Top Prospects to Watch at the National Capital Showdown
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For Division I colleges the quiet period remains. Division II and III colleges can get a head start when viewing some pretty good talent competing in the National Capital Showdown at the National Harbor in Washington D.C. January 27 –…
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Continue ReadingFor Division I colleges the quiet period remains. Division II and III colleges can get a head start when viewing some pretty good talent competing in the National Capital Showdown at the National Harbor in Washington D.C. January 27 – 29. Above is a picture of last year’s Vienna Elite 16-L, who played at the National Harbor and also qualified for Junior Nationals in Indianapolis.
The most impactful players appear to be playing at the 17 open level. The overall talent level appears diluted with a Mid Atlantic Power League (MAPL) tournament also happening during the same weekend. The top prospects for that tournament will be discussed later this week.
18 Open
Highlights
Virginia Jrs
Sofia Hardy Sofia Hardy 5'7" | DS/L Independence | 2023 State VA (Libero) – Her number 36 ranking places her at the top of our class of 2023 uncommitted players competing in the National Capital Showdown. Very consistent in the passing game and on the defensive end of the floor.
Simara Alexander Simara Alexander 5'10" | MB Lake Braddock | 2023 State VA (middle) – At 5’10 Simora stands small for a Division I middle but her offensive game carries potential. Finding middles always remains a challenge. She has also played right side.
Kezia Francis Kezia Francis 5'9" | OH Charles Colgan | 2023 State VA (left side) – A smaller left side but she played six rotations for a Colgan team that got to the semifinals in the Class 6 State Championship. She moves quickly on the court bringing with her athleticism to get to balls others can only watch.
Chesapeake Elite Volleyball Academy
Alina D’Andrade Alina D’Andrade 5'8" | S Elizabeth Seton | 2023 State VA (setter) – She has some sweet hands earning her a selection to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) first team. Very quick to the ball and at 5’8″ she can play front row. Alina attracted my attention with how smooth the ball leaves her hands.
Others to watch
A number of quality defensive specialists filter this group. Angelina Barrera Angelina Barrera 5'2" | DS/L Chantilly | 2023 State VA (Vienna Elite – committed to Christopher Newport University), Kristina Diaz Kristina Diaz 5'4" | DS/L Forest Park | 2023 State VA (American), Emma Cortez Emma Cortez 5'3" | DS/L Robinson | 2023 State VA (Vienna Elite – committed to Clarkson University) and EllaMae Fitzgerald EllaMae Fitzgerald 5'8" | DS/L Episcopal | 2023 State VA (Virginia Jrs – committed to Dartmouth) stand out as liberos or defensive specialists to watch. Natalie Brown Natalie Brown 5'9" | RS Forest Park | 2023 State VA (American), at 5’9″ played right side for Forest Park and consistently put balls to the floor.
17 Open
Highlights
Virginia Juniors
Aubrey Hatch Aubrey Hatch 6'1" | OH Colgan | 2024 State VA (left side) – A six rotation player who packs a powerful right arm. She ranks number 9 in our class of 2024. At 6’1″ she carries some length for the position. The Class 6 voted her to the All State first team after leading Colgan to the finals of the State championship.
Samia Sayd Samia Sayd 5'11" | OH Marshall | 2024 State VA (left side) – Samia falls just behind Aubrey in the rankings at number 11. At 5’11 she carries less length than Aubrey but her back row play is steadier. The two make having a defensive specialist unnecessary. She dominated in a game against Langley putting balls away from the front and back row.
Lanie Goff Lanie Goff 5'7" | DS/L Patriot | 2024 State VA (Libero) – Lanie shows great hustle in her game. That remains a skill difficult to teach. In addition to her hustle her skill level earned her a spot on the Cedar District first team. Quiet arms for passing and quick feet to play defense.
Brianna Clay Brianna Clay 6'2" | MB Battlefield | 2024 State VA (Middle) – At 6’2″ she brings height to the floor. Her right arm was one of the primary weapons for Battlefield. It earned her a spot on the Cedar Run District first team. Only four other middles sit above her in our 2024 rankings but none of them will be playing in this tournament.
Vienna Elite
Seliz Aktuglu Seliz Aktuglu 5'9" | OH Oakton | 2024 State VA (left side) – Another six rotation left side. Her legs provide her lift to make up for her smaller 5’9″ height. She also brings with her quality passing and defense, with the ability to stay low to the floor. Oakton relied on her as their primary offensive weapon. She can also string together points with a tough bullet serve.
Sydney Pham Sydney Pham 5'3" | DS/L Madison | 2024 State VA (Libero) – The highest ranked libero playing in this tournament from the class of 2024. Class 6 voted her to the All State second team. She does everything you can ask for in a libero, especially with her consistent passing.
Lauren Katz Lauren Katz 5'11" | S Patriot | 2024 State VA (setter/Right Side) – Lauren provides flexibility with her setting skills and her 5’11” height to play the right side. She can put the ball to the floor with good velocity. One of the stronger hitters for her high school team.
Camille Pomeroy (Middle) – A player to watch because her game keeps improving. At 6’1″ she also brings length to the floor.
Virginia Volleyball Academy (VAVA)
Skyler Riggio Skyler Riggio 6'1" | RS Briar Woods | 2024 State VA (right side) – At 6’1 she gives you the height you need for the right side. She also plays six rotations with the ability to pass, play defense and more importantly attack from the thee meter line. Class 5D voted her to the All Region first team.
