Marais jumped on the Prep Dig Iowa radar as a Prairie freshman at the Prep Dig Sizzle two years ago. It was a loud swing for her age and explosive athleticism that projected a high ceiling. Marais has built on that foundation in high school and with Iowa United’s top team for her age group. I watched her compete at a high level at the Windy City Qualifier Open Division and the Prep Dig Gauntlet. Marais’ vertical leap is notable and leads into hang time to a heavy swing. She’s learned how to harness her abilities into an efficient operation, playing swings off of blocks or exposing holes in the block and defense on the court. Marais is improving her timing and recognition on the block, becoming a bigger factor in that area.

Marais first popped out to Prep Dig Iowa with her play for Prairie at the Prep Dig Sizzle in August of 2024. It was a heavy swing for a freshman and a confidence that belied her age. Those strengths have only grown in the time since that encounter. Marais has raised her level of play through last club season, during her sophomore season with the Prairie Hawks in the fall and again this club year with United 16-1 Elite. The athletic outside hitter was performing well when we saw her at the 2026 Adidas Windy City National Qualifier during Easter weekend in Chicago. Marais was finding success competing against some of the country’s best in the Open Division. She’s explosive off of the court, flashes a big vertical and generates power in her swing. Marais has increased her efficiency during the last few years, has improved as a blocker and become more comfortable flowing with the action. She’s also proficient hitting at the opposite pin, giving college coaches something else to like.

My first time scouting Marais happened at the Prep Dig Sizzle last August. Her athleticism, quick jumping and vertical leap impressed me right away. Marais also had power in her swing for a freshman. She worked out the kinks and improved her skills as last season advanced, and she’s taken her game up another notch with a United outfit that will test itself in the AAU open division next month. Marais should be a bigger piece of the puzzle for the Prairie Hawks in 2025 after coming up with 97 kills as a ninth-grader.