Weekly Risers: 17 Player's We've Been Talking About

Honor Durham | 2029 S/OPP | Circle City | PPV: 85.2

Honor Durham is making a noticeable jump this week as her profile continues to gain momentum. The 2029 setter/opposite has added several Select Camps, including stops at Pitt, TCU and North Carolina, giving her valuable experience in high-level college environments. Her physical numbers are moving in the right direction as well. Durham has increased her approach touch to 118" and added a 113" block touch, giving us a stronger look at her athletic development. With her recruiting exposure expanding and her testing numbers trending upward, Durham is one of the names making a case for a closer look this week. Check out her profile for her full camp list and updates.

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Carson Caraway | 2027 OH/OPP | Infinity Volleyball Academy | PPV: 92.4

Carson Caraway is making a serious push up the radar this week, adding a wave of new preseason and early-season recognition to an already impressive résumé. The 2027 OH/OPP and LMU commit was named MaxPreps' Best Player in Mississippi Preseason, while also earning a spot on the MaxPreps Preseason All-American Second Team. Her name continues to show up across Mississippi volleyball coverage, with the Clarion Ledger recognizing her among the state's top preseason players and players to watch in the MHSAA/MAIS. Caraway has also already earned MS Gridiron Player of the Week recognition for August 3–8 and was named a Top Performer for August 10–15. The biggest addition might be the milestone itself: 2,000 career kills. That's a massive marker of sustained production and another reason Caraway's profile continues to climb. With a 92.4 PPV, Caraway is already firmly established as a high-level 2027 prospect. This week's updates simply add even more evidence that she's entering the season as one of Mississippi's names to know.

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Eliana Butler | 2029 S/OPP | Metro VBC | PPV: 83.5

Eliana Butler is making a strong case as a Weekly Riser after adding some impressive recent experience to her résumé. The 2029 setter/opposite helped her team finish second at a 14U Beach Volleyball National Event in California, giving her valuable experience competing on a national stage in a different format. Butler has also made an early impact indoors, earning a spot on the varsity team as a freshman at South County High School. The combination of early varsity experience and national-level beach competition gives Butler another layer to an already intriguing profile. With a 83.5 PPV, Butler is a player we're excited to continue tracking as she takes on bigger opportunities both indoors and on the beach.

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Mikayla Matuszko | 2029 OPP | Tribe Volleyball | PPV: 96.1

Mikayla Matuszko is making a notable move this week, both on the recruiting side and within her positional profile. The 2029 standout has added Select Camps at Kentucky and UNC, giving her opportunities to train in two high-level collegiate environments. The bigger change comes with her position. Matuszko has officially shifted her primary position from OH to OPP, a move that could open up a new dimension to her game and how she fits at the next level. With a 96.1 PPV, Matuszko is already one of the highest-rated players on our radar. This week's updates give us another reason to keep watching how she develops in her new role.

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Josslyn Jacks | 2028 OH/OPP | TStreet | PPV: 91.0

Josslyn Jacks is back on our Weekly Risers after earning MVP honors in Baseline League play. The 2028 OH/OPP and Hawai‘i beach commit continues to add to her résumé with strong recognition on the indoor side. Jacks brings plenty of experience across both indoor and beach volleyball, and this latest MVP honor is another indication of the impact she's making against high-level competition. With a 91.0 PPV, Jacks remains firmly in the upper tier of the 2028 class. This week's recognition makes her a name worth watching as the season continues.

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Lillian Strong | 2030 MB/OH | Infinity Volleyball | PPV: 84.0

Lillian Strong is making a move this week after adding both recruiting exposure and a notable physical update to her profile. The 2030 MB/OH has added Select Camps at Co-Lin Community College and Mississippi Christian University this summer, giving her opportunities to continue developing in collegiate environments. Strong is also coming off a 2025 MAIS Division 1 State Championship with Madison Ridgeland Academy, adding championship experience to her résumé at an early stage in her career. The physical side of her profile is trending upward as well, with Strong now listed at 6'1". For a 2030 middle/outside, that added size makes her an especially interesting player to continue tracking as she develops. With her championship experience, growing recruiting exposure and updated physical profile, Strong earns her spot as a Weekly Riser.