Grace Tucker Grace Tucker 5'9" | OH Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA (left side) – She stands just 5’9″ so her physical skills will not impress. Watch her play. It would be hard to find a better teammate on the court. She also brings quality play to all six rotations. The class 4c Region selected her to the second team. The Dulles District voted her to their first team.
Others to watch
Some setters to watch would be Jaylyn Simon Jaylyn Simon 5'9" | S Holy Cross | 2024 State VA and Aava Shingler Aava Shingler 5'5" | DS/L Battlefield | 2024 VA from (Virginia Jrs), as well as Ellen Noh Ellen Noh 5'3" | S Oakton | 2024 State VA (VAVA) and Ankita Kamath Ankita Kamath 5'6" | S Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA (DMV Elite). Three smaller outsides to watch who stand around 5’9″ who could also fit into a libero role are Sidney Powell Sidney Powell 5'9" | OH Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA (DMV Elite), Charizma Lofton Charizma Lofton 5'10" | OH Gainsville | 2024 State VA (Virginia Jrs) and Janssens Arabia Janssens Arabia 5'8" | OH Briar Woods | 2024 State VA (VAVA). Dilara Vural (VAVA) and Isha Uppalli Isha Uppalli 5'5" | DS/L Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA (DMV Elite) are liberos to place on the radar. Finally, the one middle to watch is Samantha Ferguson Samantha Ferguson 5'10" | MB Riverside | 2024 State VA (DMV Elite) who stands 5’10”.
16 Open
Highlights
Virginia Jrs.
Alexis Ewing Alexis Ewing 6'3" | OH Bullis | 2025 State VA (outside) – The most intriguing player of this group. The daughter of professional basketball player Patrick Ewing and volleyball Olympian Cheryl Weaver has some terrific potential. At 6’3″ she has length but the skill set remains a bit raw. Definitely a player to watch. Not there yet as a six rotation player when I last saw her play early in the high school season.
Sydney Mayfield Sydney Mayfield 5'10" | RS Bullis | 2025 State VA (right side) – Ewing’s teammate at Bullis high school. At 5’10” her hitting was more consistent. Both were voted to the first team Independent School League, a league dominated by Flint Hill players. Sydney played six rotations and was the primary attacker from the three meter line.
Destini Pickett Destini Pickett 5'10" | OH Forest Park | 2025 State VA (left side) – A 5’8″ outside with incredible leaping ability. The Class 6B Region voted her to their All Regional first team. She also plays six rotations.
Racquel Frazier Racquel Frazier 6'1" | OH St. Johns | 2025 State VA (left side) – She stands 6’0″ with a powerful righthanded swing. Her back row play needs work before she plays six rotations. A strong girl who will only improve.
Riley Lynch Riley Lynch 6'0" | MB James Madison | 2025 State VA (middle) – As the saying goes “someone has got to block middle”. Virginia Jrs seems to be filled with outsides. Riley ranks as the top middle in the class of 2025 playing in this tournament.
MVSA Sparks
Ema Djordjevic Ema Djordjevic 6'0" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA (outside) – At number 4 Ema ranks as the top 2025 playing in this tournament. A great teammate who just happens to be the best player on the floor. She swings lefthanded but hits mainly left side in order to play six rotations. Right side appears to be her more comfortable spot to put balls away. At 6’0″ she has the length to be a dominant player.
Kareena Rathnam Kareena Rathnam 5'3" | DS/L Winston Churchill | 2025 State VA (libero) – If you are of the opinion that liberos are a dime a dozen you have not watched Kareena play the position. Smooth and effortless. Hard velocity spikes come right back up. Her serve can be tough, though she dialed it down her last tournament because it also can be inconsistent.
Carolyn Kaye (middle) – Not listed in our 2025 rankings because my knowledge base still falls short with Maryland players. The 6’1″ middle competes in the high jump so getting her hands over the net to block is not a problem. She runs the quicks well.
Jordyn Palazzo (left side) – Another player not listed in our rankings, but the 5’11” left side can bury the ball to the floor. Normally only plays three rotations.
Virgnia Volleyball Academy (VAVA)
Emily Maguire Emily Maguire 5'9" | MB Paul VI | 2025 State VA (Middle) – VAVA has a number of players listed in our 2025 rankings. Emily ranks the highest of this group. A middle you may want to take a look at, but then there are six other players in our rankings that play for this team. When you watch her others may also attract your attention.
Others to Watch
Don’t know how Virginia Juniors will distribute the playing time for all their outsides, but Skylar Johnson and Angelique Desamours Angelique Desamours 5'9" | OH bullis | 2025 State VA are two more outsides to watch. If you want to take a look at setters VAVA has three with Emma Adiacontei Emma Adiacontei S Dominion | 2025 State VA , Michelle Kim Michelle Kim 5'8" | S Rock Ridge | 2025 State VA and Julie Xu Julie Xu 5'11" | RS Oakton | 2026 State VA . Julie belongs to the class of 2026. Makenzie Dvorznak Makenzie Dvorznak 5'10" | OH Independence | 2025 State VA (VAVA) and Jackie Colucci Jackie Colucci 5'10" | OH Woodgrove | 2025 State VA (DMV Elite) are two more outsides to watch. Nia Thomas Nia Thomas 5'7" | DS/L Bullis | 2025 State VA (Virginia Jrs) at libero and Aubrey Loughlin Aubrey Loughlin 6'0" | MB James Madison | 2025 State VA (VAVA) at middle are two more players worth taking a look at.