Stock Risers and Summer Bash Standouts Featured in New Rankings
The season of updated rankings is upon us! In case you missed it, we’ve recently put out new rankings for the Class of 2021 and 2022. A lot of careful consideration and collaboration goes into these rankings which, of course,…
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Continue ReadingThe season of updated rankings is upon us!
In case you missed it, we’ve recently put out new rankings for the Class of 2021 and 2022. A lot of careful consideration and collaboration goes into these rankings which, of course, represent only a snapshot of where we think things stand right now. So, look for the rankings to be shuffled again following the conclusion of the high school season.
With new rankings comes new analysis. After all, that’s why we change our rankings in the first place: players evolve! Updates like these ultimately reflect how evaluations of certain athletes have changed over time. But, again, evaluations don’t stop here. There’s a lot of volleyball in our future, and I plan to be there to watch it.
Upon looking at the updates that have been produced so far, there are a variety of trends that emerge. Certain themes stand out. When forming a set of rankings, it can be challenging to make minuscule, subjective comparisons between one player and another. We can, however, begin to see clear patterns materialize as our list comes together.
I want to talk about a couple of those patterns today. Here are some highlights and names to know from our newly released rankings.
Rising Up
There’s an incredible number of stock risers throughout our new rankings for both classes, and it’s impossible to cover them all. But I’ll try my best.
I’ll start with two names to watch from the Nebraska Juniors 16 Black squad. First up is Harlei Cole Harlei Cole 5'6" | DS/L Papillion-La Vista South | 2022 State NE , a 2022 libero from Papio South. Cole is no stranger to the big stage, as her backcourt skills were pivotal in the Titans’ improbable march to last year’s Class A title. This gritty defender makes a sizable jump in our newest rankings after making a big impression in recent club scrimmages (with highlights here!). In a class full of elite liberos, look for Cole to rise through the ranks and create some buzz of her own.
And what about Cole’s club teammate who stands six feet, seven inches tall? Middle blocker Ital Lopuyo Ital Lopuyo 6'7" | MB Omaha Central | 2022 State #134 Nation NE is a stock riser in our 2022 rankings for two reasons: her amazing potential and admirable work ethic. Lopuyo wants to be an elite athlete, and it shows. Her colossal reach continues to get higher and higher, and her technique is improving all the time. I can also use her multiple D1 offers as proof of this claim.
Our new 2021 rankings show, too, that it is never too late to climb the ladder and make yourself known. Keep your eye on players like Overton’s Haley Fleischman. This six-foot middle’s cannon arm and quick feet have garnered attention from a few scouts on this site, as well as from college recruiters. She’s a matchup nightmare along the net who has helped put her small-town school on the map. Fleischman is surely looking to end her prep career at the state championships this fall, and there’s no doubt that this goal is well within reach.
Summer Bash Stars
It’s no coincidence that many other stock risers in our new rankings were standout performers at last month’s Prep Dig Omaha Summer Bash. As I’ve mentioned previously, events like the Summer Bash provide excellent opportunities to gather fresh scouting reports on a wide range of athletes. This is especially true given the circumstances we currently face, with many players hitting the court for their first live competition in several months. Consider it another chance to make a “first” impression!
I’ve already talked at length about Waverly’s tandem of elite 2022 athletes, Hannah Allick Hannah Allick 5'6" | S Waverly | 2022 State NE and Karsen VanScoy Karsen VanScoy 5'4" | DS/L Waverly | 2022 State NE , both of whom made a huge leap in our latest rankings. I saw plenty in Omaha to justify their move up the board. Allick had superb command at the setting position of her new team, while VanScoy led the back row with tremendous precision. Waverly is a serious threat for the Class B title.
@KarsenVanscoy has taken control of the backcourt for @Waverlyvikesvb. Perfect transition dig leads to another transition kill. pic.twitter.com/ukSwiCcez4
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) July 17, 2020
Meanwhile, I’ve marked down Emily Hagedorn Emily Hagedorn 5'11" | OH Millard South | 2022 State NE and Ellie Dougherty Ellie Dougherty 5'11" | OH Omaha Mercy | 2022 State NE as two 2022 outside hitters to watch after both had stellar performances at the Summer Bash. Hagedorn makes an emphatic debut in our rankings at the #44 spot after taking over the Millard South offense last month. Previously described by yours truly as an “effortless flyer”, this is an outside hitter whose athleticism is sure to take over matches soon and often. Dougherty, likewise, showed a knack for terminating on the left pin for Omaha Mercy. She’ll continue to be a force when fall ball gets started.
While these are the two big trends that stood out as I looked at our new rankings, we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface regarding rankings content. As we get tantalizingly close to the start of the high school season, we will continue to feature more players who deserve the spotlight as play gets back underway.
I can’t wait to be a part of it all.