Class of 2026 Just a Typical Example of Why Louisville has become a Volleyball Force

A year ago, I'm not sure one of these athletes wowed anyone nationally, maybe Thiebaud (Setter), and that was probably because she was the Setter for a girl who would commit to Nebraska and Wisconsin.  There weren't many Top 10 programs doing deep dives on Amirra Bailey, Jordyn Gray, or Ellie Strecker.  If they were, trust me there were plenty of question marks on those eval reports and not many exclamation points. 

Not the Cardinal Staff, they were set on their target group and felt confident in the player evaluations that they had done.  Even if the national websites didn't agree with them by their "rankings," the Louisville coaches trusted their list.  You had to do some scrolling to find names like Bailey, Gray, and Strecker on some of the national rankings, but the 'Cards knew, especially with Bailey, the local kid from a small club (which often plays a role in where you get ranked). 

Talent evaluation and being correct on "undervalued prospects" have been trademarks that have helped Louisville rise to become a national powerhouse under DBK and her staff.  That and keeping the hometown talent they need.  That was the case with Priority #1 Amirra Bailey PPV 265 (she just earned Gold Level status this week).  Since giving her verbal in the Summer, Amira has been invited to her first USA VB NTDP training series session and opened many national eyes there.  

Can Card fans think of any time in the past when the Louisville staff recruited a couple of OHs who were explosive and powerful but maybe just a little bit undersized??? (we can think of a couple of examples playing US Pro ball right now).  Well, welcome Jordyn Gray PPV 240 She came in last Spring as a raw athlete who almost lost at the NTDP session; less than half a year a year later, she has exploded, and that same USA VB staff is loving her in training sessions, and some are singling her out as having one of the highest ceilings of any in the class!!!

Then there is Ellie Strecker, PPV 193 from Indiana, who has already started to hit that growth spurt and comes from a volleyball hotbed, so she knows how to compete.  She is like a few other former middles brought into The 'Ville, undersized and needing a year or so to develop, and they have turned into major pieces to Final Four squads.  Strecker is fundamentally sound and knows how to play volleyball at a very high level.

At Setter, the one the staff coveted all along, and this is the result of program success.  Thiebaud PPV 253 has played in plenty of big matches and has been to all the training and USA VB events, so she is ready to come in immediately and compete on the biggest stage. She was available only because of Louisville and their recent Winning reputation and success. That is what it takes to get a Top 5 Setter in a class nowadays.

So individually, if you look at any one of them, they may not scream Player of the Year of All-American, but collectively they say, "One Damn Good Volleyball Class".  That is exactly what Louisville Volleyball is become known for and what has made them into a powerhouse for several years now.  They know how to evaluate talent,  they don't miss on many athletes, and they know what prospects they are in the running for, and they land them.

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This class might not be flashy, but it's much better than National Websites give it credit for, and it makes the best back-to-back classes in Cardinal Volleyball History (not even close).