From The Film Room: New 2027s That Need Attention

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I have mentioned multiple times that I don’t have the greatest volleyball IQ, but if we are going to be short-staffed for awhile….a coach is a coach and one skill that never leaves a coach is how to run a remote control and hit pause and rewind when watching film. So this week I took a much more active (like 25 hours worth) of film watching on some of the newer 2027 names we needed to get added to our lists before verbals of the class begin. Here were some of my favorites and why after breaking down their film.  

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Piper Gary - the physical libero out of Florida has camp invites to multiple SEC schools and about 25+ total schools total. So I had to dive in and see why. First physicality, she is another one that is fitting the mold of the taller, stronger new-age bro, covering more ground with less movement. Laying out she can get baseline to baseline with a step or two either direction. She is decisive and doesn’t hesitate, you can tell she is the leader on her team.

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Audrey Hedlund - Austin Juniors Middle -

She runs the slide smooth and with accuracy. She can score down the line or cross with efficiency. She is also an offensive threat on the quick attack with regularity. Her block is decent, but needs to work on pushing her hands over the net. This could be one thing that holds her back a little bit is she is just a bit slow on that portion. But, you look at her and see a strong/phsical middle that can kill efficiently. Lot to like with her game.

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Audie Caban - WAVE Volleyball Middle -

A 6’4” ( at least ) middle that can shut down multiple attack angles and is a blocking machine. To me she is this classes version of another West Coast recruit Vandeghwe (SMU ’26) that a smaller D1 has to have a roll to develop her offensive game and use her defensive game immediately. 

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Mackenzie Ratcliff - Dallas Premier Outside -

Ok, maybe it’s because she has moved clubs or maybe it’s because she has moved positions, but this girl is under the radar. Six rotation outside who has to touch 10’2” at least and doesn’t get cheated on her take off it’s pure explosion and fast. Her swing is quick and she doesn’t waste anytime on her release you don’t see the ball from contact point to hitting the ground. Efficient movement. Mackenzie is one where you keep watching for deficiencies and then say “why haven’t I heard of her before?” Maybe it’s because she hasn’t played at a high level yet or vs. higher level competition, but I really like this girls game.

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Cailyn Barnes - OTVA Randy Middle -

Ok I’m going to go directly off my notes PPV of 188, very good for initial PPV. She finds scoring angles with ease vs. her competition. Her slide is so smooth. More than avg. on the block, plenty of height and elbows pressing over. She has that Whip in her arm and a uptempo that I really like.

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Aaliyah Cancellari - No Name Volleyball Middle -

Screams of a “High Ceiling” and a “Project” for a program. Her touch point has to be 10’6” or 7. She is going up and getting poor sets out of nowhere and making plays on them for kills. The timing doesn’t look great always with her setter, but that is why she looks like a D1 player to me, because she makes those plays when others wouldn’t. I think she can be a huge weapon for a program with timing and development.

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Riley Riggs - Dynasty Outside -

Updated her PPV again! She was the MVP of that team in Phoenix when they only lost one match and took 3rd. She was their go-to and reliable every match. She made play after play vs. the top Arizona clubs and was fearless. Passing is more than adequate. Didn’t realize she is such a gamer. She rose about 3 notches in my book.

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Aspen Brown - Houston Skyline Opp -

This is an explosive opposite whose athletic game puts her in with the tops in the class. Doesn’t get the national attention of others, but her quick release on her shots and she is violent. Her get off is explosive when she attacks. I’d put her up there with anyone else in the class at the position maybe not as polished and hasn’t played as much high-level volleyball, but athletically and ceiling wise yes.