Part of two programs (Providence and Union) that emphasize ball control and a high volleyball IQ, Rylie is an athletic, quick-footed setter that gets to every ball without complaint regardless of where it is passed. She’s been to a couple of our showcases at PrepDig, and has shown herself to be a plug-and-play 5-1 setter in any situation with any combination of hitters she’s given.

Easily the most athletic setter we’re watching in the class of 2029, Rylie’s ability to turn a bad pass into an in-system set is mature beyond her years. What helps that ability is her flawless footwork, strong and high hands and a knack for feeding the right hitter in the right situation. We’ve seen her at our showcases in the past calendar year, and has already proven to us her ability to be a plug-and-play setter for the next level.

Already showcasing her talents at our Exposure Tour a month ago, Rylie is a solid, consistent and quick setter that has “future D1 player” written all over her. Maturity seeps out of every pore, and does things on a volleyball court you wouldn’t expect from a kid this young. With high, deceptive hands, a knack for finding the right hitter in the right situation and footwork that looks innate, Rylie is the future of setting in southern Indiana, and will be part of Providence’s continued success in the coming years.

Playing taller than her height might indicate, Rylie’s speed, quickness, strong hands and smart choices have carried her this far, and is one of the best setting recruits for the class of ‘29. On Saturday, she continued that ideal, taking bad passes and making them better for all of her hitters, while also defending her position at an above-average level. Providence and Union are lucky to have such a mature and athletic setter at the helm, and should be drawing attention of recruiters sooner rather than later.

Quick, smart and athletic, Rylie was an immediate impact on arrival at our Freshman Showcase last month. Her ability to make smart choices within the offense while not trying to be the heroine is a nice trait she carries. With her ability to do all things on the volleyball court, she’s a captain in the making, with a high volleyball IQ.

Strong and consistent, Rylie was one of the few that was spot on with every located ball she set. Even in out-of-system plays, Rylie’s ability to get her feet to the ball to finish a set stood out among the other freshman setters on Sunday. She also plays bigger than her 5’8″ frame—her hands always contacted the ball high, and she received the pass in the same spot every time, making her that much more deceptive. In short, she made the hitters she was with better because of her set location.

Along with Szawinski, Rylie was a Top Performer for me at the Freshman Showcase. She has a definite swagger and confidence about her that you don’t find in most incoming freshman. This allows her to lead the floor, even when she doesn’t know anyone she is playing with. This floor leadership is exactly what you look for in a high-level setter yet seldom see in a player this age; for Neal it seems to come naturally. At first, I thought she was an OH because of how she was passing and swinging in the back row during queen of the court play, so when I saw her setting, I was taken aback. Rylie is clearly well-rounded as a player and can do it all (which is a Providence H.S. player standard), from passing, attacking, setting and blocking. I was most impressed by her ability to jump set the RS accurately over and over again, and she was REALLY good at keeping tightly passed balls on her side of the net for her teammates to get a good attack on. If you love watching confident AND competent setters, Neal is one you should keep an eye on.