The Next Wave: Player Profiles ‘30 and ‘31, Week 10

While we don’t rank the Classes of 2030 and 2031 due to their early stage of development, there is no shortage of standout talent from these young athletes worth recognizing. We’re excited to highlight these prospects and look forward to tracking their growth and sharing their journeys.  

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Class of 2030

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Nina Simanic: OH- JJVA 16 Teal

Standing at 6'3, Nina Simanic brings impressive size to the pin and has already earned recognition with a spot on the USAV All-Star Tournament Team while participating in the USAV NTDP U15 program. After gaining experience at camps with Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Penn State, and several other top programs, she's a promising player with plenty of room to continue developing her all-around game.

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Ashton Paige: OH- OTVA 15 National Jenn

Ashton Paige has continued to gain valuable exposure early in her volleyball journey, attending the Florida Volleyball Camp and competing at the Prep Dig Showcase. As she enters high school, she's an outside hitter to keep an eye on as she builds experience and continues to refine her game.

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Sai Herndon-Brown: OH- Metro 14 Travel

Standing 6 feet tall, Sai Herndon-Brown has already put herself on the radar after attending camps at Virginia, Maryland, NC State, and several other programs. She also helped lead her team to the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic 14 Open championship, showcasing the upside she brings as an athletic outside hitter.

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Parkley Douglas: libero- VCNebraska 14

Parkley Douglas has already competed on the national stage with VCNebraska and continues to expand her game after attending the Husker Volleyball 2026 Dream Camp. Her defensive instincts and commitment to improving make her a libero worth following as she begins her high school career.

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Ellie Gebhardt: setter- Triangle 14 Black

Ellie Gebhardt has built an impressive foundation early in her career, earning a spot on the 2026 Carolina Region All-Star 15U Team while helping her team qualify for the 2026 GJNC 14 National division. Between competing on the indoor and beach circuits and attending camps at NC State, San Diego, ECU, and other programs, she's a setter with a well-rounded skill set and plenty of upside.

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Tenley Newton: OH- Dallas Skyline 15 Royal Ryan

Tenley Newton has already collected impressive accolades, earning recognition on the 2026 USAV GJNC National Division All-Tournament Team, following her USA Division National Championship 1st place finish in 2025. With early exposure at SMU and TCU camps, she continues to establish herself as an outside hitter with a strong foundation and plenty of potential moving forward.

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Emmalyne Glasser: OPP/RS- Livewire 14 Prime

Emmalyne Glasser helped her team put together a strong season while also earning invitations to the 2025 and 2026 Triple Crown Summer NIT events. After competing at the Prep Dig Showcase, the OPP/RS continues to build momentum and is an intriguing prospect as she enters the next stage of her development.

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Gia Bella Ellis: OPP/RS- Sports Academy 14 Premier

Gia Bella Ellis has already reached an impressive milestone, earning a varsity spot for her high school team at just 13 years old. She also stood out as a Top Performer at the SoCal UpNext Showcase, highlighting the early promise she brings to the OPP/RS position.

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Class of 2031

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Samiyah Hopoi: MB- AZ Storm Elite 13 Thunder

At 6'5, Samiyah Hopoi already possesses rare size for her age and has begun gaining exposure through the AZ Storm Elite College Showcase. She also helped her team earn a third-place finish at the Summer NIT, giving her a strong foundation as she continues to grow and develop her game.

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Lily Thiebauth: setter- Nebraska Elite 14 National

Lily Thiebauth has already put together an impressive list of early accomplishments, earning UA Next Camp MVP honors while capturing a USAV National Championship and All-American recognition. She also received the 2026 Motivera Gym Rat Award, reflecting the work ethic and drive that continue to set her apart as a young setter.

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Eva Cat Bower: setter- Idaho Crush 16 National

Playing well above her age division, Eva Cat Bower has already challenged herself against older competition while attending camps at Nebraska, Louisville, Wisconsin, and several other top programs. As the youngest invitee to the 2025 NTDP Winter Training Series and a 2026 Spring NTDP participant, she's a setter with exceptional early promise and a bright future ahead.

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Lyric Helms: MB- Austin Skyline 13 Royal

Lyric Helms has begun building a strong foundation as a young MB, highlighted by attending the Texas A&M camp and helping her team earn a third-place finish at Tour of Texas Stop 1. With plenty of time to grow, she has already shown encouraging signs that make her an intriguing prospect to follow.

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Lundyn Fincham: libero/DS- TAV 14 Black

Lundyn Fincham has already tested herself against strong competition, competing at USAV Nationals while continuing to put in extra work outside of team practices. Her dedication to improving and defensive mindset provide a solid foundation as she continues to grow her game.

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Emme Dellenbach: setter- Excel 14 Red

Emme Dellenbach helped lead her team to championship finishes at both the Northeast Qualifier and the Northern Lights Qualifier. Those strong results highlight a young setter who has already found success in high-level competition and continues to build a strong foundation for the future.

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Taylor McGhee: MB- United 14 Black

At 6'1, Taylor McGhee has already made an impact as a MB, earning two SRVA MVP honors while attending the UA Next Camp and Vanderbilt camp. She also helped her high school capture the Alabama 6A Regional Championship and finish as the 6A State Runner-Up, adding to an impressive early resume.