Akrie, a Louisville recruit, walks into the gym and all eyes go to her and her prototype, well-muscled volleyball build. Watch her warm up and you’re certain she’ll be the star of stars. Akrie is an unmistakable athlete with unlimited potential who moves and jumps smoothly. Akrie’s unlimited potential is tempered only by the investment she wants to make in herself.
Mallory Husz
6’1” | MB | Lewis Central (Council Bluffs, Iowa) | Top Ten Elite—Iowa
A three-sport athlete, Husz is an explosive leaper who jumps quickly and stays in the air a long time. Her slide attack is vicious. Very quick laterally and smart, Husz is a big blocking presence at the net even though she lacks ideal size. She plans on majoring in nursing, meaning she can hurt you with her powerful strikes then heal you all at the same time.
Completely unknown nationally until she touched well over 10’ at a vendor booth at the Big South qualifier, Bahr is a left-hander whose leaping ability, smooth athleticism and powerful swing are hard to ignore. She’ll be a right side in college and could be an all-conference or All-American at Georgia when she gets proper training. She has all the intangibles to suggest she’ll reach those goals.
Dana Loganbill
6’1” | MB | Moundridge (Kan.) | Shockwave—Wichita State
Loganbill committed so early to the in-state Shockers that many forgot about this tremendous leaper with the blazing arm. They’ll remember quickly when she torches them, whether it’s from her familiar middle blocker position or on the outside. Loganbill’s attacking, blocking, serving and defense are at or near elite level.
Sarah Hibbert
6’1” | OH/MB | South Anchorage (Alaska) | Midnight Sun—Utah
The best ever from Alaska, Hibbert, the 2006 Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year, is long, athletic and physical with great ball control. A natural leader, her aggressive mentality, size and athletic ability should lend itself well to her becoming a terminator on the outside for the Utes early in her career.
Kim Maroon
5’9” | Lib. | F. Cox (Va. Beach, Va.) | Coastal Virginia—Uncommitted
Left-handed with a great serve and boundless athleticism, Maroon projects as a collegiate libero. A natural coach on the floor whose desire to win is contagious, Maroon’s ability to pass and read hitters, court sense and quickness will help her emerge as one of the college game’s best in the back row.
Jessica Oliver
6’1” | OH/RS | Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Tex.) | Dal. Force—SMU
Oliver’s game is power. When she attacks, she doesn’t hold back, using her strong core developed from weight training to deliver unrivaled force to the ball. An elite athlete, Oliver would be notable in any sport she played. Luckily, she chose volleyball, where her exceptional leaping ability, overall strength and competitive nature should pay dividends at SMU.
Chanteal Satele
5’10” | RS | Word of Life (Honolulu Hawaii) | Imi Ike—St. Mary’s
Satele has a million-dollar arm and the volleyball IQ to match. From a family of athletes playing in the NFL, Satele is an all-around volleyball player who can hit, block and serve with the best of them. Her ability to crush the ball and dominate behind the service line makes her one of the most feared players in Hawaii.
Kelly Rhein
5’11” | OH | York (Pa.) Catholic | Mizuno Yorktowne—Virginia
Hailing from Pennsylvania, where publicity for volleyball is virtually non-existent, colleges didn’t discover Rhein until she sent them a tape. They were wowed by her boundless athleticism, which included an explosive and high leap, strong frame and powerful strike. A great locker room kid, too, Rhein should be special for the Wahoos with some focused training.
Starsha Tunstall
5’10” | MB/OH | East Providence (R.I.) | RI Jrs—New Hampshire
All athlete, Tunstall has had no weight training, yet already reaches the rafters with a 10’4” approach. Imagine what she will do with the proper training? Motivated to be a complete player, look for Tunstall on the beach honing her ball handling and defense before she heads to UNH, where she is expected to play on the pins.
Described as having “crazy athleticism,” Rucker, who will play volleyball and basketball at Louisville, grabs the rim with ease, soaring beyond 10’4”, and has uncanny timing on her approach. Blessed with a phenomenal arm and a desire to improve, this non-club player’s untapped potential is off the charts.
Wiggs has all the metrics to be an impact player in the Pac-10. She jumps well over 10’, hits high, has a very fast arm, blocks at the biceps, is powerfully built and is ultra competitive. Better yet, she has a high capacity for learning and a strong desire to get better. At a summer camp, she entered goofy footed and left a conventional jumper just a few days later.
