2028 Rank Risers Coming into School Season with Momentum

The Class of 2028 is stepping into a huge year, and across Arizona, this group is quickly becoming the backbone of varsity rosters. Now juniors, many of these athletes are no longer the young players finding their way onto the floor—they're becoming go-to attackers, defensive anchors, floor leaders, and difference-makers their teams will rely on throughout the school season.   After another full club season of development, several 2028s made significant moves in our latest rankings. Some have expanded their games, others have taken major physical or technical jumps, and many are entering the fall ready to take on their biggest varsity roles yet.   With two years of high school volleyball still ahead of them, there is plenty of room for this class to continue climbing. These 2028 Rank Risers have already built some serious momentum, and now we're excited to see how that growth translates when they take the court for their junior seasons.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Risers</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='768939' first='Nia' last='Tinsley'] has been a consistent top-10 presence in the 2028 class, but toward the end of club season, we really saw her game reach another level. That momentum has us incredibly excited to see what she can do this fall at Horizon, where we expect her to have a season to remember. What continues to impress us most is how little her size limits her offensively. Even matched up against bigger, more physical blocks, Tinsley finds ways to terminate.   She approaches with intent, swings fearlessly, sees the court exceptionally well, and has the ability to attack through and around the block. She's far from just an offensive weapon, too. Her serve receive and defensive presence are equally impactful, making her an incredibly reliable six-rotation option. Tinsley's consistency continues to separate her, and we expect her to be a major piece of Horizon's success this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='888728' first='Reagan' last='Burgle'] put an exclamation point on an already impressive club season. After announcing her commitment to Arizona, she continued to show exactly why she is one of the premier defenders in this class, playing a huge role in her club team's run at a national title. When the level of competition increased and the moments got bigger, Burgle continued to deliver.   Her defense has a way of completely changing rallies. She keeps balls alive that look destined for the floor, covers an incredible amount of court, and consistently gives her team another opportunity to score. Her serve receive is just as impactful, creating quality opportunities for her setters and allowing the offense to stay in system. Beyond the skill, Burgle's court presence is incredibly difficult to ignore. She plays with confidence, communicates, and brings a sense of stability to the entire backcourt. After the way she closed out club season, Burgle continues to prove why she belongs among the best in this class, and we're excited to see that momentum carry into the school season.     [player_tooltip player_id='882773' first='Matilda' last='Hinder'] is definitely one we're going to be keeping a close eye on at Hamilton this season. She put together a fantastic club season with Aspire, and we believe she has the tools to become a huge asset for the Huskies in the front row. Her versatility immediately stands out, as we've seen her attack effectively both through the middle and from the right side, giving her team plenty of options offensively.   Hinder's tempo and timing are incredibly impressive, and you can tell just how much time she has invested in developing her craft. She gets off the ground quickly, transitions with purpose, and has the lateral speed to make herself available across the net. Her ability to attack from virtually anywhere in the front row makes her especially intriguing. With her combination of versatility, athleticism, and continued growth, Hinder is a 2028 we expect to make a significant impact for Hamilton this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='784705' first='Nikolina' last='Djordjevich'] has absolutely earned her way into the top 10 of this class. Her dedication to developing her craft on the pin has been inspiring to watch, and her growth throughout the club season was impossible to ignore. She put together a fantastic showing at Nationals, then sealed the deal for us with another impressive performance at our most recent showcase.   Djordjevich has developed into such a complete and reliable presence at the net. She's quick in transition, works hard to stay available, and possesses the kind of power that makes her a legitimate threat on either pin. She also puts up a strong block and brings a confident, competitive presence to the floor. With the strides she's made over the past year, we expect her to be a major anchor for Mountain View Mesa this season—and we can't wait to see what she does with the opportunity.     [player_tooltip player_id='837349' first='Rilynn' last='Brown'] was a dominant presence on the outside for Club Cactus this past club season and continues to be one of our favorite Tucson-area athletes to watch. She plays with a ton of confidence on the pin, featuring a fast, whip-like arm swing that allows her to generate impressive power. She's quick in transition, consistently available as an attacking option, and has developed into a reliable presence offensively.   What we appreciate about Brown's game, though, is everything she does when she isn't the one getting set. She is intentional in off-blocker defense, works hard in coverage for her hitters, and understands how to stay involved in every rally. Add in her consistent communication and contagious energy, and Brown brings value to the court in so many different ways. She's the type of pin who impacts far more than the stat sheet, and we're excited to see how her game continues to translate into the school season.     [player_tooltip player_id='888828' first='Laci' last='Noice'] is quickly becoming a name to know in this class. She first landed on our radar during club season and has continued to give us reasons to keep watching ever since. Her versatility immediately stands out, as she's capable of being an offensive weapon from virtually anywhere across the front row. Whether she's attacking through the middle or finding opportunities on the pin, Noice has the athleticism and offensive range to impact a match in multiple ways.   She's equally impressive on the defensive side of the net. Noice is absolutely not someone you want to overpass to, as she has the ability to take control of those opportunities and terminate quickly. She's physical at the net, puts up a strong block, and continues to become a more complete front-row presence. With the trajectory she's on, we expect Noice to be a player we'll be talking about plenty as this class continues to develop.     [player_tooltip player_id='882649' first='Leala' last='Pittsley'] is poised to make a big impact for Chandler this school season. Throughout club season, we watched her continue to come alive as a versatile front-row option, showing the ability to contribute from multiple positions across the net. That versatility should make her an incredibly valuable piece for the Wolves this fall.   Pittsley really caught our attention again at the Stock Up Showcase, where her fast, whip-like arm swing was on full display. She generates impressive power, moves quickly laterally, and works hard to make herself available in transition. You can also tell just how much work she puts into her training away from team practices—the athleticism, strength, and explosiveness she's developed translate directly onto the court. Pittsley continues to trend upward, and we have a feeling she's in for a fantastic school season. We can't wait to watch it unfold.     [player_tooltip player_id='984528' first='Emma' last='Nicks'] put together one heck of a club season, and she shows no signs of slowing down as she heads into school ball. Her ability to run an offense with tempo continues to stand out, and her ball delivery is consistently accurate, giving her hitters plenty of opportunities to be successful. She makes smart decisions, understands how to distribute the ball, and continues to look more comfortable taking control of an offense.   What also separates Nicks is her presence on the floor. She's a take-charge leader who communicates, competes, and isn't afraid to take ownership of what's happening on her side of the net. That combination of consistency, decision-making, and leadership should make her an incredibly important piece for Pinnacle this season. After the momentum she built throughout club, we're excited to continue watching Nicks make a difference this fall.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   The school season is just getting started, and we can't wait to continue following Arizona athletes and programs throughout the fall! Make sure your Prep Dig profile is updated with your current school, position, height, graduation year, and any other important information so our scouts have the most accurate information when evaluating and writing.   Want to stay on our radar this season? Tag us in your highlights, match schedules, big performances, milestones, and anything else you want us to see. We want to know where you're playing and how your season is going!   Be sure to follow Prep Dig Arizona and our Arizona scouts on Instagram for even more coverage:   🏐 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigarizona/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">@PrepDigArizona</a> 📸 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/coachmarissamorah/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">@CoachMarissaMorah</a> 📸 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdiganthony/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">@PrepDigAnthony</a>   Keep working, keep competing, and keep us updated throughout the school season. We can't wait to see who makes their mark this fall!

The Class of 2028 is stepping into a huge year, and across Arizona, this group is quickly becoming the backbone of varsity rosters. Now juniors, many of these athletes are no longer the young players finding their way onto the floor—they're becoming go-to attackers, defensive anchors, floor leaders, and difference-makers their teams will rely on throughout the school season.