Future Duos: College Teammates to Know Before They Arrive

Future Duo: Amelia Albright & Lyla Huggins | 2027 | Florida

Florida's 2027 class is getting an intriguing combination with Amelia Albright and Lyla Huggins, two players who bring very different strengths to the court. Albright, a 5'11" setter from Austin Juniors, already has an impressive résumé that includes AVCA Phenom recognition, an NTDP invite and an Under Armour NEXT invite. Her experience in a 6-2 system has also given her reps as an opposite, and she's shown the ability to contribute offensively, giving Florida some positional flexibility to work with as her college career develops. Huggins brings a different kind of impact. The 5'7" libero/DS from Ocala Power United is a USAV National All-Tournament Team selection and plays her high school volleyball at Trinity Catholic. She's known for being scrappy, steady and reliable defensively, the kind of player who can extend rallies and give her team a consistent presence in the back row. Huggins is also coming through a club that has consistently produced high-level players, making her development and rise through the club ranks worth following as she heads toward the next level. That's what makes this future duo so interesting: Albright brings size, setting and offensive ability, while Huggins brings defensive consistency and toughness. When they eventually arrive in Gainesville, Florida will be adding two very different pieces from the same recruiting class.

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Future Duo: Chloe Burbage & Tegan Loechler | 2028 | Louisville

Louisville could be getting a fascinating combination in the 2028 class with Chloe Burbage and Tegan Loechler, two long, athletic players who can impact the game from different spots on the court. Burbage, a 6'1" S/OPP from NC Academy, has built an elite résumé that includes five NTDP invites, U15 Club All-American honors, MaxPreps Freshman All-America recognition, JVA All-National Team honors, an U17 National Team selection and two USAV Open National Qualifications. Her development as a setter has been particularly interesting, with her length, ball placement and ability to attack giving her a very high ceiling. Evaluators have pointed to her growth in aggression and confidence against top competition, with her frame providing plenty of room for continued physical development. Loechler brings even more size at 6'3" and has also spent time at both setter and opposite. The Milwaukee Sting standout has been a multiple-time NTDP participant and has really made an impression since moving primarily to opposite. Her 123" approach touch, strength and aggressive attacking style immediately stand out. She uses her size well, sees the court effectively and has the ability to create problems as a scorer from the right side. While she has setter experience, the current projection is that opposite is where Loechler's long-term future could be, particularly given how much her physicality and attacking ability stand out there. That makes the pairing especially interesting for Louisville. Burbage offers the potential to develop into a high-level setter while still providing an offensive threat, while Loechler brings a massive, aggressive presence on the right side. Two players with the ability to influence the game in multiple ways could give Louisville plenty of options as their college careers develop.

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Future Duo: Makenna Barnes & Isabella Stojkovic | 2027 | Northwestern

Northwestern's 2027 class is getting an exciting combination on the pins with Makenna Barnes and Isabella Stojkovic, two players bringing national experience, offensive firepower and proven production to the Wildcats. Barnes, an OH from SC Rockstar, has already earned All-Tournament Team honors at 2025 Nationals and has been a multiple-time NTDP participant. Her game stands out for the way she glides through her approach and attacks with a variety of shots. She's comfortable scoring from different areas of the court, brings a dangerous serve and is also a reliable defensive contributor. Her all-around game gives Northwestern a player who can impact multiple phases of the match from the pin. Stojkovic, a 6'0" OH/OPP from AZ Revolution, brings an equally impressive résumé. She's a USAV All-Star Championship winner, a USAV All-Star Championship All-Tournament Team selection and has multiple high-level tournament honors, including Westwood Tournament MVP. She has also earned First Team All-Region, First Team All-Conference and Arizona 6A Fiesta Offensive Player of the Year, along with a UA NEXT invite. She's been described as a difference-maker and impact pin, making her another significant addition to Northwestern's future lineup. The pairing gives Northwestern two offensive weapons with different strengths. Barnes brings smooth movement, shot variety and all-around reliability, while Stojkovic brings size, physicality and a proven ability to produce. For a program competing in the Big Ten, adding two impact pins like these to the same recruiting class is a major pickup.

