Nylah Vannelli Nylah Vannelli 5'5" | DS/L/OH Great Plains Lutheran | 2028 State SD competes for everything back there. She covers ground, plays with urgency, and will go get the ball when it starts drifting outside the area you expect a defender to handle. What I’ve come to appreciate is that she doesn’t just touch difficult balls—she gives her team a chance to do something with them. Vannelli plays defense like she expects to keep the rally going, and that mentality shows up over and over. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas

Nylah Vannelli Nylah Vannelli 5'5" | DS/L/OH Great Plains Lutheran | 2028 State SD | No. 5 DS/L

Nylah Vannelli Nylah Vannelli 5'5" | DS/L/OH Great Plains Lutheran | 2028 State SD ‘s impact shows up in both her presence and her numbers, posting 291 digs while continuing to trend upward. She stood out for her poise in serve receive and her calm under pressure, handling tough servers with confidence and staying square through contact. Defensively, she excels at reading tips and roll shots, closing soft space that often goes uncovered. Her ability to transition quickly from pass to coverage keeps her involved in every phase of the rally and makes her a reliable back-row piece. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas