5 Players Coaches Couldn’t Stop Watching From The Class of 2029

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>More than 150 college coaches shared this article.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right now, the Class of 2029 is a lot of fun to watch. With final tournaments upon us, players begin to figure things out, to play with confidence, and to show that they understand the game beyond their years. After I had spent some time watching this group compete, these five kept pulling me back to their courts for different reasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some left their mark by staying behind a tight block. Others kept the offense going with good first contacts, found ways to finish at the net off the dribble, or simply made the right read when the rally got going. Those are little things that coaches see that help teams win, even if they don't show up on the stat sheet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These players didn't make this list because of one big play. They did it by competing from the first whistle to the last, staying involved in every rally, and figuring out how to influence the match. The Class of 2029 has a lot of promising talent, and these are five athletes who continue to impress me every time I see them on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["994212"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a48185be7bb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='994212' first='Alexandra' last='Barten'] played with a steady rhythm that kept catching my attention. She did a strong job of going from defense to offense, being available on the left pin, and taking quality swings all match. I liked the way she looked at the block, adjusted her shots, and never looked rushed when the ball arrived at her. She found ways to score points without forcing the play, and that consistency made her one of the more reliable outside hitters I saw. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["889573"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a481eed69fb2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Each time Emma Lewis came around to the front row, she carried a certain physicalness with her. She attacked off the high contact point, was aggressive in transition, and consistently pressured the defense with quality swings from the pin. But the most impressive thing was how well she fit into the block, finding ways to score without forcing low-percentage attempts. She seemed at ease taking big swings in those big moments. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["764716"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a481eed6a01f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='764716' first='Avery' last='Hummel'] was the kind of defender who was always around the ball. She was good at reading hitters, balanced through contact, and always had quality first touches that kept her team in system. What I liked most about her is the ability to take away balls that look like easy points and turn difficult defensive plays into transition opportunities. Her instincts, court awareness, and steady play at the back of the court made a difference throughout the tournament. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["997202"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a48185be7b40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I kept noticing [player_tooltip player_id='997202' first='Lincoln' last='Gorden']'s front-row blocking during nationals. She closed well to both pins, pressed over the tape, and consistently took away quality angles to attack. I liked that she stayed available during transition too, running up quickly on first-tempo balls and giving her setter another option in the middle. She made a bigger impact at rallies than the stat sheet will ever show, and that's precisely what you want from a middle blocker. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1003036,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a481eed6a07e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mahon was one of the more dangerous attackers I saw during the tournament. She was aggressive from the pin, got to her approach on time, and attacked from a high contact point that put constant pressure on the defense. What was impressive was how she managed a disciplined block. She used the court, changed her angles of attack, and found ways to finish rallies rather than giving defenders the same swing every time. When her team needed a point, she looked like a hitter who wanted the ball in her hands. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <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> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>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!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><br>This journey is created by the village, athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman</em></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</em></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>In Case You Missed It</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":987083,"linkDestination":"custom"} --> <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> <!-- /wp:image -->