The Prospect Report: July 14th

The Prospect Report: Who Are They TalkingAbout

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Boesiger to rest and learn.  2027Setter Malorie Boesiger has played in plenty of big volleyball matches and her training habits aren’t questioned.  The Nebraska native has been battling knee pain that has limited her on and off during the club season.  The injury acted up again early during USA Nationals that ended her run.  So though it isn’t easy for the competitive Boesiger she will attend Select camps at Nebraska and Wisconsin, but only as a spectator.  She hopes to get to two more camps before the end of July also.  Malorie had to do the exact same thing in June when she attended Creighton and Minnesota camps.  She may have learned more by watching and interacting with staff than she would have playing.  ****And her injury is not serious, she will be just fine, just a stress injury that needs to heal.  Great news for Nebraska #1 prospect in 2027.

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Ireland and Ward just built differently:  I get the opportunity to talk to many great athletes.  I often talk about leadership and locker room assets.  Now we are still getting to know MUCH of this class, but initial thoughts I see the IT factor in a couple athletes.  But, I like to look for a little more and it’s not in everyone I just call it the IT factor and I think those are athletes that can be like special on a national stage (Skylar Pierce has IT)

Early on I get this feeling about Ireland Real.  How she interviews, how she handles herself on/off the court and how she lays (team first her second).  I have also felt this way about Caroline Ward since I first interviewed her in February.  It was especially impressive because she stood out playing with 16’s.  I can’t put a finger on it, but it is almost like they are wise beyond their years in how they handle themselves.

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Peyton Kubik has continued to be a popular name since we mentioned her earlier this week.  Turns out she had a pretty dominatining 15u season in generals for Dynasty.  **If anyone from that club can contact us with her parents or Peyton we would love to interview her we have not been able to connect for months.

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Don’t get passed up:  Had a couple coaches make the comment at nationals “She really needs to get on a strength program to keep up”.  You are definitely seeing the clubs that are making strength, flexibility, and nutrition training a direct partof their training program.  Especially with the time commitment being asked, there has to be time for these athletes to gain strength and recover and grow.  

It is amazing the hours these athletes put in, but strength training is 100% a part of it in today’s game.

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Tessa Larkin is just a solid volleyball player.  Many standouts on the AZ Storm team, but Larkin just seems rock solid in what she does on the court.  Now my guess, for her, would be does she continue to grow and what is her ceiling?  I think you already have a very strong arm, they can pass and is over 6’0 touches 122” (at 15) if she can grow one more inch or dang two??? Been going back and forth on her initial PPV all week, but it’s high.  To me she’s all of a Gabby DiVita???  

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Brynn Stephens TAV dual threat.  We had watched Brynn at a previous NTDP and loved as one of the premier setters in the class and have heard that is where she will be in college, but for her TAV team she’s used in more of a Danielle Whitmire role.  It seems like colleges are mixed on this when it comes to recruiting (and things sure worked well for Whitmire and Penn State), but by earning All-Tournament what Stephen's did show is that she is talented no matter what her role.

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Hayden Mandsager is that prototypical power midwest OH that has really caught our eye since becoming a Player Profile.  We like her numbers and playing for REV out of Indiana just keep an eye on her as next season begins.

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Bros on the Watch:  A couple of the early names for top liberos in the class of 2027 that we are hearing.  The most common name we have heard all season is Gemma Hopkins (who plays up with 16s Houston Jrs) check her Player Profile to learn more.  Pulelehua Laikona (AZ Storm) first impressions fantastic player on a fantastic team.  I also like Cora Bicknese who has a year playing up with 16s for Vital VB in Minnesota.

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2026 News:

Look for many commits in the next week as soon as prospects return from camps and get to see campus and talk to coaching staff.  This is when things really picked up in 2025.  So expect quite few commits to come.

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Three of our favorite Setters in the class still remain in Zora Bello (Houston Jrs), Emma Keeping (Michigan Elite) and Reese Stringer (Long Beach Mizuno) just to show some of the depth still remaining.

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