Welcome to Show: The Class of 2025 is on Campus... Possible B1G lineup crackers Pt. 1

First of all, it's May, and when you are stuffed full of graduation cake and your feed is packed with graduation pics, it's only natural you reminisce a little bit.  So before our very own Class of 2025, Sasha walks across the stage next week, we gave her the assignment to take a look at the P4 (minus her Huskers) and look at possibilities for playing time as a Freshman.  This was our first full class VBAdrenaline covered when we started our national website in 2023 so it's fun to look back and now wish them luck as they leap.

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As May dwindles to a close, top recruits from across the country, who have not already arrived in January, please report to the campuses of their chosen schools. As per usual, the Big Ten has accumulated a vast range of fresh talent, some of whom have the potential to break into the starting lineup and be largely impactful for their team. I will be excluding the Husker Freshman from this list, as I have already broken down each of their play styles and potential in-depth on the Husker Watch fan page. That being said, here are the top incoming faces to watch this next season. (Please note that the current PPV’s listed are subject to change by August).

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Abigail Mullen (PPV 296) – USC: One of the most coveted recruits of the class, Mullen could be a game-changer for the Trojans, who recently lost a lot of talent to graduation and the portal. While she is listed as an opposite on the roster, the 6-3 hitter has training on both pins and has proven to be terminal. Her high school accolades speak for themselves: AVCA All-America First Team, Under Armour All-American, four-time First Team All-Conference, and competing with the USA U19 and U21 teams. She is an excellent all-around player who can kill the ball from anywhere on the court, making her a constant threat for opponents. Mullen’s heavy arm, court awareness, and high-level experience will significantly bolster the South California offense, and lay the bedrock for a very successful career.

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Reese Messer (PPV 287) – USC: The Women of Troy grab another strong addition in the 5-11 setter out of Kansas. Regarded as one of the top prospects in her position, Messer was named to the watch-list for the ACVA Girls High School National Player of the Year, as well as a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee. She was described by her coach as a “game-changing offensive force,” and praised for her leadership, versatility, and competitive spirit. Not only that, but she played club with the Mullen as mentioned earlier, and their connection could be a large facet of the offense. USC, who just lost their All-American setter in Mia Tuaniga, will certainly be in good hands with this freshman.

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Kelly Kinney (PPV 275) – Minnesota: The 6-2 attacker is among some of the best outsides in the class, her game characterized by impressive court vision and smart attacking choices. Kinney has trained with NTDP, played for the u19 National Team, and was listed as a top 50 player in the nation. She describes herself as the “type of player who would do anything the team needs me to do to win,” and says her ultimate goal is to win a Big Ten and National Championship. Considering Minnesota already has some solid outsides in their arsenal, don’t be surprised if Kinney is utilized on the right.

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Aniya Warren (PPV 260) – Wisconsin: Originally committed to Indiana and Purdue, the 5-8 libero finally settled on the Badgers; her “final destination.” With her quick reflexes and reaction time, Warren has distinguished herself among the top ranked defensive specialists in the class. She was among only 26 players invited to the Under Armor All-American game, as well as several NTDP training sessions. In the wake of Lola Schumacher's transfer to UCLA, Warren – Kristen Simon and Maile Chan – will have the chance to battle it out for the libero jersey.

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Madison Quest (PPV 254) – Wisconsin: In the spring games, Quest was a major standout for the Badgers – opening the match hitting 1.000 on six kills, finishing with 8 kills on a .533 clip. The 6-3 hitter, who typically plays on the outside, filled in for Grace Lopez on the right (who tore her ACL and will be out for the season) and didn’t seem to skip a beat. Her playing was impressive, and her on-court demeanor seemed more like a seasoned veteran than a freshman playing her first game. While Sheffield has stated that he's looking for another opposite in the portal, Quest has certainly made the case for herself to be a starter.