2026 Prospects to Watch at the Northeast Qualifiers

The Northeast Qualifiers for 15s are in Philadelphia this weekend. These are some of the top prospects to watch from the Virginia/Chesapeake area. Obviously, the higher the Division the better the prospect may be.   Open Division   Metro   They have already secured an American bid after finishing second to [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] in the Chesapeake Bid Regionals. They lost 15-13 in a third set championship match to [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. For Metro it is all about getting into Open.   The pin hitters remain the key for this Metro team. If they are putting balls away wins will usually follow. [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] may be their most dynamic hitter. She won the MVP award at the Capitol Hill Classic this year. The 5'10 left side plays all six rotations and provides offense to the team from the front row and back row. The 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='D. Williams'] can dominate a game with her reach hitting balls over or through a block. I can see nothing but great things in her future.   On the right side they have a trio of girls listed at 6'1" or greater. [player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner'] can hit from both pins. She has also been listed as a middle by another publication. For her high school team Woodson she hit from both pins. Capitol Hill Classic voted her as the best blocker. [player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] are also right sides. Nadiya has played middle but her length on the right side has been beneficial to the offense.   Metro can mix and match with whoever stays hot. Five premium players for four positions creates some intense battles for playing time. It would not surprise me to see some of these girls move to middle to get their offense in the lineup.   [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']   They are the one team that can battle Metro for supremacy in the Chesapeake Region. They have already earned a National Division appearance by downing Metro in the third set of the championship game 15-13 in the Chesapeake Bid Regionals. An Open Bid remains their goal.   Like Metro the pin hitters are key. [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'] played middle as a frosh for Bishop O'Connell High School in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), helping them to their second straight championship title. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] uses her 6'1" height to dominate from the right side. Her approach jump reaches 9'9". [player_tooltip player_id='249330' first='Charlotte' last='Arrington'] and [player_tooltip player_id='221415' first='Lindsey' last='Canty'] are the two left sides. Charlotte plays six rotations, her back row passing key to churning this offense. Lindsey brings an impressive vertical to the court. Both list at 5'10".   The middles for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] are key as well. Both [player_tooltip player_id='235306' first='Brianna' last='Washington'] and Kaleigh Williams fall short of 6 feet but with good verticals they approach near 10 feet with their attack. Their ability to hit the middle leaves the outsides open to do their thing, but both also belong to the class of 2025.   Virginia Elite   Virginia Elite traditionally enters in open. Judging by their performance in other tournaments winning a bid will be a stretch but they will battle.   Their setter [player_tooltip player_id='204152' first='Sofie' last='Ferrell'] has smooth hands and works an offense well. As a frosh she set for Woodson High School.   USA Division   [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']   [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] lost a 15-13 battle to MVSA Charge for the Freedom Bid at the Chesapeake Regional Qualifiers. Finishing fourth gave [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] an opportunity to earn a Freedom bid that was reallocated to the Chesapeake Region. Now that they have their Freedom bid it is time to move up for a USA bid.   Like most teams their two left sides [player_tooltip player_id='309028' first='Gracelyn' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='309027' first='Skylar' last='Norris'] provide the offense. Gracelyn relies on power to notch her kills while Skylar locates balls well to various areas of the court. At 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='309032' first='Samantha' last='Stephens'] can play middle, but her lefthanded swing brings terror to the right side. She actually belongs in the class of 2025.   [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] runs a pretty good beach program. That usually results in players developing into solid passers in the indoor game. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='320814' first='Alycia' last='Miller'] would fit that description.   MVSA Charge   MVSA Charge beat [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 15-13 in the third set of the Chesapeake Regional Qualifier. That got them a Freedom bid.   