I’ve frequently written about Rude during the last few years because she puts on a show every time she competes. I watched her at the state tournament, holding down the back row in helping Valley reach the Class 5A state semifinals with an upset of defending champion Pleasant Valley in the quarterfinals. Rude was at it again when I saw her at the 2026 Impact Invite in early March. Playing up, she led Ohana 17 National to a third-place finish in the Gold Bracket. Rude combines the qualities you like to see in someone wearing the jersey. Her high volleyball IQ meshes nicely with her quickness and keen feel for the game. Rude is almost always in position, limits mistakes and delivers unlikely passes off of difficult digs. The sophomore communicates well and is a leader on the floor.

Following a freshman season at Valley that saw her come up with 249 digs, one behind the team leader, Rude has raised her game even more this club campaign. I saw her shine at the Iowa Regional Qualifier, when she helped Ohana reach the gold bracket. Rude displayed that same take-charge game at the Midwest Live Showcase in late May. She’s a good athlete that moves smoothly and efficiently around the court. With anticipation and a feel for the flow of the match, Rude keeps a lot of plays alive when others might come up short. She’s part of a core returning for the Tigers that should make them formidable in 2025.

Rude ranked as a pop-up prospect for me this club season. After not scouting Valley during the last prep campaign, I watched her at the Iowa Regional this year. She played a major role in helping Ohana reach the gold bracket. Rude is a quick and athletic back-row baller. Her reading of the attack stands out as does her ability to cover a lot of ground. Rude communicates well with her teammates. As a sophomore in 2024, her 249 digs were the second most among Tigers, just one behind the leader.