Decision '26: Recent Verbal Commitments

Decision ‘26:

What Are They Getting In Recent Verbal Commitments

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Zora Bello Setter Houston Juniors - Rice University, Owls

Bello leads on the court through her game, running a fast-paced offense to beat the opposing defense and her ability to keep consistent accuracy in her location has set her apart. She is a natural athlete who is quick with her footwork to get her hands under the ball and has a high contact point that allows her to be deceptive with her sets. Heading to compete in the USA conference for the Owls, Bello will make a name for herself as she continues to develop into a setter who defends at a high level and uses her knowledge of the game to make decisions.  

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Merritt Sliwa Outside Hitter Rev - Ball State University, Cardinal

A powerhouse attacker from the left side, she is difficult to stop when she gets on top of the ball and uses her strong court vision to find open spots in the defense. Sliwa is an impact player, whether it’s her disciplined footwork and patience while blocking or her aggressiveness in serve receive, she will bring high level talent to the Cardinal. Her length at 6’1 allows her to reach balls outside her body on defense and her explosive approach paired with a heavy arm makes her a solid six rotation recruit for Ball State.

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Teagan Pocius Middle Blocker Rockwood Thunder - College of Willam and Mary, Tribe

Pocius is an athlete who just seems to continue getting better over the years, and now has gained more national attention for her game. A middle blocker that was named to the USAV USA division All-Tournament Team, she is a solid blocker at the net who covers a lot of court with her hands and comes up with big time blocks to give her team momentum. On offense she is resilient, often finding a way to score off the net or moving the ball around to keep the defense on their toes.

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Emma Keeping Setter Michigan Elite - Wake Forest University, Deacons

A versatile lefty setter who has experience attacking in the front row, named as the #4 ranked recruit out of Michigan in a talented 2026 class. With a strong feel for the game, she is a decisive setter who controls the offense and gets all of her attackers involved. Her athleticism shines in the back court with impressive plays on defense and her ability to be a dominant attacker in the front row or utilize a setter dump. The Deacons are getting an all around athlete that will affect the game from multiple positions.

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Emma Frietch Libero NKYVC - University of Tennessee, Volunteers  

Frietch does a solid job controlling the back court, remaining stopped on defense and making simple moves outside her body on hard driven contacts. She works hard to push the ball to the net to keep her team in system and covers a lot of court in the left back, while taking on responsibility in serve receive. The Volunteers have a reliable defender heading to their program that will challenge the level in the gym.

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MaryGrace Gonyeau Outside Hitter Triangle - University of Virginia, Hoosiers

Gonyeau can unload on the ball when she gets her feet there, an athlete that works hard to be patient on her attack and builds a lot of power in her approach. She has solid footwork in serve receive and transition to put herself in the best position to score for her team, one of her best skills is her ability to read the hitters approach to line up on blocking. Staying close to home on the East Coast to join a program that is working to improve and Gonyeau will help them do that.

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