The Elite Tier: 2028 Players Leading the Class | Part 1

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">More than 150 college coaches shared this article. Join PrepDig and get 30% off with code "digdakotas30."</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakota</a>   Putting together the 2028 rankings has been one of the toughest evaluations yet, and that says a lot about this class. The talent is some of the best we have seen, and there simply wasn't much separation in several spots. Every time you think you have this group figured out, another player makes you go back and take another look.   At the top, the talent is impressive. Several are already Division I commits, but what stands out about this elite tier goes beyond where they will play at the next level. These are complete volleyball players. They impact the game in multiple ways, understand what is happening on the court, and have developed into players their teams can lean on when a match gets tight. There is leadership in this group, whether it comes through communication, consistency, competitiveness, or simply setting the standard with how they play.   For college coaches working through the 2028 class, don't stop at the first few names. This group is deep. Part 1 starts with the elite tier and the players who have separated themselves enough to earn a spot at the top.    [player_tooltip player_id='727997' first='Baylor' last='Dinger'] holds onto the No. 1 spot overall and remains the top-ranked libero in North Dakota's 2028 class. Her talent is recognized beyond the state, too. Dinger has established herself nationally, and the University of Utah sees what we see.   We could discuss her platform, her passing, her reads, the range she covers defensively, or the way she sacrifices her body to keep a ball off the floor. Those are all pieces of what makes Dinger elite. But with Baylor, there is more to it.   Watch Baylor play and take a second to look around the gym. Little girls are watching her every move. They're watching how she passes, how she competes, and how she carries herself, and they're learning what the libero position can look like at a high level. Some of those girls want to be Baylor someday. That's bigger than a ranking. She has become someone younger players in North Dakota can look up to and say, "I want to play like her." Baylor doesn't just lead the players beside her; she's helping set an example for the ones coming behind her.   The skill has earned Baylor the ranking. The complete player and leader she has become is why she continues to hold onto No. 1. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas.     [player_tooltip player_id='733255' first='Brynlie' last='Richman'] comes in at No. 2 overall and holds onto the No. 1 setter spot in North Dakota's 2028 class. The Wichita State commit is already being talked about as one of the best setters we have seen come through North Dakota. Watch her for a few rotations, and you start to see why.   Her hands are quick, her location is consistent, and she knows how to change an offense's tempo. Richman can hold a block and give her hitters a good ball even when the pass isn't there. She moves well to the ball, places herself in position, and doesn't let a broken play automatically become a wasted one.   But Brynlie plays the game to win, and you can see it in the way she runs the court. Her competitiveness is something you can't teach. She pays attention to what is happening across the net, finds the matchup she wants, and isn't afraid to keep going after it. When a match becomes tight, she doesn't back away from making the decision.   That's also where her leadership shows. Her hitters trust her, and she expects them to be ready because she is going to provide them opportunities to score. Brynlie can take control of an offense without making everything about herself. She competes, she communicates, and she makes the players around her better.   Richman is No. 1 at her position for a reason. She doesn't just deliver the ball. She understands how to run a team and how to win, and Wichita State is getting a setter who has already shown she can do both. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='728000' first='Olivia' last='Bratton'] comes in at No. 3 overall and takes the No. 1 outside hitter spot in North Dakota's 2028 class. When I call Bratton a complete player, I mean it. She doesn't disappear in any rotation.   In the front row, Olivia gets up. She plays above the net, brings power behind her swing, and can put a ball away when her team needs a point. Move her to the back row, and she doesn't become someone you have to hide in serve receive. She is one of the better defensive players in this class. She reads, moves, and is willing to get on the floor. That part of her game matters just as much as what she can do at the net.   Then there is the server. Bratton's jump serve is a weapon. She can put real pressure on a serve-receive unit and change a run from behind the line. And don't forget about her when she rotates to the back row offensively. Her back-row attack is fierce. Give her an opening, and she can still come at you with pace from behind the ten-foot line.   Olivia is also one of those players I genuinely enjoy watching because you can see the work she has put into becoming this complete. She competes hard and doesn't take plays off. The athletic ability stands out, but so does the work behind it.   And maybe the craziest part? Volleyball isn't even the only sport where Bratton is special. She is an even better track athlete. When you know that and then watch how she elevates, moves, and covers ground on a volleyball court, some of what you're seeing starts to make sense.   No. 1 outside in a class—this talent is a major statement. Bratton has earned it. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='752234' first='Cameron' last='Braun'] sits at No. 4 overall and No. 2 among the outside hitters in North Dakota's 2028 class. Braun is one I keep coming back to; the more I watch her, the more I like her.   She brings a different level of athleticism to the pin. Braun is explosive off the floor, plays with power, and has the arm to finish. She can attack aggressively, but her game is developing beyond simply hitting hard. Her movement is improving; she's getting more comfortable in different situations, and you can see her starting to put things together.   I've followed Cameron's training, and that's a big reason I believe in where she's headed. She puts the work in. Not just when everyone is watching, either. I've watched the training, the repetition, and the commitment to getting stronger and better. When you see her make a jump in her game, you know there was work behind it.   Then you watch her in softball, and the athletic ability makes even more sense. Cameron is a phenomenal softball player. The explosiveness, hand-eye coordination, competitiveness, and ability to generate power carry over to both sports. She's simply an excellent athlete.   College coaches, [player_tooltip player_id='752234' first='Cameron' last='Braun'] is one I would spend some time watching. There is plenty to like about the player she is right now, but what keeps me interested is where she can still go. She's putting in the work, getting better, and with her athleticism, she still has a lot of volleyball ahead of her. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='834062' first='Kendall' last='Mueller'] is one of North Dakota's best athletes in the 2028 class and ranks in the top five. She is explosive, always making plays, and highly competitive. Kendall gets up at the pin and swings away, not afraid to take a big swing.   Kendall plays with a lot of energy. She works hard, fights for every point, and inspires her teammates. Yes, she gets excited about the big plays, but she also does the little things that don't always show up in the stats. She works hard whether the ball is coming to her or not.   I love that about Kendall. She is the heart of volleyball. She's more of a teammate, but she wants to play, and she's competitive. You can tell by looking at her.   The craziest thing is, volleyball isn't even the sport she plans to play in college. Mueller has signed with the University of Minnesota's Division I soccer program. One of North Dakota's top five players in the 2028 class in volleyball is going to the Big Ten to play a different sport. That says a lot about her as an athlete.   Kendall could have had a future in volleyball; there is no question about that. For now, we get to enjoy watching her compete, lead, and give everything she has when she steps on a volleyball court. She has earned her place in this top five. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    <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>   Please help us keep growing 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!   The village, along with athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers, creates this journey.   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman</h4>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Follow on Instagram @prepdigdakotas.</h3>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/image-8-2.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1020878" /></figure>

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