Updating the 2025 PVF draft prospects watchlist
The 2024 college season is well underway, so it's time to reevaluate my preseason watchlist
Since publishing my early PVF draft prospects watchlist in March, it has become clear that two of the three PVF expansion franchises slated to start playing in 2025 — Kansas City and Dallas — will be delayed until at least 2026. That is significant news for the upcoming draft class, meaning ten players who would have otherwise had their name called will go unselected.
A slimmer draft class means fewer draft-day gambles on players with big time physicality but lack performance, specialized players who lack a well-rounded game, or international players. It also means fewer resources to spend on developmental setters or liberos, positions where experience is so highly valued at the top level of play. These side effects are, in my opinion, inherently bad for the game, but that’s a topic for a different day.
The cream is rising to the top among the players I initially selected for my prospect watchlist, which made trimming it down a little easier than I had expected. I hate to write bad things about players who I’ve spent so long watching and researching, and in some instances, spoke to personally, but it was necessary to make some cuts here and there.
The players who found themselves on the chopping block and were most painful for me to remove include Sydney Palazzolo, Beau Vanderlaan, and Paige Bartsch. Palazzolo and Vanderlaan have each taken a step back from last year’s impressive performances and Bartsch didn’t make the jump in efficiency I was expecting. I don’t think they’ve shown enough this year to maintain a place on my list, but may reappear later on.
A unique case among players I removed was Melani Schaffmaster, the excellent setter from Minnesota. When I interviewed her in August, she expressly told me she’d like to play overseas. I could be wrong, but with so few setter spots available and plenty of talented players on the table, I don’t see a PVF team trying to talk her out of going to Europe for a few years.
On the other hand, some players who I’ve come to love this season include Bianca Bertolino, Natalie Foster, and Khori Louis. In particular, Louis stands out as someone who is just too good for college volleyball and doesn’t garner enough attention. The Florida State middle blocker can go toe-to-toe with anyone thanks to her high-percentile athleticism and ability to access a wide variety of shots. She has the look of someone who I would consider making my first round selection if I was running a draft room.
If you’d like to read more about the Pro Volleyball Federation’s draft format or check out my initial list of players, click here.
Setter
Rachel Fairbanks, Pitt
Emma Grome, Kentucky
Camryn Haworth, Indiana
Hannah Hogue, Arkansas
Kami Miner, Stanford
Mia Tuaniga, USC
Camryn Turner, Kansas
Argentina Ung, Arizona State
Kendra Wait, Creighton
Outside Hitter
Lexie Almodovar, Dayton
Bianca Bertolino, Georgia Tech
Nina Cajic, Tennessee
Anna DeBeer, Louisville
Ayah Elnady, Kansas
Kari Geissberger, Oklahoma
Hailey Green, West Virginia
Audrey Keonig, Florida State
Taylor Landfair, Nebraska
Elise McGhee, Baylor
Melanie Parra, TCU
Samantha Schnitta, Maryland
Madi Skinner, Texas
Valaria Vasquez Gomez, Pitt
Mychael Vernon, Missouri
Opposite Hitter
Merritt Beason, Nebraska
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Jordan Iliff, Missouri
Malaya Jones, Colorado State
Emily Londot, Ohio State
Amanda Rice, NC State
Devyn Robinson, Wisonson
Reagan Rutherford, Texas
Anna Smrek, Wisconson
Middle Blocker
Cara Cresse, Louisville
Raven Colvin, Purdue
Natalie Foster, SMU
Sami Francis, Stanford
Julia Haggerty, Boston College
Claire Jeter, Arizona State
Khori Louis, FSU
Sophie Fischer, Georgia
Kiari Robey, Arizona
Libero
Lauren Briseño, Baylor
Kate Georgiades, Houston
Emmy Klika, Pitt
Nia McCardell, Rice
Mackenzie Morris, Oregon
Elena Oglivie, Stanford
Mary Shroll, Arizona State
There are a few top college players who already have an NIL affiliation with League One Volleyball, a direct competitor to the PVF set to debut in 2025. Though they would be considered a top draft prospect in other circumstances, a relationship with LOVB makes an immediate career in the Federation exceedingly unlikely. On the slim chance that things change, they are worth a mention here.
OH Sarah Franklin, Wisconsin
OH Jess Mruzik, Penn State
L Elena Scott, Louisville
L Lexi Rodriguez, Nebraska
OH Norah Sis, Creighton
OH Raina Terry, Illinois
And just for the fun of it, here’s a handful of current juniors who could make for interesting prospects in the next draft cycle in no particular order.
MB Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Texas A&M
OH Caylen Alexander, Hawai’i
MB Bekah Allick, Nebraska
OH Alexis Shelton, Oklahoma
OH Nia Washington, Ole Miss
On a personal note — in the months since I debuted my watchlist, my website has pivoted to focus entirely on featuring future professionals, which has given me the opportunity to interview some of the best coaches and players in the nation. It’s been a blast working on this project, so I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to every reader, SID, coach and player for making this possible.
I’m a bit embarrassed to put out the tip jar, but things in my private life have been rough at times. If you enjoy the work I do, please consider a paid subscription in any amount. However, as I have often said, my writing is free and will remain free.