2029 to watch out for as Sophomores

We are taking a side trek today and taking a dive into our rankings and analysis of the class of 2029. Today we wanted to take a look at some names you may want to put tabs on as these girls are going to make a big leap in the coming year. We wouldn't be surprised if the girls on this list earn region, state, and national recognition by the time the calendar year comes to an end! Some will be names you will know (or hopefully know by now) and some will be names we see as future stars that might not be the highest on the list today, but by the end of the year should make some big leaps! We will continue with some more NIT coverage tomorrow!    Rylee is a top level player both in club and for her school team. She is dynamic in a number of ways, mostly with her way to influence the offense with her hitting and with her setting. She is someone who can carry a team in a number of ways and we love the fact she is so versatile with her game. Rylee has the athleticism and arm speed to be a legitimate terminating option from the pin. She attacks aggressively with power and range while hitting the spots that defenses leave open. She isn't someone who has to do one thing, she will gladly take what the defense gives her and take her points as they come. She really has a strong court IQ with both her setting and hitting.   Even as a setter she remains a threat on setter dumps, and second-ball attacks that makes a defense stay honest and count her as a offensive threat. As a setter she has strong hands and has shown the ability to run an offense at a high level whether she is in system or out of system. She understands tempo, game management, whose hot as a hitter, and distribution... she puts all those factors into her game when running the offense. Now, putting all that together, her versatility and offensive makeup make her one of the more intriguing long-term prospects in the Class of 2029 and someone who you should start having on your radar today!     K'Lei is a dominate player in her own right and should really take off this school season. She has had a successful Freshman campaign both in school and club and is only going to get better with age in the coming season. For starters she has excellent length and athleticism, allowing her to play above the net and attack at a high contact point, which renders a lot of blockers useless. She has a physical arm swing and has shown the ability to score through, over, and around blockers. She can create matchup problems with her combination of size, reach, and offensive confidence as she hits from all over the floor. She is a middle, right side, outside, shoot make her a libero I bet she could figure it out and do it well.   Having a player who can bring a lot to the team with just one area of their game says a lot but K'Lei also does well with her defense at the net. She might score just as many points with her offensive game as she does with her defensive game as well. She is high up on the net, routinely taking away hitters best angles and shutting down the other teams better hitters. K'Lei is a high-ceiling pin attacker with the physical tools to become a dominant front-row scorer and a cornerstone offensive piece as she progresses through high school and club competition this season. She is for sure a name to know as we head into the fall season.     Bella is a top level setter at AZ Sky this season, and has the ability to do a lot for all the teams that she is on. For starters she isn't just a great setter, she can contribute with her offense, and defensive abilities as well. She is impacting the game in all 3 areas (setting, offense, defense) which we love to see out of any player. Her ability to run a high level offense is also extremely impressive as she always seems to make the right choice, even in tight game situations. You wouldn't know she was a 2029 as she plays with confidence and composure, consistently putting hitters in advantageous situations through precise ball placement and smart decision-making that older girls routinely show and not younger ones.   Her technique as a setter is flawless and she has such strong and soft hands that deliver hittable balls almost every play. She is also long and athletic and when running a 5-1 puts up a respectable block and has the ability to score with her offensive game as well. Keeping those defenders honest as she is jump setting makes her all the more of a threat on offense as well. She also handles the blockers well because she take out-of-system situations well and works tirelessly to create opportunities for teammates regardless of pass quality and that forces blockers to stay honest throughout a rally as well. She shows great decision making, court awareness, leadership, and it is easy to see why she is someone you need to keep an eye on as a Sophomore next year!     Kaitlyn is a high level libero who reads hitters well, takes smart angles in the back row, and consistently keeps her team in system with clean serve receive and controlled defensive touches. Her platform discipline and ability to handle pace already stand out against strong competition (plays 6A ball, and open all club season). She does a number of things well but one thing she does extremely well is she consistently reads hitters well, and positions herself effectively, which turns difficult defensive plays into quality opportunities for her team to keep them in system. The big thing that separates her from her peers in that regard is not only the passes but the way she moves. She has great lateral movement that gets her to a lot of locations that other liberos would be late too.   Beyond the technical skill set, she plays with the kind of energy and confidence that elevates everyone around her. She communicates constantly, covers a ton of court, and competes for every ball with a fearless mentality. These intangibles are not something that you can teach, but the top level players show it day in and day out and Kaitlyn does that every time she plays a game. As her overall strength and game experience continue to grow, she has the tools to become one of the more impactful defensive players in the 2029 class next season and is someone you need to know as a Sophomore.     