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Future Duo: Sara Gonzalez & Payton Woodruff | 2028 | LSU

LSU is adding an exciting combination in the 2028 class with Sara Gonzalez and Payton Woodruff, two players who bring completely different strengths to the court but could complement each other extremely well at the next level. Gonzalez, a libero/DS from Alamo Volleyball, has already gained experience in some of the biggest events in the country, including NTDP participation, a third-place finish at GJNC in 2025 and a first-place finish at the Nike Tournament of Champions. Her game is built around being scrappy, consistent and steady, giving LSU a dependable defensive presence who can keep plays alive and provide stability behind the offense. Woodruff brings the offensive side of the equation. The 2028 S/OPP has earned PrepVolleyball Top 150 recognition, a UA NEXT invite, two Michigan Division II state championships, two First Team All-State selections, two AAU All-American honors, a USAV National Championship and NTDP invitations. She's also been recognized as a PrepVolleyball 15U First Team All-American and Triple Crown NIT All-Tournament Team selection. What makes Woodruff particularly interesting is the way she runs an offense. She's been described as confident, accurate and aggressive, with the athleticism to take chances and the experience of playing in big matches where she has had to distribute the ball among multiple high-level attackers. Her attitude has also consistently stood out to evaluators. Together, Gonzalez and Woodruff give LSU two very different pieces: a steady defensive anchor and an aggressive, creative setter who can drive an offense. If both continue along their current trajectories, this could become a very fun 2028 pairing to watch develop in Baton Rouge.

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Future Duo: Caelyn Whoesendove & Cynthia Ockerman | 2027 | Clemson

Clemson's 2027 class is getting a fascinating combination with Caelyn Whoesendove and Cynthia Ockerman, two players who bring very different styles but share the same competitive edge. Whoesendove is an explosive OH/OPP who can impact a match in multiple ways, while Ockerman brings a cerebral, team-first presence in the middle. Whoesendove, an A5 standout from Shiloh High School, has already put together an enormous amount of production. As a rising senior, she has 1,185 career kills and 1,012 digs, along with three All-Region and three All-County selections. She's also a two-time Player of the Year, a 2025 AVCA Phenom All-American Watchlist selection, an AAU All-American and an AAU Tournament MVP. Her club résumé includes an AAU National Championship, while this season alone she's recorded 651 kills, 484 digs and 70 blocks. What stands out most about Whoesendove is the athleticism. Evaluators have described her as someone who jumps out of the gym and plays with aggression, and that explosiveness gives Clemson a high-upside offensive weapon. Ockerman brings a completely different kind of impact. The Legacy Volleyball middle blocker has earned an NTDP invite, a spot among the Top 25 players in the country, PrepVolleyball 15U First Team All-American honors, JVA All-National Team recognition and AAU All-American honors. She's also been named to the VBAdrenaline.com Best of the Midwest Team. Ockerman's game is built around her ability to read and understand what's happening around her. She's been described as a true team player and overachiever, with exceptional reaction time that makes her effective as a blocker and an ability to see the court and use different shots offensively. She also brings the kind of willingness to do the little things that can have a major impact on team culture. Together, the two give Clemson an interesting contrast: Whoesendove brings explosive athleticism and high-volume production from the pin, while Ockerman brings anticipation, intelligence and middle presence. 

