Omaha commit Maciel enters her junior season with plenty of momentum after a standout club campaign. Already one of the area’s premier attackers, she continued to expand her game by making noticeable strides in the back row as both a passer and an attacker. After piling up more than 400 kills during last year’s high school season, she’ll once again be counted on to lead the offense and be one of the top players in the region.

Admittedly, the Show Me Qualifier wasn’t our first look at how dominant Maciel can be. I had the fortune of covering MAVS 16 Elite’s 3-0 start at Triple Crown NIT, and Maciel immediately swiped the spotlight with her left-side termination. That trend played out again in the same venue two months later. 16 Elite leaned on Maciel’s snappy arm and heavy heat to produce clutch sideouts in the 16 Open gauntlet. The Blue Springs sophomore delivered almost every time.

Maciel debuts at the fourth position in the first rankings. Listed at 6’1″, she is another player who has displayed the ability to play solid defense and be an effective scorer on the outside. She has had a strong spring for her Mavs KC team. Her first high school season at Blue Springs saw her produce 279 kills and over 200 digs.