The Manhattan Mayhem setter and right-side hitter came ready to play. Overall, I thought the 2029 class had a phenomenal showing at the showcase, and Hiltgen was one of the players who helped elevate that group. You noticed immediately her feel for the game and her ability to take command on the court, even while playing alongside teammates she was working with for the first time. She looked comfortable directing the offense, communicating with those around her, and settling into the flow of play. Hiltgen already has a strong skill set for a young player, and as she continues to develop, she will definitely be one to watch over the next few years.

Manhattan Mayhem is building quite a cast of setters, and Hiltgen has paved the way for the 2029s. Prior features have alluded to the challenges of being a showcase setter, but we also have instances of signal-callers making everyone around them better. Hiltgen was the ultimate “helper” with her precise location and willingness to set against the grain. Any option was available with Hiltgen running the show.

Let’s stick with the 16s a little longer. Hiltgen climbed the age ladder to compete with Manhattan Mayhem’s top 16s group, collecting strong finishes at Windy City and Show Me. She looked like a player accustomed to sparring with older competitors, and perhaps that can be attributed to her freshman debut at Linn. She paced the Bulldogs with over 300 kills while shouldering a part-time role as a backcourt setter. It’s a lot for any player to handle, let alone a freshman.

Hiltgen can set and hit from the right side. The clips I watched from her high school season, particularly at setter, impressed me. She has good size, which allows her to also be aggressive offensively from the setter position. Hiltgen finished her freshman season at Linn with 400 assists and more than 300 kills, showing her ability to make an impact both as a facilitator and an attacker.

Hiltgen is the Stat Monster wildcard in this group. She registered 400 assists, 311 kills, and 270 digs. That’s just 30 digs short of having a 300/300/300 season. She is playing on a 16U club team, which does not hurt her resume at all. The “wildcard” aspect of her ranking is that I have yet to see her play in person. The coaching staff at Linn deserves a shoutout for posting their stats on MaxPreps, and Hiltgen deserves credit for having a complete Player Profile.

Hiltgen is a player whom I have written about in the past month, but now I have a face to go with that name after she claimed her Prep Dig Profile. She will “play up” in club ball with the Manhattan Mayhem 16-1 team this season.