Class of '27 Top 10 Liberos

Class of 2027 Top 10 Liberos

VBAdrenaline

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#1 Elizabeth Bower - Idaho Crush - Louisville COMMIT

Bower didn’t get a tryout for the US National teams, but she did get offers from Louisville, Kentucky and Wisconsin and was invited to the UA All-American Match. So that means that she was the first option for Craig Skinner, Dan Meske and Kelly Sheffield. Plus Russ Rose and Mike Lingefelter thought she was pretty damn good as well. I have no idea what the Team USA didn’t see in her, but I trust what Skinner, Sheffield and Meske liked and I’ve seen her carry a smaller club team vs. all the larger club teams. Louisville fans will love her and she fits their culture perfectly and even though they have some veteran experience returning, Bower is that good she will at least give them a serious challenge all season for some playing time.

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#2 Mallory Johnson - Far Out Volleyball - Nebraska COMMIT

Johnson has the perfect demeanor to be the next libero at Nebraska. You can listen to my interview with her for free on our YouTube, but she hooked me at Dream Team Camp. Ultimate competitor and smooth. Liv Mauch demeanor and understands the expectations and the assignment at Nebraska. She also is fine with fans talking about everyone else on the team, but her she will simply outwork everyone until she gets a shot. Do not sleep on Johnson she is very underrated because she played at a smaller club her entire career much like Bower.

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#3 Cora Bicknese - Vital Volleyball - Michigan State COMMIT

Another small town libero that is underrated nationally, but Kristen Kelsey and staff know what they are getting in the Minnesota prospect. Don’t be surprised if Cora pushes for early time in the Sparty lineup and is soon one of the Big Ten’s top DS/Liberos. She has that potential.

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#4 Kate Kalczynki - Legacy Volleyball - Penn State COMMIT

The Legacy standout has been an elite six-rotation OH her entire career, but look for her to be the libero in waiting for the Nittany Lions and what a physical libero Kate would be. She is already and excellent passer who moves very well. Her volleyball IQ is high and she has zero poblem putting in the time to do what it takes to master the new position.  

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#5 Pulelehua Laikona - AZ Storm - Nebraska COMMIT

Another Nebraska commit. Laikona has played in all of the big tourneys and big matches. She has been in the spotlight for years with the other top commits in this class. We didn’t see her at Dream Team last year and didn’t see her this past Fall. She will compete with Johnson for what is seemingly one DS/Libero spot unless one of them can be ok with being a full-time DS.

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#6. Kaitlyn Herweg - SCWC - Indiana COMMIT

Herweg was the class of the West Coast and is a big get for IU. A lot of talent and could get in the lineup early in her career.

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#7. Gemma Hopkins - Houston Jrs - Arkansas COMMIT

Hopkins played up with the HJV elite team and was in big matches for years. She has been part of all of the NTDP activities and is Arkansas’ biggest commit in a couple of years. Hog fans should expect her to come in and look for lineup time right away in the Arkansas rotation. How she adjusts to the SEC speed will be interesting.

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#8 Audrey Schaeffer - Rockwood Thunder - Wyoming COMMIT

Schaeffer is a steal for Wyoming. She was one of the more consistent liberos in the class and had looks from several programs and was on many short lists. She is a solid player and was a real mystery why she didn’t go sooner in the process.

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#9. Laila Chadwick - METRO Volleyball - Oklahoma COMMIT

Chadwick was a ’27 that picked up more and more recruiting steam as her process went on. She performed well at her summer select camps and gained more attention from those. She did well at the METRO College Camp also and jumped on even more schools radar. Her 16s season was an impressive one. She will have a lot of work ahead of her, but can get some time on an improving Sooners lineup if she can serve receive early.

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#10. Kaelynn Lottman - VCNebraska - TCU COMMIT

TCU has added a serve receive specialist to their already solid class. Lottman may not be the biggest name in the class, but she is very solid libero technique wise and excellent when it comes to serve receive. She will be a great addition to TCU’s program.