What 2029 Prospects Are Standing Out This Fall, Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 prep season isn't very old, but we are already seeing some 2029 prospects making a big impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was plenty of buzz surrounding this freshman class, but we didn't necessarily see it making this big of a splash so quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a the first part of our two-part series looking at some notable freshman performers thus far in the prep season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Olivia Babcock, S/RS Jonesville</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Babcock is taking on a leadership role for Jonesville as a freshman and she's just shy of 150 assists on the young season while also contributing 66 digs, 24 kills and 18 aces. It's an impressive start in all phases of play for Babcock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Ellery Bieneman, MH Lowell</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bieneman is one of the freshman leaders in the middle for this class thus far in 2025. Bieneman has 53 kills for the Red Arrows and finishing at a solid rate. She's also showing a lot of potential with her blocking and only should continue to get better in both areas with the Lowell program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Izzy Brown, S/RS Cadillac</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is doing a little bit of everything for Cadillac this fall. She's the team's leading setter with 128 assists, but also has been an impressive defender with 86 digs. When on the attack, she's been able to put the ball away effectively, with 37 kills. Brown is also a difference maker from the service line with 18 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='775516' first='Elizabeth' last='Burke'], DS/L St. Catherine Academy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burke is taking on some big hitters this fall, but stepping up to the challenge and racking up impressive dig numbers thus far. She had 22 digs in a match with Stevenson, and 17 digs in a match with Salem. Burke has also been strong from the service line, finding a way to make an impact on offense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587564' first='Lexi' last='Coleman'], OH South Lyon East</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coleman has definitely built a reputation for being one of the best 2029 prospects nationally and she's hit the ground running for East this fall. Coleman is already over 150 kills and quickly approaching 200. She had a 22-kill performance against Grand Haven and a 24-kill performance against Walled Lake Northern.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='709559' first='Kaelyn' last='Easton'], S Mercy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stop if you've heard this before, Mercy opting to let a freshman setter take over the offense. It's worked out pretty well in the past and Easton looks very comfortable thus far in 2025. She's not afraid to take command and be vocal, and can make a lot of difficult sets look easy. She' on the fast track to being another star setter for the Marlins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->