The Elite Tier: 2028 Players Leading the Class | Part 2

<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>   Part 1 showed just how impressive the top of this 2028 class is. Part 2 might show just how deep it really is.   We aren't moving into a second tier of talent here. These are still some of the best players at their positions in North Dakota. A No. 2 setter producing with the best in the state. An UND commit at the pin. One of the top leaders running a backcourt. And the No. 1 and No. 2 middles in the class are also in the mix.   That's what made these rankings so difficult. You get beyond the first five names, and there's no drop-off. Players here are producing now, already committed, and putting themselves in a position to be watched closely at the next level.   For college coaches working through the 2028 class, keep going. There is a lot more to see.    [player_tooltip player_id='741473' first='Reagan' last='Trudell'] holds the No. 2 setter spot in North Dakota's 2028 class, and she continues to show why she belongs among the top players in this group. Her numbers have put her alongside some of the best setters in the state, regardless of class, but her production comes from more than just assists.   Trudell runs an offense with confidence. She gets her hitters involved, understands when to change where the ball is going, and isn't afraid to keep feeding a matchup that is working. Her location gives hitters opportunities to be aggressive, and when the pass pulls her off the net, she works to give them something they can still score with. That's a big piece of being a setter at this level.   I also like the consistency we're seeing from Reagan. She's being asked to touch the second ball over and over, make the decision, and put her team in a position to score. She continues to produce, and she's doing it while still being one of the younger setters, putting up some of the state's better numbers.   The stats don't make [player_tooltip player_id='741473' first='Reagan' last='Trudell'] a Top 10 player. They back up what we're already seeing. She's running an offense, producing, and showing that the No. 2 setter ranking belongs right where it is. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='727985' first='Taylor' last='Sanders'] is one of the top four outside hitters in North Dakota's 2028 class, and when Sanders gets going at the pin, she can be a problem. The University of North Dakota commit brings a big arm, plays high, and can put some serious pace on a volleyball.   What catches my attention is the contact. Taylor gets up and attacks the ball high, giving herself a chance to work over and around the block. When she gets a clean approach and is in rhythm, the ball comes off her hand differently. She can drive it deep, turn it into the court, or unload when she sees an opening. There is a reason defenses have to know where Sanders is before the ball ever arrives at the setter.   And that's part of being outside at this level. The other side knows you're getting the ball. Two blockers can be sitting there waiting, and the defense is set up behind them. You still have to score. Sanders has shown she can carry those swings and continue producing when everyone in the gym knows where the set is headed.   That's what makes Taylor such a big get for North Dakota. UND is getting one of the better 2028 pins in the state, and that's not all. They're getting an outside hitter who already knows what it's like to have a defense keying on her and still finds ways to put balls away.   Keep watching [player_tooltip player_id='727985' first='Taylor' last='Sanders']. There is still a lot of volleyball to be played before she gets to Grand Forks, and that arm is going to be fun to watch. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='728653' first='Gretchen' last='Snowden'] is the No. 2 libero in North Dakota's 2028 class, and she plays as if that backcourt is hers. She's a hustler, she's vocal, and she takes charge. Watch her for a few rotations, and you know exactly who is leading the defense.   Snowden doesn't wait for the play to happen. She reads the hitter, works behind her block, and gets into position before the ball comes at her. She can handle pace, but I really like the balls she refuses to give up on. A touch off the block, a tip into open space, a ball heading toward the sideline, Gretchen is going for it. She makes you think the point is over and then somehow keeps it alive.   In serve receive, she wants the court. She takes charge of seams, communicates early, and gives her setter a chance to run the offense. That's where an elite libero can change a team. It is not only about making great contact; it is about controlling first contact repeatedly and making everyone around you more comfortable.   Then there is the presence. Gretchen leads from the back and isn't afraid to use her voice. She sees the court, communicates what she sees, and takes responsibility for that entire backline. You don't have to wonder who is in charge back there.   Snowden sits at No. 2 in this class for a reason. The digs will get your attention, but watch everything happening between them. The communication. The reads. The pursuit. The first contact. That's where you see just how exceptional [player_tooltip player_id='728653' first='Gretchen' last='Snowden'] really is. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='727621' first='Katelyn' last='Deringer'] is the No. 1 middle in North Dakota's 2028 class, and when she's in the front row, you have to account for her. She makes life difficult on one side of the net and then makes you chase her on the other. other.   At the block, Deringer takes away space. She moves well along the net, closes, and gets her hands across. She doesn't need the stuff block to make an impact either. Hitters see her, adjust their swing, and start looking for ways around her.   Then she transitions and makes the opposing middle work. Deringer gets herself available and gives her setter an option through the middle. Stay with her too long, and something can open at the pin. If you leave her early, she can make you pay.   That's what I like about Katelyn's game. She makes the other side think. She holds the No. 1 middle spot in this class for a reason. When Deringer is in the front row, you should know where she is. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='879515' first='Annaclaire' last='Bugbee'] holds the No. 2 middle spot in North Dakota's 2028 class, and she brings constant activity to the position. Bugbee doesn't spend much time standing still. She works, transitions, and finds ways to stay involved in the play.   Offensively, I like how quickly she can become an option. She gets off the floor, gets her arm through, and can put a ball down when she's available in rhythm. But what really helps an offense is how often she makes herself available. Bugbee keeps coming, and eventually the block has to respect her. That leaves much more room for the pins around her.   Defensively, she works along the net and competes to get in front of hitters. She stays engaged with her block and doesn't give up on a play just because the ball moves away from her. Watch her through an entire rally, and you'll see how much ground she covers and how often she gets herself back into the play.   The motor is what stays with me when I watch Annaclaire play. Middle is a demanding position, and Bugbee keeps working through it. First move, transition, get back up, and find the next play. She makes you notice how much a middle can impact a rally, even if she isn't always the one who finishes it. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you, 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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