Jersey number nine. USA Girls U17 National Team. Gold medal. Those three facts define what Grace Hengler Grace Hengler 5'8" | OH/DS/L Corum Deo | 2029 State TX accomplished this summer at the FIVB World Championship in Santiago, Chile, where she played libero on a team that went 9-0 and never dropped a set. The defensive instincts and floor presence required to hold that position on a national roster do not develop overnight and the ranking movement she earned this update reflects how far ahead of her class year those instincts already are. Her Prep Dig profile lists her as both outside hitter and libero which speaks to the all-around athleticism and ball control that got her on a national team in the first place. I have seen it first hand as this past club season she starred as an undersized outside hitter playing up in the Open division all season. The defensive reading ability she shows before a hitter contacts the ball and the first-step commitment that follows are the technical qualities that made her indispensable to a team that won every set it played this summer. College coaches evaluating the 2029 class who have not yet seen her compete in person need to build that into their fall evaluation schedule immediately. This is a player whose credentials now extend well beyond the state of Texas. Please help us congratulate her on earning this well deserved recognition.

Please welcome Grace Hengler Grace Hengler 5'8" | OH/DS/L Corum Deo | 2029 State TX to the Prep Dig Texas State Ranking List. She is currently ranked as the No. 20 overall player in the 2029 grad class. Miss Hengler is a 5’8” outside hitter, who is also listed as a libero, playing at Coram Deo High School and competing for MadFrog Volleyball Club. She has absolutely burst onto the scene this year and turned heads across the state with her high level production against much taller competition. Not only is she holding her own, but she is thriving while playing up an age group with a 16s team as a true six rotation outside hitter. That alone speaks volumes about her skill set, confidence, and competitive drive. Grace is one of those special players who proves that heart, skill, and determination can outweigh size in this sport. She attacks with great timing and uses her athleticism and court awareness to find ways to score against bigger blocks. In the back row, her ball control and defensive instincts allow her to stay on the court and contribute in every rotation. She brings energy, toughness, and a fearless mentality that elevates her entire team. Grace is rewriting the narrative and showing that elite players come in all sizes. Please help us congratulate her on earning this well deserved recognition.