High School Middles to Watch

In club, girls tend to play in their age group. On occasion a girl may play up because her skill level is superior to her own age group. More likely, a girl may play up because a club is trying to play a girl in her high school class. Even if a girl is eligible to play at 14's, if she will be a frosh in high school after the club season ends the club will try to play her at 15s.   In high school seniors tend to rule. It is rare to have a frosh dominant, no matter how talented she was at the club level. The seniors are physically stronger with more playing experience than their younger counterparts. When a high school roster is filled with seniors they will probably be a strong team if they have significant club experience.   When we focus on these top high school players seniors will get the priority, but as any high school coach knows, the success of a program lies in finding a frosh ready to play at the varsity level and building her up. At many of the stronger high schools It is rare for a girl to ever make the varsity if she has not had some club experience.   The middle is probably one of the toughest positions to fill at the high school level. Below are ten middles that will make an impact at their high school.   [player_tooltip player_id='181185' first='Brielle' last='Kemavor'] (Charles Colgan) - The 6'5" BYU commit is probably the most dominate middle in the Northern Virginia area. She led Colgan to their first high school state championship last year and was voted player of the year in the Cardinal Division. She returns this year as a senior and after dominating at the club level she should do even more damage at the high school level.   [player_tooltip player_id='181183' first='Pam' last='McCune'] (St. Johns) - Even though the school is located in D.C. it is part of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), which includes Northern Virginia schools. Pam was the teammate of Kemavor on Metro 17. The 6'2" Iowa State commit should be the player to stop on the St. Johns team. She had a kill percentage of over 50 percent as a junior last year and hopes to continue that success in her senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='180294' first='Kiylah' last='Presley'] (Bishop McNamara) - Another talented middle from the WCAC. Kiylah finished a dominant club season last year as our third ranked player in the class of 2024. She acts more as an outside in the middle, hitting the higher sets, but still putting them down. As a sophomore last season she did not have a dominant season. After her club experience that should change for her junior year. Historically, McNamara has struggled for success in the WCAC so it would not surprise me if Presley is moved to an outside to get her more involved with the offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='180295' first='Ryla' last='Jones'] (Flint Hill) - The 6'4" junior was a key cog in Flint Hill winning the national championship last year. Her twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='181232' first='Renee' last='Jones'] plays opposite. When not playing club ball for Metro 16 Ryla also plays a little basketball for Flint Hill. Her sister Rainelle Jones plays for Maryland and was one of the top blockers in the country. Ryla had a kill percentage of over 60 percent last year and hopes to replicate her sister's blocking success at Maryland.   [player_tooltip player_id='181186' first='Nala' last='Cornegy'] (Episcopal) - The 6'3" senior covers a lot of court with her height and 10'2" vertical touch. Last year the Virginia commit averaged just over three blocks per match. Episcopal plays in the Independent School League (ISL), a conference dominated by Flint Hill.   [player_tooltip player_id='180296' first='Madison' last='Bowser'] (Bishop O'Connell) - At 6'1" Madison is a strong physical presence at the net. The junior gained valuable experience last year playing for Metro 16, going against some of the best teams in the country. Last year she had a lot of raw ability but struggled against some of the stronger teams who had deceptive setters. This year her reads should improve as well as the fluidity in her transition game. She expects to be more of an impact at the net.   [player_tooltip player_id='180298' first='Alice' last='Holoubek'] (McLean) - The 6'2" junior middle helped McLean defeat their rival Langley in the regional finals to advance to the state playoffs for the first time in team history. They lost in the first round to defending champs Alexandria City, but it was their best season in history. Alice has a powerful arm and a high volleyball IQ. While her setter Ella Park has graduated she will have a year of experience to improve on her 2021 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='181188' first='Jade' last='Brooks'] (Oakton) - The 6'0" senior has a good jump and some long arms that can reach high over the net. She also connected with the middle well in the Chesapeake Regional Bid that Paramount won, beating Metro 17. She was absent in the USAV Nationals.   [player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker'] (Langley) - The 5'11" sophomore is the first 2025 on this list. Currently, she is more consistent hitting the quick middle than the high outside set, but a conversion to outside is a possibility, if Langley did not already have two strong outsides. Leni has a vertical block jump of over 10 foot which could explain why she was voted best blocker at Capital Hill Classic in 2022.   [player_tooltip player_id='181309' first='Brianna' last='Holladay'] (Riverside) - The 6'0" sophomore is close to reaching 10 feet on her approach. She gets over 9 feet on her block jump. Last year she played on a JV team that finished 20-1. The 2022 season should see her make a big contribution to the varsity.   Two Frosh to Watch.   There are at least two frosh that have a chance to contribute at the varsity level next year. Both play in the WCAC.   Teodora Stamenkovic (Bishop O'Connell) - She stands about 6 foot, is very athletic and hits the ball hard. She could also play right side. O'Connell has a need for a middle and she has been impressive in camps.   Sophia de la Rosa (Bishop McNamara) - McNamara can always use talented players. Sophia played a little outside and middle during the club season. She played for VAVA 13 at the club level. She hits the ball hard but needs to show more consistency, especially with the outside sets. After Presley she could be the second best player on this McNamara team.

In club, girls tend to play in their age group. On occasion a girl may play up because her skill level is superior to her own age group. More likely, a girl may play up because a club is trying to play a girl in her high school class. Even if a girl is eligible to play at 14's, if she will be a frosh in high school after the club season ends the club will try to play her at 15s.