Newest Player Profiles: Loaded with Liberos Edition

The newest edition of player profiles aren't new to us at all.  Most are athletes we recognize from performances at select camps of the nationals.  They are just going to be new names for our followers, and you will all be able to follow their progress, updates, and notes on recruiting and changes that go on in their volleyball futures until they head off to the Big Show because they now have Player Profiles on our site.

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Whitney Mertens - 2029, Libero, Premier Nebraska 14 Gold, PPV 170

This libero has made her mark this summer, leading Premier Nebraska 14 Gold to a third-place overall finish and landing an all-tournament team spot at USAV Nationals! Free-flowing and steady, Mertens is a testament to the impressive levels of play that seem to be getting younger and younger, and in a state like Nebraska, being a star libero is something athletes take seriously, and like she showed us in Dallas, she won’t shy away from competition.

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Makinley Ramsey - 2029, Libero, VCNebraska 15 Elite, PPV 190

If there is one way to put your name on the map, it’s getting invited to Dream Team Camp at Nebraska - and Ramsey did just that! Her play style reminds me of Olivia Mauch, even while disregarding her Husker connections, and she is sure to keep turning heads!  Ramsey is in a state that is filled with high-class ‘bros this season, so she knows to keep getting noticed, she will have to keep up her hard work.  We are betting she does just that.

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Hailey Tinnell - 2028, Middle, Houston Skyline 16 Royal, PPV 185

The first 2028 on the list, Tinnell, is a versatile attacker who plays at both outside and middle, although most of her time is spent running quick attacks right in front of the setter. Camping at power programs like SMU, Kentucky, and Texas A&M, her skill level is undeniable, and I cannot wait to keep watching her grow!  Hailey is also a 2nd-generation Player Profile on VBAdrenaline and looking to follow in her older sister's shoes.  One thing we know is that she is already on the radar of some Top 15 programs, and P4 schoolies run in the family.

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Catherine Bensler - 2029, Setter, Mississippi Velocity 14 Black

Sharp and smooth, Bensler is a quality setter, and you can tell from the first moments you see her play! One of the most essential characteristics of a setter, especially at the collegiate level, is consistency - can you give your attackers a high, accurate ball to swing on - and she exemplifies that! She is one of our young 2029s who we don’t give PPVs to until we know a little bit more about them and they develop into their game more.  Catherine's best volleyball is yet to come, and we will be following it all.  No need to rush a score!

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Katie Callahan - 2028, Outside, Premier Nebraska 15 Gold, PPV 79

Although she isn’t the biggest, she can power a ball down with her strong swing! A national champion this past month, her indoor game isn’t all she has - she stands out on the beach as well as a 2024 American Division national champion, competing at the BNTDP yesterday in Virginia Beach! Her size hurts as a D1 prospect when it comes to her PPV measurables and the vertical game, but Katie has proven to be a valuable part of championship teams already in her young career.

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Averi Bridges - 2028, Libero, VCNebraska 16 Elite, PPV 232

A surefire stud both now and in college, Bridges is a top prospect in the Class of 2028. Like all great defenders, she possesses an exceptional ability to read the opposing setter and attackers, allowing her to be in position to make dig after dig. Dominating in serve receive as well, she is a walking checklist of skills that any coach would love to have on their squad; coaches like Meske, Busboom-Kelly, Skinner, Cook, and Rosen have all already taken note, inviting her to their camps!  We've done quite a bit of coverage on Averi just in the last week, including her Dream Team Camp performance.  I think the verdict is in that she will be a Top 5 bro in this class for sure, but I also found that there are areas of her game that she can certainly improve on.  That is what elite select camps should truly provide the participants, IF they are there to learn.  I think you see an uptick in Averi’s game this prep season because of what she learned about herself the past 10 days in some pretty competitive gyms.

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Zoe Anderon - 2028, Libero/DS, Club One Arizona 15 Platinum, PPV 171

Another libero on the list and another indoor/beach athlete, Anderson continues the elite standards of this group so far! She has an impressive touch and controls the ball regularly, allowing her offense to stay in system and, frankly, stay in matches. A star student as well, she is an exciting all-around recruit who also competes in one of the most competitive regions in the US.  Anderson goes up against the best of the best in ‘Zona on a regular basis so she is going to have to be good just to survive out there and make a name for herself.  Watch for her next year.  We will be.

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Leighton Froelich - 2028, Middle, Premier Nebraska 15 Gold, PPV 165

Froelich, a teammate of Katie Callahan mentioned above, is an additional national champion in this article. With long arms, she is able to spring off the ground and impose fear at the net, whether she is closing a block or ending a long rally! As if winning nationals doesn’t garner you enough attention, keep tabs on this one!  We commented on Froehlich after they won the Natty in Dallas that she could end up as a pin (reminded me of Bailey Boeve, a'26, Creighton commit out of Iowa), maybe played and dominated middle out of necessity, but height-wise was going to have to be a pin at the next level.  Her height and jump #s are what hold her initial PPV down for now, but she’s a 2029, and it's time for those to improve, and from what I saw at USA’s, the work ethic is there from this one.  #WINNER

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