10 Players We're Watching at the Triple Crown NIT: Class of 2028

After highlighting the 2029s to watch at the Triple Crown NIT, we shift the focus one class up to the 2028 group. As the best tournament of the year, the NIT consistently provides the deepest fields and most meaningful matchups on the club calendar, making it the ideal setting to evaluate how players perform when the level is at its highest.

While our coverage this weekend will span every age group, this article zeroes in on the 2028 class, a group that is beginning to establish itself nationally and separate at the top. These are the 2028s we’re most looking forward to watching as they compete on the biggest stage of the season and look to elevate their games against elite competition.

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Ava Lazar, OH – OTVA  - Red Level

 A high-effort outside with a long, athletic frame who works hard to find quality swings. Her competitiveness shows on every play. Continued growth in passing and defense could really separate her and raise her PPV. Excited to see how her back-row game has developed.

Molly Monday, Setter – Tribe -  Silver Level

 One of the most advanced setters we’ve seen in this class out of Florida. She runs a great tempo, connects well with her middles, and shows excellent feel for when to jump set and when to stay grounded. Her back set is particularly deceptive. Can’t wait to see her compete against elite competition this weekend.

McKenzie Andrews, MB – Legacy - Silver Level

 A USAV 17U Junior National Team selection with the size and length colleges covet at the middle blocker position. She’s added noticeable strength to her game and should be drawing plenty of attention from college coaches throughout the weekend.

Amiya Bryant, MB – TAV Houston - Red Level

 A very physical and dynamic middle with impressive explosiveness. She’s quick off the ground with strong lateral mobility, allowing her to impact the game on both sides of the net. A versatile prospect who could fit a wide range of systems, we’re very interested to see who’s tracking her this weekend.

Taylor Willeford, OH – Alliance Elite - Orange Level

 Arguably Alliance’s top performer in the two tournaments they’ve played this season. She’s become a consistent offensive threat thanks to her verticality, and her back-row skills continue to improve now that she’s getting more opportunities there. Alliance will be one of several teams pushing to move into the NIT from BlueHawk, and Taylor will be a big reason why if they get there.

Kinsley Whitfield, Libero – FaR Out - Red Level

 Brings good size, balance, and excellent body control. Her passing technique stands out, particularly her ability to maintain posture when handling deep serves. Solid defensively without being flashy. She has the skill set to develop into a high-level libero at the next level.

Mary George, Setter – MoCo Mavs - Elite Orange Level

 A balanced setter with good feet, a clean release, and the athleticism to jump set effectively. MoCo is another team looking to move up into the NIT from BlueHawk, and if they make that push, it will be in large part due to Mary’s ability to lead the offense.

Tristyn Ervin, Setter – NPJ Portland - Elite Orange Level

 A well-rounded setter who does a nice job keeping her feet underneath her to push tempo, particularly to the outside. Her willingness to be an offensive threat herself keeps opposing blockers guessing. She’ll be aiming to lead NPJ into the NIT with a strong BlueHawk performance and should be a fun watch.

Morgan Choi, Libero – Adversity - Orange Level

 Shows a clean platform and good overall touch in serve receive. Defensively, she reads the game well, stays low, and moves efficiently to keep balls alive. This weekend presents a strong opportunity for her to raise her PPV and take another step forward.

Reese Moriarty, OH – Houston Juniors - Elite Orange Level

 A steady riser in our PPV rankings since creating her profile last year. She’s right on the cusp of the red level, and this weekend will be a great test to see if she can make that jump with a strong showing against top competition.