Why You Should Start Watching the Class of 2029 Now

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: digdakotas30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/image_e42f4e.png" alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image_e42f4e.png" style="width:183px;height:auto" /></figure>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The 2025 Prep Dig Exposure Tour is officially LIVE!</a>   We're hitting 20+ cities across the country this winter to give athletes a platform to compete, get seen, level up and get on coaches radar.   I'll personally be at Bloomington on Dec. 14 for all interested 2026-2029 prospects following the 2025 fall season. <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2026/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-minnesota-session-1">Click here to register for 2028-2029</a> or <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2027/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-minnesota-session-2">click here to register for 2026-2027</a> and use promo code “HICKMANPD25” to get $10 off your registration.   The Class of 2029 may just be stepping into high school volleyball, but this group is already proving they deserve an early look. Across the Midwest, freshmen are emerging with uncommon athleticism, advanced skill development, and the kind of competitive edge that translates to long-term collegiate potential.   This season, several first-year athletes are already impacting varsity lineups, flashing tools that project well beyond their age—terminal arms, high-IQ ball control, serve-pressure consistency, and natural court presence you can't teach.   These aren't just “names to know later.” These are freshmen you should be watching now.   Let's check out some of the players who are already separating themselves early in their careers.    [player_tooltip player_id='890376' first='Audrey' last='Hayden'] – Setter   Audrey isn't just productive—she's impactful. Leading all freshmen in assists, she already runs an offense with the precision and command of an upperclassman. Her ball control is elite for her age: consistent tempo, clean location, and the ability to create hittable balls from poor passes. Audrey freezes middles with her eyes, disguises her intent until the last possible moment, and shows a developing ability to shape the block.   She's also one of the few freshmen who truly manages the game. Not just setting balls—managing momentum, matchups, and rhythm. With her poise and processing speed, she projects as a setter who will eventually run a collegiate tempo offense. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='886629' first='Clara' last='Theobald'] – Setter   Clara brings athleticism to the setter position that immediately pops. She thrives in motion—running down second balls, turning broken plays into quality swings, and even generating offense with her own attacks. Her quick release, ability to accelerate tempo, and confidence in feeding the middle make her incredibly dangerous.   What separates her is her competitive nature. She controls the match emotionally, communicates with precision, and refuses to let the offense slow down. Clara is the player who can raise the pace of play for an entire team, something college coaches value greatly. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     Brianna Severts – Setter   Brianna is a setter with high-level offensive intelligence—rare in a freshman. She understands scouting tendencies, identifies mismatches, and distributes with purpose. She's the type of setter who can take a system-first program and elevate it.   Her hands are exceptionally clean, and she consistently squares to all three options, making her difficult to read. Brianna also brings strong defensive value: she reads hitters well, moves with efficiency, and is dependable in out-of-system digs. She projects as a setter who can run a balanced offense with minimal errors and high trust from hitters. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     Evie Pecoraro – DS   Evie already has the look of a future libero. Her defensive reads are advanced—she reacts before the swing, not after it. She plays with quiet feet and a still platform, giving her clean, controllable contact every time the ball hits her arms.   Evie excels in seam responsibility, handles pace well, and rarely gets beat on short tips or off-speed shots. Her ability to take large chunks of the court in serve receive allows teams to free up other attackers. Coaches notice players who make everyone else's job easier—Evie is that type of defender. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='781428' first='Mali' last='Quam'] – Setter   Mali plays the position with a level of discipline and technical detail that jumps off the court. Her footwork to the ball is consistent, she creates ideal body positions on second contact, and her ability to deliver in-tempo balls regardless of location makes her invaluable.   She's a setter who understands strategy early: when to speed up, when to slow down, how to spread the ball to force single blockers. Mali also competes hard defensively—she reads seams, takes quality first contacts, and transitions quickly into ready position. Her ceiling is high because the foundation is already so polished. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     Madison Funk – Outside Hitter   Madison is one of the most impactful freshman hitters in the state, and her production backs it up. She attacks with high contact point, heavy arm, and fearless intent, and she already carries the offensive responsibility of a varsity-level terminator.   What sets her apart is the variety in her shot-making. Madison scores with seam work, deep-corner heat, and controlled off-speed when the situation demands it. Her transition footwork is sharp, her blocking is improving rapidly, and she shows early signs of six-rotation potential. She is absolutely a must-track pin in the 2028 class. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='736287' first='Addison' last='Drinkall'] – DS/Outside Hitter   Addison's value lies in her versatility and her competitive edge. She can stabilize a serve-receive pattern, defend with urgency, and step into front-row responsibilities when needed. Her touch on the ball in serve receive is clean and consistent, and her ability to sustain long rallies with disciplined defensive mechanics stands out.   Offensively, Addison can terminate out of the back row and provides secondary scoring that complements primary pins. She's a connector—someone who patches holes, increases lineup flexibility, and keeps teams in system. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='890661' first='Abby' last='Ulrick'] – DS/Libero   Abby's defensive instincts are already elite for a freshman. She reads shoulders exceptionally well, tracks the ball early, and gets to balls most athletes her age don't sniff. Her platform angles are textbook clean, and she consistently delivers passes that allow setters to run their full menu.   She plays low, moves efficiently, and stays composed in extended rallies. Abby's ability to command the backcourt and her natural communication habits give her true libero upside at the next level. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     Teagan Glenz – Middle Blocker   Teagan is a standout middle, and her numbers prove it—leading all freshmen in blocks. She closes seams with purpose, takes disciplined angles, and uses her length to control space above the net. Her lateral quickness is exceptional, allowing her to get touches on balls most middles her age are late on.   Offensively, she hits a clean, fast-tempo quick and shows a developing slide attack that will only elevate her ceiling. With more strength and reps, Teagan projects as a multi-phase scoring and blocking threat. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas     Malea Hansen – Middle Blocker   Malea is one of the more athletic middles in the class—explosive, fluid, and able to impact the game vertically and laterally. She runs quicks with excellent timing, elevates effortlessly, and has the ability to score above the block. Her blocking presence is already strong, with fast hands and good discipline on both pin and middle reads.   What makes her exciting long-term is her mobility. She moves like a pin in transition yet has middle-level power and length. With continued development, she projects as a dynamic, high-upside middle who can run a modern, fast offense. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple—to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. Every player deserves a shot, and I'm honored to help tell their stories.</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Please help us continue to grow this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at <a href="https://prepdig.com/">PrepDig.com.</a> With your support, we can create unforgettable memories and experiences!</h2>   This journey is created by the village—athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers.   Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman   Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas

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