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Amaya Zander | 2028 OH/OPP | PPV: 86.3

Amaya Zander earns a spot among this week's Weekly Risers after putting together a productive summer of training and showing noticeable growth across her game. One of the biggest developments has been her defensive improvement. Zander looks steadier in the back row and has continued working on her passing, giving her more consistency as an all-around player. Her back-row attack is another part of her game that has stood out. With her passing taking a step forward, Zander now has another way to create offense and keep defenses from settling into a rhythm. At 5'11", Zander has the physical profile to make those improvements even more impactful. Her summer work is translating into a more complete game, making her a player we're excited to keep watching as the 2028 season approaches.

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Caroline Spaulding | 2031 OH/OPP | Excel | PPV: Watchlist

Caroline Spaulding is coming off a strong summer that gives us plenty of reasons to move her into this week's Weekly Risers. Her Arete 13s team finished fifth in the Open division at Nationals, giving Spaulding valuable experience on one of the biggest stages at a young age. She'll also enter the upcoming season with a new opportunity, moving to Excel after switching clubs. That change gives us another chance to watch how her game develops in a new environment. Her recruiting exposure is particularly notable for a 2031. Spaulding has already attended camps at TCU, SMU and Baylor, gaining experience around high-level collegiate programs well ahead of the typical recruiting timeline. Spaulding currently is on our watchlist due to age but is definitely a player we are interested to keep an eye on. Between a deep Nationals run, a new club chapter and early exposure to major college programs, she's a young prospect we're excited to keep tracking.

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Alexis Donovan | 2028 OH | Legacy | PPV: 82.9

Alexis Donovan earns a spot among this week's Weekly Risers after putting together a productive summer and continuing to build her recruiting résumé. The 2028 outside hitter made camp stops at DePaul, Marshall and Central Michigan, along with several other college programs, giving her valuable exposure to different collegiate environments. Donovan will also be playing with Legacy this season, an opportunity that should give her another strong environment to continue developing her game and competing against high-level players. With a 82.9 PPV, Donovan is a player we're watching closely as she enters the new club season. Her summer recruiting exposure and upcoming move to Legacy make this an interesting next step in her development.

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Claire Tibbals | 2029 LIB/DS | OTVA | PPV: 84.9

Claire Tibbals earns a spot among this week's Weekly Risers after another strong summer and an encouraging start to her high school season at the Academy of the Holy Names. Tibbals and the Jaguars opened the season with a four-set win over Cardinal Mooney, giving her an early opportunity to build on the momentum from her summer. She also continued expanding her recruiting experience with camp stops at Utah and Miami, along with an appearance at the Tribe College Showcase. With a 84.9 PPV, Tibbals continues to trend in the right direction. A strong summer followed by an immediate high school win makes her a player we're excited to keep an eye on as the season gets rolling.

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Abigail Chang | 2030 S/DS | Metro | PPV: 82.0

Abigail Chang earns a spot among this week's Weekly Risers after putting together a really productive summer of development. The 5'9" 2030 setter/DS has made noticeable strides in the gym, particularly with her footwork and attacking, and those improvements are starting to showcase just how athletic she can be. One of the most encouraging parts of Chang's progress has been her ability to adjust quickly and respond to coaching. She takes correction well and translates it into her game, which is a valuable trait for a young player still building her skill set. Her summer work has given us plenty to be excited about moving forward. With a 82.0 PPV, Chang is a young prospect whose continued development could make her an increasingly interesting name in the 2030 class.

