress is paying off more in production operating at the opposite pin for the state's top 15U club team in United this year. Galvan has a chance to cash in on that growth and break out this prep season at Solon, where the Spartans will be replacing important producers lost to graduation. She's developed into a reliable right-side, a position that can be awkward at times. Galvan understands the responsibilities of lining up at the opposite pin. Better reads on the opposing block are allowing for more efficiency on her attack, and flowing with the action on the other side of the net is improving her defense there. Galvan can be counted on to increase the 108 kills and 34.0 blocks she posted as a freshman.   [player_tooltip player_id='693879' first='Delaney' last='Vaske'], 2028, Clear Creek Amana/Adrenaline: I had a chance to watch Vaske in person at the Mizuno Midwest Challenge last month in Des Moines. When I pulled up to Adrenaline's court, she immediately stood out at the opposite pin. She lists her positions as middle hitter and outside hitter on her Prep Dig profile. I can confirm that her skill set would allow her to find success at any of the front-row spots. Vaske can jump and features a heavy swing that becomes even more lethal with her ability to get on top of the ball. Then she can expose holes in the defense. Speaking of defense, Vaske's long arms, leaping ability and keen timing help her throw up an imposing block. Playing time is tough to come by at CCA, but Vaske is talented and versatile enough to make significant contributions in 2026 after seeing some varsity time last fall.

Setters with Breakout Potential in 2026