2028 Rankings: Right Sides Creating Tough Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>More than 150 college coaches shared this article.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig and get 30% off with 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@prepdigdakota</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are some right sides in the 2028 class that can make a match uncomfortable quickly, and this rankings update gave us another reason to take a closer look at the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot has changed since we started sorting through this class. Players we already knew have added more to their game, while others have played their way into a different spot on our board. The right pin has been especially fun to evaluate because the matchup can change so quickly depending on who is standing across the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With high school season underway, we're getting another look at these players and what they can do with a bigger year in front of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["782962"],"_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-6a8cd67dee442"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='782962' first='Izzy' last='Calzo'] plays fast off the right pin. She gets into her route quickly, has a heavy ball when she catches it in rhythm, and works right back into transition after the play moves away from her. That transition speed is where Calzo can become a problem. Give her a clean look with one blocker in front of her, and she has the arm to take advantage of it. She can also work outside, but on the right, the combination of pace and aggression provides defenses very little time to get comfortable. <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":["745859"],"_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-6a8cd67dee4be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='745859' first='Taylor' last='Piel'] doesn't need to beat a block with power to do so. She sees the hands, attacks high, and knows when placement is the better choice instead of forcing a swing into a block that's already there. Piel is just as disciplined on the other side of the net. She works to close the seam, presses over, and avoids getting caught chasing the hitter. Her experience playing across the front row is evident in how she sees the game. Piel knows how to work a matchup instead of simply trying to overpower it. <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":["753850"],"_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-6a8cd67dee51b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='753850' first='Sophia' last='Gross'] gives you more than an attacking option on the right. Watch her at the net, and she's involved in the entire rotation, working along the block and then getting herself available when her team transitions back to offense. Her experience playing different spots has helped develop that awareness. Gross isn't waiting around for the setter to locate her before she becomes part of the point. She moves with what's happening around her, and that ability to impact more than one contact is an important piece of her game. <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":["932674"],"_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-6a8cd67dee572"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='932674' first='Claire' last='Witte'] is a name that has changed for me as we've worked back through this 2028 group. There is more confidence in the way she's handling the right pin, and she's doing a better job staying available instead of becoming a one-swing option. Witte works back into transition and gives herself another opportunity when the first attack doesn't end the rally. That activity matters on the right because the matchup doesn't always give you a clean ball. She's finding more ways to stay useful when the point becomes messy. <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":["753829"],"_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-6a8cd67dee5c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='833222' first='Jersie' last='Hostetler'] can affect the right-side matchup before her setter ever sends her a ball. She works to close the block against the opposing outside, takes away space, and looks for touches that give her defense another chance. When the ball comes back her way, Hostetler gets herself available behind the setter and can still do something productive when the set gets pushed off its spot. She doesn't need every part of the rally to be clean to stay involved, and that's a valuable trait on the right. <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. 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