Whose Stock Has Climbed in the Class of 2023
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Updated rankings will be coming out soon. The high school season is in full swing and new players have been discovered who could see a significant rise in their rankings or make an appearance in the rankings. I’ve been trying…
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Continue ReadingUpdated rankings will be coming out soon. The high school season is in full swing and new players have been discovered who could see a significant rise in their rankings or make an appearance in the rankings. I’ve been trying to get to as many high school gyms as I can but between coaching and getting to the gyms it is difficult to see everyone. Below are ten players from the class of 2023 who have impressed me with their play. The season is still young so there are more games to witness and fresh faces to watch.
What has been evident in the games I’ve been at is the enthusiasm in the stands. Volleyball is alive in the Northern Virginia community and inside the gym watching volleyball is a fun place to be. I’ve been really enjoying the atmosphere. Check it out and see for yourself.
Sydney Bryant Sydney Bryant 5'11" | OH Flint Hill | 2023 State #151 Nation VA (Flint Hill/outside) – With Flint Hill losing both of their left sides from last year the question had to be asked who would be replacing them. The Huskies seem to be fine. Sydney Bryant Sydney Bryant 5'11" | OH Flint Hill | 2023 State #151 Nation VA has taken over one of those left sides and the team has yet to lose a set this year, winning a tournament in Florida and their own tournament this past weekend. The Maryland commit has a lightning fast arm swing that makes her difficult to block. She was ranked 16th in our last ranking but I anticipate that may rise. She is almost unstoppable from that left side.
Alex Scipione (Colgan/setter) – The 5’9″ setter ignites the Colgan offense that won the Class 6 State Championship last year and looks to repeat in 2022. She has nice hands, sets the middle well and uses all the weapons at her disposal. She made second team Class 6 All State and first team in the Cardinal District last year. In the front row she also shows she has the ability to put some velocity on the ball when given an opportunity to hit. A real gamer on the volleyball court and a player you want to have on your team to control your offense.
Trisha Guevara Trisha Guevara 5'3" | S Stone Bridge | 2023 State VA (Stone Bridge/setter) – She only stands 5’3″ but she has the heart of a lion. Her fearless attitude on the court led her teammates to a Class 5 State Championship last year. It got her voted to the first team All State in Class 5 and she also made first team in the Potomac Division. When playing defense there may be no better player to guard the line. You have to love her enthusiasm on the court.
Paige Meins Paige Meins 5'9" | S Robinson | 2023 State VA (Robinson/setter) – The 5’9″ setter was our 39th ranked player but after watching her play against Flint Hill that position may rise. She has the ability to distribute her sets to all her hitters on the court, including the back row. She shows good hustle, diving for balls even if they appear out of reach. She has led Robinson to some big early season Patriot Division wins over Woodson and Alexandria City and a 6-0 start to league play.
Erica Maebius (Langley/libero) – She may not be the most athletic or fastest player on the court, but she will probably have the highest volleyball IQ on the court. Her instincts for knowing where to place the ball are incredible. Every free ball is placed in a specific spot where she thinks the other team will struggle to get the ball up. She also seems to be able to get in front of most serves and passes nails right into the setter’s hands. Her passing makes that Langley offense more destructive.
Stephanie Striker (Paul VI/setter) – Stephanie has some height for a setter, standing close to 6’0″. She also has the ability to hit the ball with velocity, already accumulating 27 kills early in the season. Sometimes Paul VI will run a 6/2 to take advantage of her hitting right side, but her setting consistency is valuable. She also has a vicious serve that can dish out aces by the bushel.
Annalie McCarthy (Alexandria City/middle) – At 6’0″ she shares being the tallest player on the team. Those are the ones that coaches naturally fill the middle position. Annalie seems to embrace that role. She gets her hands high over the net, which resulted in a number of blocks against Woodson. She also has a vicious standing bullet serve that is tough to track as it darts over the net. Sometimes, when you are taller you don’t need to jump to serve bullets over the net.
Rosina Parker (Robinson/left side) – She is one of the many Robinson seniors that have the Rams off to a 6-0 Patriot Division start. She hits well from the back row and front row and her passing is precise enough to be involved in serve receive. She does everything you want with a strong left side. She has also committed to South Carolina.
Natalie Brown (Forest Park/right side) – We watched her play in the Titan Clash this past weekend. She may have been one of the smaller Forest Park players at 5’9″, but she was one of their more consistent offensive threats, driving balls to the floor from the right side. She hits left handed and puts up some good blocks, which is what you want to see from your right side. Forest Park has an impressive collection of players standing over 6’0″ but it was Natalie that shined in the match I watched.
Alondra Miranda-Pagan (Grafton/setter) – This past club and high school season we focused more on Northern Virginia players since that is our base of operation. The hope is to expand to the other areas of Virginia and if we witness a player we really like she will be placed in the rankings. Alondra is a setter we really liked. She stands just 5’3″ but she runs the offense so well that the coach leaves her in front row to cover the tips. She also has a good serve, leading the team in aces. Last year Grafton lost to Loudoun County in the Class 4 State Championships for the fifth straight year. This year they hope for a different outcome.
Chesapeake Chirps: Alexandria City had a big game with Woodson last week at Woodson. It wasn’t much of a game as the Titans schooled them with a 25-13, 25-10 and 25-17 sweep. Milan Rex Milan Rex 5'11" | S Alexandria City | 2023 State #147 Nation VA dominated from the outside but her other left side counterpart Bridie Wendling also put down some impressive hits. They are a much better team than when I saw them earlier this year…Two big matches on Tuesday of this week. Bishop O’Connell goes against Holy Cross to see who takes the early lead in the WCAC. Neither team has lost a match. James Woods also goes against Millbrook to see who will take the early lead in the Northwestern Division. Both teams are also undefeated…Battlefield (6-1) sent Patriot (7-1) down to their first Cedar Run defeat, winning in five last week. The last set the Bobcats won 15-8….Holy Cross had a number of fans show up at Gallagher Gymnasium at St. Johns and the place was rocking with noise as the two sides competed with cheers. Emerson Sellman Emerson Sellman 6'4" | OH Academy of Holy Cross | 2024 State #5 Nation VA led Holy Cross to a four game match victory, though St. John’s frosh left side Morgan Reeves will be a player to watch. It was kind of fun watching top players Sellman and Pamela McCune exchange roofs when the other hit into their block. St. Johns lost a 23-20 first game lead which proved critical in Holy Cross taking the match. Sellman finished it in game four with three straight kills to make it 18-12 and the game turned into a 25-15 rout, after three really close sets to begin the match.