Kylie really came on the page as a freshman at Higley and then really showed out at our showcase and has continued using that momentum throughout club season. She is someone you need to get some eyes on for sure this fall if you haven't already. As a setter she does an excellent job running an offense, delivering consistent location to all pins, and making smart decisions under pressure. Her hands are clean, her movement is efficient, and she shows the confidence to push tempo while still keeping hitters comfortable and in system. She has all the foundational pieces we would look for in a setter as a coach and as a scout.   Now what separates her is the combination of leadership and feel for the game (these are things you can't really teach). She communicates well, competes hard every point, and understands how to create advantages for her team instead of simply setting the ball. She knows what hitters are on, and when a block is weaker and needs to be exploited. Her court IQ as a setter is extremely high and she just brings that extra advantage to each game. She also defensively brings value with active floor coverage and strong ball control, which helps her teammates out in another area with her game. As the year goes on and she continues to develop physically, she has the potential to emerge as one of the more complete setters in the 2029 class and a 2029 to be on the lookout for next year.     Another setter to keep an eye on this year (especially heading into Nationals) is Olivia. A highly athletic setter, Olivia impacts the game with her ability to run a fast-paced offense while also posing a legitimate offensive threat when opportunities shows itself. As a setter, she already displays an impressive range of sets for her age and does an excellent job turning out-of-system plays into quality offensive chances. Throughout the season, she has consistently shown the ability to manage tempo, vary her distribution, and keep opposing blockers off balance. Olivia combines strong technical fundamentals with outstanding athleticism. She moves exceptionally well, allowing her to get her hands on balls that many setters simply cannot reach.   What really stands out about her athleticism is her explosiveness also enables her to attack tight passes effectively, meeting the ball at a high contact point and creating scoring opportunities when the play breaks down. Defensively, she demonstrates solid footwork and lateral quickness, consistently putting herself in position to deliver a playable first contact. She also contributes from the service line, serving with confidence and showing an understanding of how to attack seams and weaknesses within opposing serve-receive formations. Olivia is a player whose ceiling continues to rise as she gains experience and confidence. With her combination of athleticism, skill, and game management, she is a name that should continue to attract attention throughout both the upcoming school and club seasons.     Lainey is 2029 middle blocker who looks ready to make a major jump next fall. She is a physical, high-motor athlete who impacts the match on both sides of the net. She plays with great timing as a blocker, closes seams consistently, and shows the lateral quickness to cover a lot of ground along the net. Offensively, she continues to develop into a reliable terminal option with a fast arm, strong transition footwork, and the ability to score in multiple tempos. She can score from multiple locations on the floor and terminate at will from any positions, especially against a 1 on 1. She seems to be improving rapidly on both sides of the net and is going to be hard to slow down this fall.   What stands out most is her competitiveness and growth trajectory. She already shows advanced court awareness for her age, communicates well with teammates, and plays with the confidence coaches want from a front-row leader. Her offense and defense has both shown huge gains from the start of school season and we don't see that slowing down as she heads into next year. As her strength and offensive consistency continue to improve, she has the tools to become one of the more talked-about middle blockers in the 2029 class next season.     Nellie is a pin hitter in the class of 2029 that will probably see a big rise in stock come school season. She already had a great school season this past year, helping lead St. Mary's to the postseason and did so by being 3rd on the team in kills averaging more then 2.5 a set. She is someone who can do it all on the floor. She is a true 6 rotational pin hitters who can pass, hit, and block extremely well, which is rare to see in an outside.   For starters she attacks with good arm speed and shows shot selection. Nellie is capable of scoring from all places on the floor, and can do it in system and out of system as well. She has shown the potential to become a reliable terminal attacker who can carry a team when called upon. However, more impressively on defense she covers significant court area and reads hitters well. Has some good range and has great range with her blocking as well. She is only going to get bigger and stronger with time so expect to see this name quite a few times in the coming season as a top level pin. Look out for her this fall as she heads into school season. I would expect this to be a name you need to know this fall.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   We have a lot more content coming from this week! If you missed this one, be sure to tag us in your schedules for any college showcases, Nationals, and Festival! If you want more exposure, be sure to attend one of the Prep Dig AZ showcases in August! 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We are taking a side trek today and taking a dive into our rankings and analysis of the class of 2029. Today we wanted to take a look at some names you may want to put tabs on as these girls are going to make a big leap in the coming year. We wouldn't be surprised if the girls on this list earn region, state, and national recognition by the time the calendar year comes to an end! Some will be names you will know (or hopefully know by now) and some will be names we see as future stars that might not be the highest on the list today, but by the end of the year should make some big leaps! We will continue with some more NIT coverage tomorrow!