Next Wave Of Freshman Phenoms Step Up At PrepDig Illinois Expo

Illinois brought a strong wave of athletes into the gym for the Prep Dig Exposure Tour, with impressive numbers across the board. The biggest draw may have been the 2029 class, which was not only well-represented in quantity but also made a point to stand out and separate itself. While several prospects have already received well-earned recognition, the talent pool ran so deep that it was impossible to leave these names unmentioned.    Lauren's best skill is not knowing what her best skill might truly be right now. She plays so hard and becomes a jack of all trades essentially due to this fact. Lauren is tall, long, athletic, enthusiastic about the game, and very fearless. She isn't afraid to meet anyone at the net, has the ability and awareness to get her hands to press and contest. She has good footwork and is athletic enough to swing side to side consistently. Lauren also has the power to attack; her approach is good, and she swings with force and control. She has a bright future and has just begun to understand that her best is yet to come.     Jayna is sheer power! She runs with a purpose. She plays with such intensity that it might scare opponents. She may even scare her teammates during the moment, but she is a big-time excitement. She gets off the net offensively, and her approach is solid, then here comes the boom. It's to be admired, she swings with power, in the middle, but she is able to get to her zones and even put touch on it for a push if needed. Defense is strong as well, and hands are impressive, getting them in position to press and keeping balls in play. Don't blink, might lose an eye, she is coming!     Technician. Watching Lorelei was a pleasure because she listened to the coaches' instructions, was helpful with drills, and was a perfectionist in the way she processed and executed. Drills, she displayed an extreme ability to perform anything you asked of her. Her hands are steady and consistent; she adjusted to passes, getting into position to make the best decision. Her vision, IQ, awareness, and quickness are all executed equally, which makes her a formidable opponent. Just the beginning, with even more experience, she will be lethal.     She was defined by her all-around game. First saw her during serve receive, her movement and ability to play back row stood out. She passed with accuracy; her stance was good, and her follow-through to prepare for an attack was impressive. So made a point to watch her hit during drills as well in game play. She proved her game is mature, with the ability to block the tool. Always watching the setter and scanning the floor for open court opportunities to create spots for a push or tip. Score's not just her specialty because she will swing through the block with power like a hammer.     Lauren serves were pretty good, I didn't see too many hanging. Some line drive, flat, and targeted to her desired areas. Her techniques in her game are filmable for those following her because she is what you look for when you think of what your Libero "looks like". She passes with accuracy, knows when to open up, not to swing so as not to overpass, and is quick to the ball. During drills and game play, she hustled and communicated like a leader should, but also with her actions, not just expectations for "show". Any coach can trust their team in her hands for years to come.    Wrapping up 2025 with such a stellar event featuring outstanding talent was incredibly enjoyable and an even better experience. Illinois' future is in great hands. Having observed so many others, I know there are a lot of prospects that weren't in the building, which makes this even more spectacular because the talent pool is deep. The club season should be exciting, with Illinois being very well represented in the spring and Summer on all levels. Thank You for the pleasure of observing, can't wait to see more.   Follow on socials:   IG – @PrepDigTobias   TikTok – @tobiaswalkeac   X – @PrepDigTobias and @TobiasWalk   If you're looking for assistance, want to connect, or want more content, PrepDig.com is the best place to find him.

Illinois brought a strong wave of athletes into the gym for the Prep Dig Exposure Tour, with impressive numbers across the board. The biggest draw may have been the 2029 class, which was not only well-represented in quantity but also made a point to stand out and separate itself. While several prospects have already received well-earned recognition, the talent pool ran so deep that it was impossible to leave these names unmentioned.