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Future Duo: Nlonna Okwura & Ava Lazar | 2028 | Michigan

Michigan's 2028 class is adding an intriguing combination with Nlonna Okwura and Ava Lazar, two players who bring plenty of physical upside and national-level experience in very different ways. Okwura gives the Wolverines a long, athletic presence in the middle, while Lazar brings range and length to the pin. Okwura, a 6'3" middle blocker from Houston Juniors, has already earned NTDP recognition and a UA NEXT Camp invite, giving her experience in high-level national environments. Her size immediately stands out, but there's more to her game than just her frame. She combines length with athleticism and has the physical tools to become a major presence at the net as she continues to develop. Lazar, an OH from 407 Volleyball Club, has also been part of the NTDP and has spent significant time in high-level training environments. She may be a little under the radar nationally, but her profile continues to check plenty of boxes. Her length and range allow her to cover ground and impact the game from the pin, while her First Team All-Conference beach volleyball recognition adds another layer to her athletic profile. The pairing gives Michigan two players with plenty of room to grow into their physical tools. Okwura brings size and presence through the middle, while Lazar brings length and range from the outside. Both have already gained experience at high levels, and their continued development could make this a particularly interesting duo to follow in Ann Arbor.

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Future Duo: Kristen Sheehy & Lexi Martin | 2027 | TCU

TCU's 2027 class is getting an exciting combination of size, versatility and all-around ability with Kristen Sheehy and Lexi Martin. Both bring the physical tools to make an impact at the college level, but they do it in very different ways. Sheehy, a 6'4" MB/OH from Revolution Volleyball Academy, has already earned USAV NTDP recognition, a UA NEXT appearance and Second Team All-Region honors. Her club experience has shown just how much she can do on the court. While primarily a middle, Sheehy has moved to the right pin and taken on different responsibilities depending on what her team needed. That adaptability, combined with a strong block and constant energy, made her an important piece of a high-level Revolution team. Martin brings a similarly imposing physical profile at 6'2", but as an OH/OPP for TAV. She has been on the radar throughout the 2027 class thanks to her combination of size and a well-rounded offensive game. Martin can mix up her shots or turn to her power when the opportunity is there, while her passing ability allows her to stay on the court in all six rotations. That combination gives TCU an outside who can contribute in every phase of the match. Together, Sheehy and Martin give TCU two big, athletic weapons who aren't limited to one dimension. Sheehy's positional flexibility and blocking presence paired with Martin's six-rotation ability and offensive range could give the Horned Frogs plenty of options as both players make the jump to the collegiate game.

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Future Duo: Elsa St. Rose & Amara Enemuo | 2028 | Duke

Duke's 2028 class is bringing together two long, high-upside athletes in Elsa St. Rose and Amara Enemuo, giving the Blue Devils a pair of players with the physical tools and competitive résumés to make this an especially interesting future duo. St. Rose, a 6'2" OH/MB from Houston Juniors, has been making an impact since her freshman season. She earned MaxPreps Freshman All-America recognition in 2024 along with Houston Area VYPE Newcomer of the Year and Katy ISD Newcomer of the Year honors. She took another major step forward in 2025, being named Texas District 19-6A MVP, and has continued building her national experience with a 2026 USAV Indoor NTDP Experience Camp invite. Her ability to contribute both on the pin and in the middle gives Duke an interesting piece with plenty of positional possibilities. Enemuo brings another unique physical profile to the pairing. The 6'2" OH from Club 415 Volleyball has NTDP experience, a UA NEXT Camp appearance and First Team All-League recognition, along with All-Tournament Scholar Athlete honors. Her 125" approach touch and 120" block touch immediately stand out, but what makes her particularly intriguing is how effectively she uses that length. She gets high over the net, creates touches with her reach and contacts the ball at an impressive height on her approach. Enemuo has also been one of those players who has quietly continued to rise without needing much attention around her name. Evaluators have pointed to her as a potential diamond in the rough, with the tools to make a significant jump as more coaches get familiar with her game. Duke is ultimately getting two players with considerable physical upside and different ways of creating problems. St. Rose brings proven high school production and OH/MB flexibility, while Enemuo brings length, reach and a high-contact attacking game from the outside. As both continue to develop, this could be a particularly intriguing 2028 pairing in Durham.