Additional 2026 Prospects at Shamrock Showdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Shamrock Showdown the focus was more on the class of 2026. Below are some additional prospects who did not play for the top three teams in the 15U age group. But first, the winners for the older age groups and then a look at more 2026 prospects to keep tabs on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181299"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641dce3b9eb8f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Ridge rolled over the competition, sweeping all seven matches. Three other teams finished with 4-3 records. Liberty Elite earned the most points against Blue Ridge, reaching 23 in the second set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Ridge may team up two of the best outsides in the Chesapeake 16U group. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181299' first='Ada' last='McCoy'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> both play six rotations, allowing them to bring an offense to the front row and back row. Kennedy ranks as the number one player in the class of 2026 and plays up with this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another class of 2026 who plays with this team is libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong>, who ranks as the top libero in that class. Definitely a fun team to watch. Just a bunch of beach players scrambling to keep the ball from hitting the floor. This weekend they will be playing in the Chesapeake Bid Regionals for the first time I can remember, exposing themselves possibly to the national audience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The setting duties are shared by <strong>Olivia Manos </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346737' first='Chloe' last='Fisher'].</strong> Olivia plays good defense but at 5'3" lacks the height to play front row. Alternatively, Chloe stands taller at 5'8" and could at the net. She also loves to set right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346735' first='Emily' last='Ryder']</strong>. The two are both teammates at Smithsburg High. The 5'9" Emily brings a good left handed swing to the right side and despite her height puts up a pretty good block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, at 6'0" [player_tooltip player_id='346736' first='Ava' last='Hinnant'] brings height to the middle. She likes to run the quick shoot to notch up her kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17/1 Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richmond Volleyball Club</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richmond Volleyball Club swept through their first four matches. They struggled in the second set against St. James in their opening match but were able to pull out a 27-25 win. Blue Ridge 17 beat them in the first set of the championship match 29-27. Richmond bounced back to win the next two sets 25-16 and 15-9.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'1" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248621' first='Tatum' last='Evans'] </strong>stands out as the big stick for Richmond Volleyball Club. The new rankings will show the Virginia Tech commit move up to be one of the top twenty Virginia players in the class of 2023. Other players of note on this team include middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333655' first='Jillian' last='Levin']</strong> and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333656' first='Grace' last='Ward']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue Ridge 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180286"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641dce3b9ebf0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They lost just one set before playing the championship match against Richmond Volleyball Club. They won a harrowing first set 29-27 but could not beat the more experienced Richmond club in the last two sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The players to watch on this team are class of 2025 left side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady']</strong>, libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180302' first='Emma' last='White'] </strong>and setter/right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233008' first='Greta' last='Barvick']</strong>. The 6'0" Beverly plays six rotations and is the key offensive weapon for Blue Ridge. Greta sets but also hits right side with power and precision. Last year she led her high school in kills while hitting from the left side. She can do it all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180286' first='Hannah' last='McCullough']</strong> also deserves some mention. She reminds me of a hummingbird when she plays, moving from back row to front row in a blink of an eye to set and play defense. Like a hummingbird she moves quickly. She plays an excellent defense and always tries to use her hands to set the ball outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other players to watch from the 15s teams in the Open Division that were not part of the top three teams that were discussed earlier in the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Volleyball Academy (VAVA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["308751"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641dce3b9ec3c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They have two left sides who impressed. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='352831' first='Megan' last='Hiltner']</strong> played six rotations, hit well from the front and back row and brought a solid defense to the game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352832' first='Kiley' last='Robinette']</strong> played opposite Megan but seemed to be the go to girl for the three meter sets. She also banged a couple out of system sets, an impressive feat for many outsides at this age.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero <strong>Gracie Froeming</strong> brings good hustle to the position. Against Braddock Road she served an ace to put VAVA ahead 26-25. She followed that up with a nice dig that ultimately gave VAVA a 27-25 second set win. Both setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='308751' first='Olivia' last='LeBlanc'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239322' first='Hailey' last='Park'] </strong>bring strong serves to their game. Hailey pulls out a setter dump from time to time that consistently finds the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braddock Road</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two top players for Braddock Road may have been their two left sides as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='354086' first='Nina' last='Schweigert']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='354085' first='Tyler' last='Bentinck']</strong> brought the offense to this team. Nina captures kills with her shots to deep line. She also makes nice use of the outside block and can hit effectively from the three meter line. In addition, she will break out a jump spin serve to keep teams off balance. Tyler brings a good right and left side swing and also brings a good serve to her game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle <strong>Julia Horan </strong>can get her hands high over the net. She impacts the game with her blocking ability. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240899' first='Sarah' last='Kim'] </strong>set the offense well. She has a bit of a deep dish to her sets but it is not egregious enough to get called. That should disappear as her hands get stronger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOCO Menace</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team brings a little height to the court with their middles. The 6'1" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott'] </strong>played for Georgetown Day and has a good arm swing to put the ball down. <strong>Petra Heminsley</strong> stands a tad shorter but appears to have the athletic chops to play back row and hit outside. <strong>Sadie Fester</strong> set a 5/1 and <strong>Taylor Dickinson</strong> brings some length to the left side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->