Sophomore outside Leanna Newton Leanna Newton 6'0" | OH Oglethorpe | 2028 GA already plays with the expectation that the ball may find her when Oglethorpe County needs a point. At 6-foot-1, she has a physical advantage on the pin, but what makes her interesting is that she’s beginning to learn how to use more than height and power.

Leanna is seeing increasingly organized blocks because opponents know where much of the offense is going. That is forcing her to develop the parts of outside hitting that usually separate young scorers from mature ones: seeing hands, changing speeds, attacking different depths of the court and knowing when the right decision is to recycle the ball instead of forcing it. She still has plenty of room to refine those choices, but she’s learning them under real pressure instead of in low-stakes repetitions. ~ S.Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast_prepdigga

Leanna immediately adds size to the outside-hitter conversation at 6 feet tall. That length gives her the potential to attack above smaller blocks, cover more space at the net and become a dependable high-ball option when the offense moves out of system. Her ranking ceiling will rise as she develops the ball control and shot variety required to remain effective in every rotation. A physical pin with six-rotation potential is difficult to overlook, making Leanna an intriguing new addition to the class. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast_prepdigga

Leanna plays with elegance and intent. Her approach is smooth, her swing deliberate, and her reading ability on both offense and defense signals volleyball IQ beyond her age. If she continues to grow into her movement and timing, she’ll be a major name to watch in this class. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast

Leanna plays with unfiltered energy and instinct. Her quick arm and athletic transitions make her a constant threat, even when the offense is out of system. She’s learning to turn that raw potential into precision, and every set she takes brings her closer to being a complete six-rotation player. The spark she brings to Oglethorpe’s lineup is impossible to ignore. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast