It’s been just over two months since the recruiting period for the Class of 2025 officially opened and what a whirlwind It’s been since then. There has seemingly been a big-time announcement every day as players give verbals to their future collegiate program and home. We check in on the five programs leading the way to date. It should come as no surprise that four of the five are the regular powerhouses which typically bring in the top recruits. However, the fifth one may surprise most with Texas AM joining the likes of Wisconsin, Nebraska, Texas and Minnesota. Check out our analysis below.
NEBRASKA
• Campbell Flynn S Legacy (5-star)
• Teraya Sigler OH AZ Storm (5-star)
• Ryan Hunter RS Triangle (5-star)
• Keri Leimbach L Nebraska One (4-star)
Breakdown: Yes, we know it comes as a total shock to see Nebraska in this position. While the Huskers trail Wisconsin in total number of 5-star recruits, the caliber of talent Nebraska has landed is hard to surpass. Sigler, without question, is the top all-around outside in the class and anchors a strong recruiting class. She guided Arizona Storm 16 Thunder to the 16 Open gold medal at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships this summer and plays high school for Horizon. She’s a physical outside who hits with as much power and force as anyone. She’s also a strong passer out of serve receive and a solid defender. She figures to fit right in when she gets to Lincoln. Flynn, who plays for Legacy in club and Mercy in high school, is one of the top two setters in the class. At 6-3, she’s taller than a lot of outside hitters. Her placement and ability to run an offense is next-level. Her aggressiveness in being a threat to score on two while in the front row is a big bonus, as well as her being able to put up a huge block too. Hunter, a 6-2 lefty right side, hasn’t been playing volleyball as long as others but has quickly ascended the charts. She broke out on everyone’s radar playing up an age for CJV 16 during the 2021-2022 club season. She continued playing up an age group this past season for Triangle 17 Black, which tied for fifth in 17 Open in Chicago. She plays high school for Mallard Creek. She’s one of the more athletic and explosive hitters in the class, regardless of position. The scary part is how much better she can continue to get as she gains valuable experience and coaching and helps fill out a tall incoming class. We wrap up with Leimbach, who played for Nebraska One 16 Synergy and helped her team to a bronze medal in 16 Open at the USAV GJNC. She’s a fiery libero who brings tons of energy and passion to the lineup. Leimbach – who plays high school at Lincoln Lutheran – is a strong passer and defender and is part of the reason why Nebraska could be considered the front runner in terms of recruiting classes.
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WISCONSIN
• Kristen Simon L KIVA (5-star)
• Madison Quest OH Milwaukee Sting (5-star)
• Natalie Wardlow MB Nebraska One (5-star)
• Addison Horner S/OPP 1st Alliance (5-star)
Breakdown: With four, 5-star recruits already on board, it’s easy to see why the Badgers are among the front runners so far. We recently featured Quest as one of our Players of the Week. The 6-3 outside suited up this past club season for MKE Sting 16 Gold and is currently playing high school for Divine Savior Holy Angels. She’s a lanky outside with a whippy arm who can score equally well front and back row. She’s part of a tall class for the Badgers that also includes 6-5 Wardlow and 6-3 Horner. Wardlow has been on the radar of top programs for years with her size and ability to impact both sides of the net. She’s a strong hitter and blocker and fits the mold of some recent Wisconsin middles with similar builds. She helped lift Nebraska One to a bronze medal in 16 Open this summer at the USAV GJNC. She plays high school for Lincoln Southwest. As for Horner, she burst onto the scene this season after joining 1st Alliance 16 Gold, which took home the silver medal in 16 Open. She clearly has the length and versatility to be a high-level Division 1 talent. She showed off her ability to both set and hit at an above-average level this past club season. It remains to be seen if she’ll stay in that role once in college, but she will bring roster flexibility to be certain. Simon was part of the KiVA 16 Red squad that captured the 16 Open gold medal at the AAU National Championships. She started making lots of waves last high school season starring at libero for nationally-ranked Assumption. She opened the club season splitting time at libero but soon took over the role for good and continued to prove that she is one of the best at her position in the country. She helps fill out a balanced incoming class so far for the Badgers, who are the only school thus far with four, 5-star commits.
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MINNESOTA
• Kelly Kinney OH Tribe (5-star)
• Jordan Taylor MB HJV (5-star)
• Carly Gilk RS MN Select (4-star)
• McKenna Garr L Northern Lights (3-star)
Breakdown: New Gophers coach Keegan Cook is off to a terrific beginning in terms of recruiting. That’s not surprising given his success at Washington and the type of program Minnesota has been. The biggest commit so far is Taylor. At 6-5, Taylor is arguably the top middle in the class. Her length and the way she moves should translate well to the collegiate level. She can get up and go over blockers with ease. She played this past club season for Houston Jrs and is part of the Langham Creek high school team. She’s one of two 5-star recruits, with Kinney being the other. Kinney, who plays high school at The King’s Academy, wasn’t seen on a national stage two club seasons ago playing for Boomers. Still, that didn’t prevent her from being a known name and a sought after recruit. But she did have an impressive year for Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal this past season in helping her team to the bronze medal in 16 Open. At 6-2, she has the size to star in college. She’s also a strong attacker with a loose arm who can damage defenses from sideline to sideline. Gilk is another one who switched clubs this past season, as she suited up for MN Select 16-1. In high school, she plays for Champlin Park. She too is a 6-2 with all-around skills. She played six rotations in club, including passing out of serve receive. The lefty will bring that type of versatility to the Gophers’ lineup, as well as her physical attacking. Garr is another local product who plays for Northern Lights, which tied for fifth in 16 Open this past club season. She’s a sound passer with good court demeanor and presence. She’s not one to get rattled or intimidated. Together, Taylor, Kinney, Gilk and Garr have Minnesota currently among the top classes in the country.
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TEXAS
• Addison Gaido RS Austin Skyline (5-star)
• Abby Vander Wal OH 1st Alliance (5-star)
• Callie Krueger L Austin Skyline (4-star)
Breakdown: Programs like Texas don’t rebuild. They simply reload. Case in point is the Longhorns’ recruits from the Class of 2025 so far. At 6-3, with her size and length, Vander Wal has been among the top prospects in her class for years. However, she really broke out this past season with 1st Alliance in lifting her squad to the 16 Open silver medal. She added a lot of strength and power this season and it elevated her to one of the top outsides in the country. She’s a legit threat front and back row and her big arm should translate well to the next level. Like Vander Wal, Gaido’s height was always attractive when it comes to the collegiate game. At 6-5 and touching well over 10 feet, she can swing over blocks as well as putting up a huge one of her own. She’s been a key part of her Austin Skyline teams that past couple of club seasons and is currently playing high school for Georgetown. Joining Vander Wal and Gaido is Gaido’s club teammate Krueger. She was among the first commits in the class and similar to the other programs above, helps bring nice balance to the class with her defensive presence. Krueger is playing high school for Cedar Park.
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TEXAS AM
• Megan Fitch OH Alamo (5-star)
• Kirra Musgrove S/RS Houston Skyline (5-star)
• Taryn Morris MB TAV (4-star)
Breakdown: First-year coach Jamie Morrison has come out of the gates hot, landing two, 5-star recruits and another 4-star who could rise to 5-star level. Fitch became a household name two seasons ago when she carried Alamo 15 Premier to the 15 Open USAV gold medal as the only at-large recipient in the field. The 6-2 outside starred in high school as well, playing for Cornerstone Christian. She has a big arm and lots of range. She’s an aggressive, physical attacker with a high motor and plenty of competitiveness. Her commitment alone would have been enough for the Aggies to make waves, but she is back by two more high-level players in Musgrove and Morris. Musgrove stood out last year as a two-player for Houston Jrs. She made the switch to Houston Skyline this past club season and moved up an age group as well to play in the 17s. She plays high school for Lutheran South Academy. Musgrove is 6-2 but is lanky and seems to play longer than that even. She’s a solid setter with the ability to locate and move the ball around effortlessly. She can also bring it on the attack. She has a high contact point and hits with plenty of pace. Morris is an intriguing prospect. She was not as established coming into this past club season as Fitch and Musgrove. However, she had a breakout season playing for Drive Nation on the right side. She’ll make the move back to TAV for next club season. She has plenty of length at 6-3 and is only going to get stronger. Her attacking improved a lot throughout the season as she started hitting with much more power and pace. She also is a dynamic blocker. Together, the three recruits have Texas AM off to one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
