We couldn’t resist the chance to revisit this showcase standout. Southard’s tremendous defensive instincts were a highlight of my trip to Kansas City for last month’s Prep Dig Missouri/Kansas Showcase. Our evaluation of the 2028 rankings exposed us to Southard’s pinpoint first contacts as she helped Shockwave 16 Black navigate the AAU Nationals gauntlet. That summer venue prepped Southard for another breakthrough on the Prep Dig Circuit, and she’s ready for more with Maize South. Look for this gem to build upon last year’s 150-dig effort.

I like my passers to dial in, and Southard stayed locked in throughout the morning. I love watching passers keep their eyes on the ball from platform contact all the way through the pass, and she did that consistently. Southard is the type of passer who can anchor the back row and keep her team in system, even when facing challenging serves.

The Missouri/Kansas Stock Up Showcase gave us no shortage of libero prospects to cover, and we’ll have several more to discuss throughout the week. Southard leads us off after locking down the end line during Sunday’s six-on-six action. The Shockwave standout has a calm, stable platform that works wonders in passing drills. That steady presence quickly translated to Southard’s sustained scrimmage success.

Southard is another player who saw most of their action as a DS. In what I saw, she appears to be very reliable in her passing, often setting to spot. Defensively, she works hard and moves her feet well to position herself to make touch plays look easy. I also saw some footage of her in the libero jersey, where she looked equally as sharp.

Southard can find several different ways to contribute to the ball control phase. She is an adept left-back defender who will not shy away from heavy heat down the line. However, Southard has also distinguished herself as an adept setter with the hands needed to pilot a quick, efficient offense. She tallied a handful of assists for Maize South last fall to accompany her second-straight triple-digit dig total from the back row. Shockwave 16-Black is happy to have this versatile standout in their corner for the 2026 season, making big impressions at venues like MEQ and Triple Crown NIT. April added to the narrative.