It’s finally the time of year we begin to look towards 2024! There’s no better way to kick things off than with our summer Impact Recruits series, where we at the pond highlight some of the incoming freshmen we think might make some noise next season.
As I write every year, the odds are always stacked against newcomers when they join the DIII landscape. In the grand scheme of things, most of the athletes in any new class are simply not going to make an impact on the division (at first). While they may have been dominant in High School, the college game is intrinsically different even at the DIII level. The serves are tougher, the blocks are larger, and the rallies are much shorter.
This is not to say “first years” cannot make waves, as talented newcomers always end up making a name for themselves. The 2024 season had a ton of first years showcased across the landscape, and 2025 will be no different.
Like last year, the list below is by no means exhaustive, and is displayed in alphabetical order so no one should be saying they are “ranked” in any meaningful way. For emphasis, FrogJump does not rank incoming recruit classes, this list is more or less a collection of kids who I’ve seen and believe to be talented enough to excel at this level. We’ll be doing several segments throughout the summer, so don’t email me asking “why was my son not listed ☹” (looking at you parents!, YOUR KIDS HATE WHEN YOU DO THIS AND SO DO I. DO NOT DO IT. AT ALL. DON’T!).
Austin Mallory – Libero – Carthage
Giving liberos some love early this summer, and with good reason. The incoming firebird class is loaded, and Mallory is just the tip of the iceberg. The six-foot libero from Advancement Academy will likely help solidify the Carthage serve receive for years, I see him potentially starting sooner rather than later.
Solomon O’Reggio – Middle Blocker – MSOE
This is a solid pick up for MSOE based on the film I’ve seen. A big athletic middle with the ability to put the ball away, he’ll be a great option for Parker Rings for the foreseeable future. MSOE is slowly acquiring some pieces to contend in the NACC, and I could see Sol being a headache for many opponents once he gets acclimated to the collegiate game.
Hudson Sweitzer – Middle Blocker – Carthage
Hudson Sweitzer is an incredibly underrated Middle Blocker in this class, so I’m labeling this a steal in value for the firebirds. Carthage is very deep at the MB spot, so Hudson will have to earn his time the hard way.
Nikko Tenedorio – Outside Hitter – New Paltz
The Hawks landed a solid prospect out of this undersized pin from Long Island, as Nikko plays a lot bigger than he is. His game is very similar to Noah Weislo out of Springfield, and his volleyball IQ sets him apart from a lot of the players in his draft class.
Jason Wang – Opposite – Southern Virginia
A 6’7 opposite is enough to put Jason Wang on my radar, and his club film at VCU reminded me a lot of David Markes before he started his first year at Carthage. Southern Virginia is still in their championship window, so any extra size and offense to pair alongside Christian Sheaffer should give the whole CVC headaches.
Great article! Lots of talented first years last year and looks like more to come for the upcoming season. Looking forward to watching these scholar athletes.