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Lily Foster | 2028 OH | Mintonette Sports | PPV: 86.0

Lily Foster earns a spot among this week's Weekly Risers after putting together a summer that significantly raised her recruiting profile. The 2028 outside hitter made camp stops at Lafayette, Ohio and Dayton, along with plenty of other programs, giving her opportunities to get her name in front of college coaches. At 5'9", Foster may be undersized for a traditional outside hitter, but she's certainly not playing the position by accident. She has a knack for making plays and finding shots that force opposing teams to adjust, showing the kind of court awareness and creativity that can make up for what she lacks in height. Foster is also back with Pickerington Central High School for the school season, giving her another stage to showcase the growth she's made over the summer. With a 86.0 PPV, Foster is a player whose game goes well beyond the measurements. Her ability to create problems for defenses is exactly why we're excited to keep watching her rise.

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Clara Wright | 2029 MB | Colorado Juniors | PPV: 87.0

Clara Wright earns a spot among this week's Weekly Risers after putting together a strong summer that combined championship-level competition with valuable recruiting exposure. The 6'2" middle blocker helped her team capture the 15U National Championship at Nationals, giving her another major accomplishment on the résumé. Wright followed that run with camp stops at San Diego, Ohio State and Notre Dame, getting opportunities to train in high-level collegiate environments and continue expanding her recruiting profile. At 6'2", Wright already has the size to make an impact in the middle, and her 87.0 PPV reflects a 2029 prospect whose summer momentum has her firmly on our radar heading into the new season.

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Lila Schlichting | 2029 OH | Kandi Elite | PPV: 84.6

Lila Schlichting earns a spot among this week's Weekly Risers after a productive summer that saw her continue building both her recruiting profile and her résumé. The 2029 outside hitter made camp stops at Northern Colorado, Southern Utah and Northern Iowa, along with several other college programs. Schlichting also picked up a major individual honor this summer, earning AAU 15 Elite All-American recognition. That distinction adds another strong piece to her profile and reflects the level she's competing at against top players in her age group. With an 84.6 PPV, Schlichting is a player we're excited to continue tracking as her recruiting exposure and competitive résumé continue to grow.

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Tamara Gonzalez Romero | 2028 OH | ATHENA VB | PPV: 83.9

Tamara Gonzalez Romero is one of those players whose value shows up in the details. The 6'0" 2028 outside hitter is a six-rotation player, giving her the opportunity to impact the game from both the front and back rows rather than being limited to one role. Her summer also gave her plenty of chances to test herself in new environments, with camp stops at Santa Clara, Nevada and Cal. She then carried that experience into a strong club finish, helping her team place inside the Top 25 of the Open division at AAU Nationals. With a 83.9 PPV, Gonzalez Romero is a player whose all-around responsibilities and continued exposure make her an interesting riser. The combination of size, six-rotation ability and experience against high-level competition gives us plenty to watch as she heads into the 2028 season.

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Kenleigh Smith | 2030 S/DS | Houston Skyline | PPV: 92.5

Kenleigh Smith is back on our radar after previously being featured in our 10 Must-Know Setters series, and she's giving us plenty of reasons to keep talking about her. The 2030 setter/DS continues to play at a level that stands out well beyond her age group. Smith had a strong summer with camp stops at Texas A&M, LSU and SMU, where she earned one of the All-Star awards. Those opportunities gave her another chance to compete in high-level college environments and show what she can do against strong competition. Now she's taking that momentum into her freshman season at Hardin-Jefferson High School, adding another chapter to an already impressive young résumé. With a 92.5 PPV, Smith remains one of the highest-rated young players we've evaluated. Her summer only added to the excitement around a player we've already identified as one to know in the 2030 class.

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Jessi Duran | 2031 S/DS | Sunshine Volleyball | PPV: Watchlist

Some players are simply relentless about getting better, and when you see that mindset in a young player, it stands out. Jessi Duran is one of those players. The 2031 setter/DS spent her summer putting in the work across every part of her game, focusing on developing her skills, cleaning up details and becoming a more complete player. The important part is that the work isn't just something we can see in the gym — the results are starting to show on the court. Duran's commitment to improvement makes her especially interesting to follow as she enters the new season. She's still early in her development, but the trajectory is clear, and we expect her name to come up plenty more as the 2031 class continues to take shape. Duran currently carries a Watchlist PPV of 80, with that status reflecting her age. We're excited to see what all that summer work looks like when the season gets underway.