Ball State commit Hayden was one of the lone bright spots for the Fighting Irish in their regional loss to Roncalli. Her consistent and relentless play has been there all season, win or lose, and this past Saturday was no different. She finished with a double-double (15k, 11d), while also adding a pair of aces and hitting over .300, showing physical leadership that I’ve not seen from her at this level.

A class of ’27 kid playing up on the 17 National representative from Indiana, Hayden is a full-time right side, and even sprinkled in some serve receive on Saturday, in which she held her own. Since the last time I saw her play live, she’s sped up her transition footwork, solidified her blocking technique, and found multiple angles to attack with on the right pin. Her development has justified her ranking, so seeing her live and actually DO the things better than the last time I saw her is a pleasant surprise.

Playing a year up on Rev’s 17-1 squad, Hayden is one of the heavier-hitting kids in the class of ’27. Big and physical, she looks more and more like the Division I three-rotation pin attacker we’ve grown accustomed to seeing at the next level. I like the pace she puts on the ball, her broad shoulders on the block and her willingness to go for it, regardless of where the ball is set. With a no-nonsense attitude on the court, it’s easy to see why Hayden is one of the top pin attackers in the class of ’27.

Finishing 2nd in the 17 Open division this past weekend, Rev’s 17-1 really showed out and showed up. Hayden’s contribution is simple—hit high and hard, bring pace with every ball, and be a pain when blocking at the net. Check, check and check. Hayden’s seriousness about the game is obvious from 0-0, and her mental approach to hammer away regardless of who’s blocking her will serve her well in her future. It’s also important to note that she’s the only class of ’27 kid on this roster filled with ’26s.

Big and physical, Hayden probably hits the heaviest ball of any of the attackers on this list. Her height and broad shoulders make her look the part of college-ready, and her relentless nature on the attack proves it. She’s slowly learning what to do with an out-of-system set, and her play on both pins this past fall showed what she’s capable of in a tough high school schedule. At current, her ball control is a little behind her physicality at the net, but there are PLENTY of colleges that can use a three-rotation attacker that can play either pin with equal effectiveness.

Big and physical, Hayden can hammer away at unsuspecting blocks in both in-system and out-of-system situations. Right now, she’s a three-rotation pin who is probably better suited to the outside because of the work load her shoulder is more than capable of handling. She spent a lot of Saturday dealing with multiple setters, and adjusted to them all. She’s a big fan of hammering 2-balls out of the middle, no matter which pin she’s coming from.