How Does State Rankings Work for North & South Dakota?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's that time of year again! We're gearing up for our latest rankings update for the classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027, along with the highly anticipated release of our first-ever 2028 rankings for North and South Dakota players. And trust me—there's going to be some movement!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tremendous amount of time and evaluation goes into these rankings. While talent and skills are important, they are just one piece of the puzzle. So, what exactly are we looking for? What sets certain players apart? Let's break it down and dive into the factors that truly make an impact! <strong><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">Don't forget to set your Free Prospect Player Profile up!</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athleticism</strong> – Speed, agility, explosiveness, and overall physical ability to compete at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Size &amp; Physicality</strong> – Height, strength, and build relative to the demands of the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Position-Specific Skills</strong> – Technical ability, consistency, and execution in key areas like setting, hitting, blocking, passing, and serving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game IQ &amp; Awareness</strong> – Court vision, decision-making, and the ability to read plays before they happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Effort &amp; Work Ethic</strong> – Hustle, intensity, and the willingness to do the extra work to improve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mental &amp; Physical Toughness</strong> – Ability to handle pressure, bounce back from mistakes, and stay locked in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Intangibles</strong> – Leadership, energy, communication, and body language that impact team dynamics. *This is a big one for me when I go through rankings.*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most importantly, though, players are ranked on their potential as&nbsp;<em><strong>college prospects</strong></em>. The rankings are&nbsp;<em>not&nbsp;</em>based on performance in high school. That's consistent across every Prep Dig website.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The distinction between high school production and collegiate potential is one of the biggest challenges for players and parents to understand. It's easy to focus on accolades like All-State honors, but the reality is that some of those players end up at the Division III level, while late bloomers—who may not even start until their senior year—develop into Division I prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College and Prep Dig scouts focus on the skills and flashes of athleticism that translate to the next level. A player may only record a handful of standout plays in a game, but if those moments showcase elite speed, explosiveness, or court awareness, they carry more weight in the evaluation process. Rankings aren't just about stats—they're about identifying who has the tools to succeed at the collegiate level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some scouts place more emphasis on high school production, and that's understandable—consistency and the ability to perform night after night are valuable skills. However, college volleyball demands more than just high school dominance. Players must have the athleticism and physical attributes to compete at the next level. While technical skills can be refined, size, speed, and explosiveness set the foundation for long-term success. Our rankings reflect this balance between production and potential, recognizing the evolving standards of the college game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at some of the players already on our list—but keep in mind, there's plenty of movement happening! Rankings are always evolving as players continue to develop and showcase their skills. Click on their names to check out their highlights, current rank, and bio. Stay tuned for more updates!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='724987' first='Gabrielle' last='Useldinger'] -2027-ND Elite<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='725193' first='Madelynn' last='Henry'] -2027-Kiaros<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='536783' first='Gabi' last='Zachariasen'] -2026-Kairos<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='389837' first='Claire' last='Munch']-2026 -Midwest Volleyball Power<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='504561' first='Audrey' last='Rydell'] -2026-Sanford-Fargo<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='216064' first='Hannah' last='Gendron'] -2026-Premier <br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='743038' first='Aftan' last='Wanner'] -2025-IHT Elite<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='733422' first='Brietta' last='Tims'] -2025-Sanford-Sioux Falls<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='723329' first='Alayna' last='Foster-DeVold'] -2027-Freeze<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='730965' first='Kate' last='Montplaisir'] -2027-Inspired Athletics<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='446330' first='Coryn' last='Kimbell'] -2027-Midwest Volleyball Power<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='725200' first='Ravyn' last='Medricky'] -2027-Kairos<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='522792' first='Macey' last='Boese'] -2026-Sodak Juniors<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='725924' first='Rebecca' last='Huizenga'] -2026-[program_tooltip program_id='428681' first='Matchbox' last='Volleyball Club']<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='203420' first='Raina' last='Chwialkowski'] -2026-Sanford-Fargo<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='723033' first='Callie' last='Gienger'] -2026-Volt<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='513095' first='Sylvia' last='Taylor'] -2026-CVC<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='724933' first='Aaliyah' last='Hjelmstad'] -2027-RRIV<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='739755' first='Parker' last='Lutman'] -2027-CVC<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='724988' first='Kinley' last='Johnson'] -2027-Devils Lake <br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='741194' first='Jensen' last='Hintz'] -2027-Green Wave Volleyball Club<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='727811' first='Karsyn' last='Grube'] -2027-ND Elite<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='739052' first='Kennedi' last='Boomsma'] -2027-Kairos<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='523146' first='Remington' last='Bechard'] -2027<br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='725175' first='Emmie' last='Hausmann'] -2026-<a href="https://prepdig.com/program/kusler-klinics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[program_tooltip program_id='428684' first='Kusler' last='Klinics']</a><br><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These 25 players are just a small glimpse—over 500 athletes will be ranked! Check them out, and in the meantime, players, here's what you can do:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>✅ Update your profile with your current club, highlights, and contact info.<br>✅ Make sure college coaches can find you!<br>✅ Follow and tag us on Instagram to stay on the radar!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big things are coming—stay ready! 🔥</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>If you loved this article, please follow our Instagram page,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">PrepDigDakotas</a>&nbsp;for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After following our page, take the next step and&nbsp;<strong>subscribe to PrepDig</strong>! By subscribing, you'll not only stay connected to the latest coverage of your favorite events, but you'll also be helping to shine a spotlight on rising volleyball talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Use discount code&nbsp;<strong>digdakotas30</strong>&nbsp;for an exclusive offer!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Year-Round Coverage</strong>: Access all PrepDig articles nationwide.<br>&nbsp;<strong>Player Rankings</strong>: See how athletes rank across every state.<br>&nbsp;<strong>FREE Player Profiles</strong>: Build and update your recruiting profile.<br>&nbsp;<strong>College Coach Views</strong>: Know which coaches are checking out your profile.<br>&nbsp;<strong>Profile Trends</strong>: Track your profile views over time.<br>&nbsp;<strong>Recruiting Tips</strong>: Get advice for your recruiting journey.<br>&nbsp;<strong>Coach Contacts</strong>: Connect with any college program across the country.<br>&nbsp;<strong>Event Perks</strong>: Get $25 off every PrepDig Showcase</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Help us continue to grow this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at&nbsp;<a href="https://prepdig.com/"><strong>PrepDig.com</strong>.</a>&nbsp;Together, we can create unforgettable memories and experiences with your support!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>This journey is created by the village—athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers.</em></strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman @</em></strong>prepdigdakotas</h4> <!-- /wp:heading -->