We’re Back With Updated Rankings! Top 10

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <p>We always get excited about the opportunity to update our class rankings! There are players who move up based on an outstanding high school or club season. There are players who enter the rankings for the first time. These updated rankings are based on what we saw occur primarily during the club season. This group of ten still features a very talented setter group. Today we bring you what's new in the class of 2023. Our top 10 had some movement this go around. We had zero change at the top, with [player_tooltip player_id='101566' first='Ella' last='Swindle'] still holding it down, who will be heading to Austin to join the Longhorns.</p><span style="font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts);">This isn't an easy process and players get missed. Our friend at Prep Dig, Chris Fitzgerald posted a great article sharing what goes into our ranking system </span><a style="font-size: revert; font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts);" href="https://prepdig.com/2021/07/a-look-behind-the-scenes-wisconsin-class-of-2022-rankings/">here</a><span style="font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts);">. Our rankings don't dictate future success as a volleyball player or person. These rankings are subjective, but we feel we are on the right track with the hours spent dedicated to this process. With that said, here are our updated Top 10 for the class of 2023.</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>1. [player_tooltip player_id='101566' first='Ella' last='Swindle'] - S - KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last='']/Rock Bridge - Texas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last=''] had what could be considered a down year for such a talented roster but Swindle was still on her game. The 6'2" setter still knows how to make things happen on the court for her hitters and herself on second ball kills. The one area we saw the biggest improvement was her foot speed as a defender. She is still a strong blocker which will pay off with the move to the SEC for Texas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2. [player_tooltip player_id='99224' first='Calissa' last='Minatee'] - MB - Dynasty/North Kansas City - Minnesota</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One thing we saw often was the offense run through the middle for Dynasty. Other teams knew that too and still couldn't slow down Minatee when she was on fire. She is so quick off the ground and when the set is on the spot (which was often), she knew how to deliver. Her quickness and play will fit in well at Minnesota and in the Big Ten. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>3. [player_tooltip player_id='101701' first='Logan' last='Jones'] - S - Mavs KC/Carl Junction - Arkansas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mavs had another strong year and Lo Jones was a key fixture in that success. We saw her set placement take even bigger leaps this club season. She improved in her quickness and getting her feet under the ball. One of the biggest assets she holds is her court leadership, as evidenced by the success seen on both the high school and club levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>4. [player_tooltip player_id='101697' first='Reagan' last='Fox'] - OH - KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last='']/St. Teresa's Academy - Rutgers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reagan has made a jump back into the top 5 after a strong club season. The last couple of seasons were slowed by injuries but when completely healthy, we see flashes of one of the top players in the state. She appeared stronger and had a little more [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last=''] behind her balls this spring. She will be heading out East to join Rutgers this time next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>5. [player_tooltip player_id='99216' first='Ashley' last='Mullen'] - S - Dynasty/Liberty - UCLA</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mullen makes her debut into the top 5 after a strong season for Dynasty. Like Jones, we saw Ashley's sets improve and be more efficient. Her defense also took another leap in 2022 not only from the back row but at the net with her touches and blocks. She has opted to conclude her club career and will be heading out to Cali next winter to join UCLA. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>6. [player_tooltip player_id='98678' first='Sydney' last='Draper'] - S - KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last='']/Pembroke Hill - Princeton</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Draper spent another year playing up and setting the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last=''] 18-1 team this last year. She then joined the roster for the 17s for their national run. We will see what next year looks like with the potential of both her and Swindle on the same team if Swindle isn't leaving early. Draper gets overlooked at times in this class for playing up but is still one of the top setters in the state in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>7. [player_tooltip player_id='102554' first='Juliette' last='Myrick'] - S - [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder']/Eureka - Army (West Point)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myrick had another strong year for Rockwood 17 Elite and led them to a successful season. We enjoyed seeing her more aggressive offensively this year. She is one of the setters who have displayed consistently over the last couple of years in ball placement to her hitters. She will be heading out East also to join Army in 2023. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>8. [player_tooltip player_id='101700' first='Elise' last='Paul'] - MB - HPSTL/Lutheran South - Uncommitted</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paul has great potential and along with her current play puts her in our top 10 at number 8. She has length and a high volleyball IQ. As she has gotten stronger, we saw that show in her play as she [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last='']ed through more blocks with her swing. She has always been strong defensively at the net with her blocking ability. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>9. [player_tooltip player_id='119220' first='Lily' last='Dudley'] - OH - Mavs KC/Rock Bridge - Arkansas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've always said don't let the size of Dudley fool you and Arkansas knows exactly what we are saying with the success of another undersized player hailing from our coverage zone in Jillian Gillen. Dudley is a player who knows how to make things happen on the court. She is a hitter who can fill up the stat sheet on the pin. She also handles her own in the passing game. It will be fun to watch Dudley and Swindle make one last run towards a state title in 2022. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>10. [player_tooltip player_id='99226' first='Ashlyn' last='Bellamy'] - OH - Mavs 816/Lee's Summit - Houston</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also entering the top 10 with Dudley is Bellamy. The Houston Cougar pledge had a very strong club season after a great high school season. She is another player who can score and saw her passing and defense take major leaps this year. She is a player who doesn't take shortcuts and works hard to improve her game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->