Weekly Risers: Résumés Getting Harder to Ignore

Kaniyah Ball — Libero / DS — Metro Volleyball Club (DC) — Class of 2028 — PPV 142

Kaniyah Ball’s résumé reflects a defensive specialist gaining national visibility. She earned spots on the 2025 JVA Girls Watch List and the AVCA Phenom Watch List, was named to the 2025 USAV GJNC All-Tournament Team, and attended UA Next — stacking meaningful recognition in a single cycle. Her exposure continues to expand with added select camps at Arizona State, Pitt, and Maryland, putting her in front of diverse collegiate programs. Physically, she’s tracking upward as well, now measuring 65 inches in height with a reported 114″ approach touch, reinforcing her athletic foundation in the backcourt. Ball’s combination of national event performance, watch list recognition, and continued development positions her as a libero building steady traction in the 2028 class.

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Kaelyn Easton — Setter — Legacy Volleyball Club — Class of 2029 — PPV 253

Kaelyn Easton isn’t just trending — she’s operating on an international track. A member of the 2025 USA U17 National Team and a U17 NORCECA Gold Medalist, she’s already gained experience in pressure matches beyond the club circuit. That kind of exposure at a young age shapes decision-making, tempo control, and match management in ways you can’t simulate. Her club résumé is just as strong: 2025 GJNC All-American, 2025 AAU All-American, and part of a 2025 AAU National Championship run. She also earned All-Tournament Team honors at the 2026 Triple Crown NIT (15U), reinforcing her consistency in elite fields. With a PPV of 253, Easton stands out as a setter trusted to lead high-level rosters and deliver in championship environments, a player already comfortable on big stages.

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 Payton Woodruff — Setter — Legacy Volleyball Club — Class of 2028 — PPV 225

Some setters manage games. Some stack championships. Payton Woodruff has been doing both for years.Her résumé reads like a timeline of sustained impact: 2023 USAV 13 Open National Champion, 2024 and 2025 Michigan Division II State Champion, and back-to-back Michigan Division II 1st Team All-State selections. She’s earned AAU All-American honors (13 Open, 14 Open) and was named PrepVolleyball 15U 1st Team All-American, reinforcing her presence in elite fields year after year. National recognition continues to follow her, ranked in the PrepVolleyball Top 150 (2026 list #18; IMG #16) and included in the Top 75 for the Class of 2028, along with JVA Girls’ All-National Team honors and participation in the NTDP Spring/Summer Series. She also added a UA Next Invite and an All-Tournament Team selection at Triple Crown NIT (15U Open). With a PPV of 225, Woodruff profiles as a setter with rare continuity of success, winning across age groups, maintaining national recognition, and consistently leading high-level teams deep into championship brackets.

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Ashlyn Pelon — Libero / DS — Legacy Volleyball Club — Class of 2028 — PPV 223

Ashlyn Pelon’s résumé shows a defensive specialist who has been recognized at nearly every level she’s competed in. She earned PrepVolleyball 2024 All-Region (Upper Midwest) honors and followed that with a strong 2025 cycle that included JVA All-National Team, PrepVolleyball Club All-American (15U 2nd Team), and MaxPreps Sophomore All-American recognition. On the high school side, she was named All-Catholic, recognized as the Top Underclassmen Athlete in the Catholic League, and earned All-State Honorable Mention distinction. Add in an AVCA Phenom Watch List selection and a UA Next Invite, and the pattern becomes clear, Pelon consistently performs in environments where top players are evaluated. With a PPV of 223, she profiles as a libero who pairs defensive reliability with national-level acknowledgment, continuing to establish herself as one of the more accomplished backcourt players in her class.

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Allahna Lacy — Middle Blocker — Rise Volleyball — Class of 2028 — PPV 124

Allahna Lacy’s profile is built on efficiency and presence at the net. Through her sophomore season, she has compiled 306 career kills while hitting .409, along with 100 total blocks, production that reflects both offensive control and defensive timing from the middle. She ranked #5 in Maryland as a sophomore in hitting percentage (.418) and #37 in the state in blocks, according to MaxPreps. For a middle blocker, that combination matters — efficiency tells you she’s not just getting swings, she’s converting them at a high rate, while the block numbers show consistent front-row impact. Lacy’s statistical profile points to a middle who understands shot selection, plays within system, and continues to build measurable production as she develops

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Danica Dowling — Middle Blocker — KIVA — Class of 2028 — PPV 130

Danica Dowling’s résumé reflects a middle blocker impacting both sides of the ball from the start of her varsity career. As a freshman, she earned Varsity Defensive Co-MVP, then expanded her role as a sophomore, collecting Varsity Offensive MVP and Varsity Defensive Co-MVP honors in the same season, a rare two-way distinction for a middle. She was named PAC Conference 1st Team (So.) and led her varsity squad in team kills, hitting percentage, and blocks, underscoring her central role in the offense and at the net defensively. Her recognition extends beyond team awards with selections to the 2025 IHSVCA Players to Watch List, AVCA Phenom Watchlist, and JVA Watchlist, along with local honors including Evansville Courier & Press Player of the Week (10/7/2025) and inclusion among the Players to Watch in SW Indiana IHSAA. Off the court, Dowling carries a 4.146 GPA, reinforcing the discipline behind her development. Her profile shows a middle blocker who has already proven she can anchor a lineup, produce statistically, and earn recognition in competitive environments.

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