It’s finally the time of year we begin to look towards the 2026/2027 season! There’s no better way to kick things off than with our summer Impact Recruits series, where FrogJump highlights some of the incoming freshmen we think might make some noise next season.
In club terms, you are only ever “playing up” in college. Your opponents will often be 1,2, 3, or even 4 years older than you. That is A LOT of physical development freshmen have to make up for when transitioning to the college game. So, the odds are always stacked against newcomers when they join the DIII landscape. 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 though, as talented newcomers always end up making a name for themselves. The 2026 season had a ton of first years showcased across the landscape, and 2027 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. YOU WILL NOT LIKE MY RESPONSE!).
1. Logan Coady – Outside Hitter – Nazareth
A slam dunk signing for the Golden Flyers of Nazareth. Logan Coady is the type of outside you can build a team around, as the 6’5 pin recently came off a successful senior year of volleyball with a New York State Championship and Tournament MVP award to match.
Massapequa High School will miss him, but the Golden Flyers are now in a particularly exciting position given their youth and talent. Frawley, Ringstad, and Murphy were already good pieces, Logan cement this group as favorites to win the Empire 8 this year.
2. Elijah Cobb – Middle Blocker – Juniata
Juniata might as well be Middle Blocker U given the amount of talent they’ve produced at the position the last few years. Elijah Cobb continues that tradition, as the 6’5 middle out of Central Dauphin headlines an incredibly loaded Eagles freshmen class.
Big, athletic, a defensive wall, Cobb continues to demonstrate a readiness for the college game and will strike fear in the hearts of Hitters across the country. He’ll be a force for the Eagles as they transition to the Landmark.
3. Ryker Lentz – Middle Blocker – Carthage
Carthage has a lot to be excited for in 2026. The firebirds have one of the most complete rosters in D3VB for 2026, and Ryker Lentz only adds to it. The Middle Blocker out of Milwaukee will definitely help shore up the middle of the net for the firebirds, there might be a learning curve at first, but he’ll develop fairly similarly to Hudson Sweitzer over time. The rich get richer, and the firebirds continue to improve.
4. Parker Mesnik – Setter – Wentworth
The Leopards lose Brayden Green to graduation, and bring in Parker Mesnik who looks the mold of everything you could want in a starting setter. Tall, athletic, tempo!
Parker has all the tools needed to take the reins of the Wentworth offense; he headlines a very good class of Freshmen which has Wentworth stock rising in my eyes for 2026.
5. Sam Webster – Setter – Springfield
The Dylan Mulvaney era of Springfield is over, and the Pride will be looking for a new Setter this season as they look to defend their NCAA Championship. Webster has all the tools to be a great setter in the landscape, having played with and against some of the best some of the best at Triangle VBC.
Competition for this spot will be fierce, but for now I’m inclined to give Webster the lead in the race to see who runs the Pride offense come fall ball.
As always, I do these articles in parts of 5. So stay tuned for part 2 where I bring you another group of freshmen worth keeping an eye on in 2026. Until then, enjoy your summers, and I’ll see you all at Nationals!