Early Arrivals: More 2029s Ready to Produce

Today we're looking at five more 2029s who are ready to step up this season. Some of these players are already established names, while others might have you asking, "Where did she come from?" by the middle of the season. All of them look to have an impact beyond the numbers in 2026.   Thank you again to all the coaches who responded and continue to send players my way. There is a lot of young talent across Arkansas, and the more gyms I get into, the more names I find. I know I'm not going to find everyone on the first pass, but that's part of the fun. This 2029 class is deep, talented, and still developing. We're nowhere close to being finished with them yet.   Here are five more sophomores who could make some noise this fall.    Bailey is a talented young middle who will step into the second blocker spot for Mansfield this season. According to Coach Brandi Heydenreich, "Bentley puts in the time to get better and more confident each day." Hoover will bring plenty of energy to the net for the Tigers this fall.   There will be some growing pains, as you would expect from a young middle, but Bailey has plenty of experience around her to help with that process. Senior middle Danielle Lowery gives her someone to learn from every day in practice, whether it's positioning, reading hitters, or simply understanding what it takes to play the position at the varsity level.   Mansfield returns a lot from last year's team and looks positioned for another strong run. Hoover doesn't have to do everything right away. If she can provide some stability at the net, grow as the season goes along, and take advantage of the veterans around her, the Tigers are going to be a tough out.     Lydia is a tall, strong, athletic middle who saw limited varsity action for Fayetteville last season, playing in 42 sets with 20 kills, 11 blocks, and eight digs. That experience should pay off this fall, as Coach Luigs is expecting much more from Washington. With senior Isabella Streett graduating, there is an opportunity for Lydia or fellow sophomore and new transfer from Pulaski Academy, [player_tooltip player_id='772494' first='Kassidy' last='Lucas'] to step into a bigger role.   With a varsity season under her belt and continued development, Washington has the tools to become a force at the net. She has great hands whether she's playing middle or right side and provides a strong block that can take away opposing hitters. Offensively, Lydia has a powerful arm but also understands when to take something off and use a softer touch.   Fayetteville is in a pretty good spot when you're talking about Washington, Lucas, and Ivy Kirkconnell all being sophomores. Kirkconnell also received quality varsity time last season, giving the Bulldogs three young players who could be major pieces of this program for the next three years.     Going from two middles to a 4'11" libero, we now take a look at [player_tooltip player_id='1018479' first='Julissa' last='Parga']. Coach Throneberry feels like she has the potential to make an impact for the Mavericks this fall.   She has a lot of speed. She gets line to line as fast as any libero I have seen. I haven't had a chance to see her live yet, so my evaluation is based on what I've seen on video. She has a solid platform and consistently delivers clean balls to the setter. Parga also has the hands to step in and set when things get out of system. Her IQ, defensive ability, and clean passing will make it tough to keep her off the court.     After gaining valuable experience as a freshman, Suarez is ready to turn it up as a sophomore. She played in 89 sets last season, finishing with 71 kills, 20 blocks (10 solo), and 32 aces. Look for a big jump in year two.   Emma is a little undersized for a middle, but she makes up for it with great awareness and quickness. Her 10 solo blocks show she isn't afraid to go at it alone, and she does a good job closing the seam with her pins. She also has the versatility to slide out to the pin if needed, giving Coach Thammarath some flexibility with the lineup. Her added value comes behind the service line, where she recorded 32 aces last season. She has worked hard to increase her hitting percentage, so look for a bigger offensive contribution this fall.   Suarez is joined on the front row by two experienced outsides in [player_tooltip player_id='749843' first='Isabel' last='Suarez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='749842' first='Erika' last='Ellis'], giving her plenty of help around her. Look for Emma to stay in the middle blocker spot for the foreseeable future and continue to grow into the position.     Tenley put together an impressive stat line during her freshman season for the Panthers. Teaming with fellow freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1008023' first='Tristyn' last='Moseley'], the two provided a youthful injection into the 2025 Greenbrier roster. I have written plenty about Moseley and her fearless attacks, but Treece should not be overlooked. She more than held her own, playing in 87 sets with 97 kills, a .221 hitting percentage, and 29 blocks. Strong numbers for a rookie!   As Tenley continues to grow, both physically and as a volleyball player, those numbers should keep going up. She made a lot of progress over the summer, even earning All-Tournament Team and MVP honors at the Presidents Day tournament with her Hollenball Juniors teammates. Continued improvement in her technique should lead to more blocks, more kills, and an even bigger role.   With almost the entire team returning from last season, Greenbrier has plenty of weapons. Treece gives them another young one who is only getting better, making the Panthers a real threat in the 5A Central.    There are a ton of rising sophomores that belong on this list and I will be highlight more and more. Tomorrow will close out Sophomore week here at Prep Dig Arkansas. Thank you to all the coaches that sent in players to me, I am getting them added in the database for the upcoming season and will continue to spotlight great players from around our great state!   -Robert Birch, Lead Scout-Prep Dig Arkansas. Reach out to me at <a href="mailto:bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com">bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com</a> or connect with me on X (@predigRob) and Instagram(@prepdigarrob)

Today we're looking at five more 2029s who are ready to step up this season. Some of these players are already established names, while others might have you asking, "Where did she come from?" by the middle of the season. All of them look to have an impact beyond the numbers in 2026.