Their big talent rests with [player_tooltip player_id='322107' first='Eden' last='Tardy'] on the left side. At 5'10" she provides length while her arm brings the power. Middle Reagan Lentz stands 5'11" and is automatic with her kills in the middle. She also brings a good block, moving well from pin to pin. Love to see her future. So smooth on the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='325601' first='Sydnee' last='Peters'] and [player_tooltip player_id='369729' first='Fallon' last='Gyapong'] bring some offense to the right side. It takes a bit longer for me to like a setter but [player_tooltip player_id='325600' first='Taryn' last='Su'] found a short cut with her hands. She is so consistent with where she puts the ball.   Virginia Juniors   They are looking for a bid. Looking at their schedule this may be their last opportunity to play in July, unless they go the AAU route.   [player_tooltip player_id='333650' first='Louise' last='Neuhart'] brings the heat from the left side. At 6'0" AnaSofia Zanellato offers height to the setting position. She shares those duties with [player_tooltip player_id='333651' first='Sydney' last='Ray'], who sets from the back row while AnaSofia sets from the front row. [player_tooltip player_id='246485' first='Faith' last='Ramirez'] has the hands to be a setter but also the quickness to be a libero. At 5'5" her future may be at the libero position.   Liberty Division   Liberty Elite   The two players that stand out on this team are middle [player_tooltip player_id='352829' first='Parker' last='Sutherland'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='325602' first='Alexa' last='Smith']. At 6'2" Parker provides a huge presence at the net. I also like her loose attitude on the court. Seems to be a great teammate and one of the best players on the court. Alexa brings quickness in the back row. Love her movement as she anticipates where the next ball will be hit. You don't find that in a lot of 15's.   [player_tooltip player_id='346814' first='Adyson' last='Seymour'] impressed me with her setting. [player_tooltip player_id='352830' first='Sophia' last='Everhart'] plays a solid left side. Liberty carries a talented roster so it would not surprise me if they do well at this Division   Maryland Juniors   I have not had a chance to watch them since the National Harbor tournament. They did not do so well at the Chesapeake Regionals, finishing in 13th place out of 15 teams. They are looking to capture a bid.   Left side Isard Barnedes impressed me with her ability to put the ball away. At 5'10" [player_tooltip player_id='346816' first='Avery' last='Hubbard'] stood tall for a setter. She set in the back row and remained in the front row to hit.   Moco Menace   Got to love the 6'1" height that [player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott'] can bring to the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='369263' first='Petra' last='Heminsley'] also brings some height to the court. She can play middle or right side. Those two gear up the offense but playing middle they will need the team to pass to get them involved.   Virginia Volleyball Academy   The two setters [player_tooltip player_id='239322' first='Hailey' last='Park'] and [player_tooltip player_id='308751' first='Olivia' last='LeBlanc'] can dish the ball to the outsides. They both play back row only. At 5'7" [player_tooltip player_id='352831' first='Megan' last='Hiltner'] can still put the ball away from the left side. [player_tooltip player_id='238365' first='Molly' last='Gardner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='369730' first='Gracie' last='Froeming'] share the libero role.   American Division   EC Power Shock   At the start of the season I really liked this team. They have been struggling a bit. They finished fifth in the Chesapeake Regional Qualifiers, falling just short of a bid so perhaps the light has turned on. They are looking for a bid, but in the American Division only one bid is given with many teams vying for that prize.   Their two setters [player_tooltip player_id='238852' first='Casey' last='Yuh'] (Yorktown) and [player_tooltip player_id='221032' first='Wynn' last='Eaton'] (St. Johns) set for their varsity team as frosh last year. At 5'9" Wynn can still be used in the front row. She set a 5/1 for St. Johns while splitting the setting duties there. [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'] also started as a frosh for St. Johns hitting left side. For St. Johns she only played three rotations. Shock uses her for six rotations to take advantage of her back row attack.   [player_tooltip player_id='369327' first='Catherine' last='Long'] stands 6'3" but still needs some work on her game. The potential exists to be a game changer once she gains experience.

The Northeast Qualifiers for 15s are in Philadelphia this weekend. These are some of the top prospects to watch from the Virginia/Chesapeake area. Obviously, the higher the Division the better the prospect may be.