Top Pin Hitters to Watch at AAUs
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Below are the top ten or so pin hitters who may be competing in AAUs. Perhaps not the depth you will see at the Junior Nationals, but still some impressive talent. Rosters have not been submitted yet so there is…
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Continue ReadingBelow are the top ten or so pin hitters who may be competing in AAUs. Perhaps not the depth you will see at the Junior Nationals, but still some impressive talent. Rosters have not been submitted yet so there is no certainty the players below will accompany their team to AAUs.
Highlights
Hannah Ball Hannah Ball 5'11" | OH Midlothian | 2024 State VA (River City/Midlothian) – In our class of 2024 only one pin hitter ranks ahead of her. That would be Emerson Sellman Emerson Sellman 6'4" | OH Academy of Holy Cross | 2024 State #5 Nation VA , who ranks number five in our national ranking. Hannah ranks number five in our Virginia region class of 2024. The 5’11” left side led Midlothian to their first ever Class 5 high school state championship. Her contributions got her voted to the first team class 5 All State. A game changer who impacts at all six rotations. River City will be participating in the 17 Premier at AAUs.
Alexis Keeter (Beach Elite/Grafton) and Victoria Tupy Victoria Tupy 6'1" | OH Landstown | 2024 State VA (Beach Elite/Landstown) – Beach Elite brings two impressive outsides to the court. The 5’11” Florida Gulf Coast commit Alexis will play beach at college but her indoor game impresses. She led Grafton to the finals of the Class 4 State championship. A six rotation player who earned player of the year honors for Class 4 State, as well as Tidewater player of the year.
At 6’1″ Victoria can approach close to 10 feet (9’11.5″) with her attack jump. The Campbell commit ranks number 25 in our class of 2024, just eleven spots below Alexis. For her high school they list her as a middle but for Beach Elite she hit left side and played all six rotations. Victoria hits well from both pins. Beach Elite Black ranks as the top Old Dominion 17 team according to Advanced Event Systems (AES). They will be playing in the 17 Premier Division in AAUs.
Seliz Aktuglu Seliz Aktuglu 5'9" | OH Oakton | 2024 State VA (Vienna Elite/Oakton) – At 5’9″ Seliz may lack the height to play outside at a Division I school. Just don’t let that stop you from giving her a look. Besides her ability to hit from the outside she passes well, plays excellent defense and has a tough serve. There are a lot of attributes to her game that many coaches would love to have on their team. The Concorde District voted her to their first team. Vienna Elite will play in the 17 Premier Division in AAUs.
Ana Toumazatos Ana Toumazatos 6'1" | OH Langley | 2025 State VA (Virginia Elite/Langley and Azavia Thomas Azavia Thomas 6'5" | OH Archbishop Carroll | 2024 State VA (Virginia Elite/Archbishop Carroll) – Ana is the only class of 2025 to appear on this list. She ranks at number nine, perhaps the fifth top pin hitter in the class. At 6’0″ she can get high over the block with her attack, reaching 9’8″ on her approach. Her back row play and defense are solid, allowing her to play six rotations and be used as an attacker in the back row. Ana will play for Virginia Elite 16, which will play in Open in AAUs.
At close to 6’5″ Azavia can be a difference maker, reaching 10 feet in her approach jump. She still lacks the experience of playing competitive club ball, with this year of play her first at playing in high level tournaments. Currently, her on court play is restricted to three rotations, but when she plays the front row her attacks are difficult to stop. More repetitions at the higher levels will up her game. Azavia will play for Virginia Elite 17 in the Open Division at AAUs.
Highlights
Kendall Washington Kendall Washington 5'8" | OH Lightridge | 2024 State VA (East Coast Marble/Lightridge), Adrienne Long Adrienne Long 5'10" | OH McLean | 2024 State VA (East Coast Marble/McLean) and Maura Fay Maura Fay 6'1" | OH Woodson | 2024 State VA (East Coast Marble/Woodson) – This trio gives East Coast multiple weapons at the pins. As a result, East Coast Marble turned in some impressive finishes at qualifier tournaments. These include a third place finish out of 96 teams in the Mideast Qualifiers in the American Division and 19th out of 65 teams in the Northeast Qualifiers in the Liberty Division. They fell short of earning a bid to Junior Nationals so instead will play in the Club Division at AAUs.
At 5’8 Kendall is small for an outside. Her good vertical and fast arm swing gives her the power to rake up the kills. She also played six rotations and saw some time hitting right side. At 5’10 Adrienne brings greater length to her game. She is another player that can hit from both pins and has the passing and defensive tools to play six rotations. Maura at 6’1″ could develop into their most impressive hitter with more consistency. She plays both right and left side in high school but is generally limited to three rotations. However, when you watch her videos she does have a good platform for passing.
Avery Beall Avery Beall 5'11" | OH Damascus | 2024 State VA (MVSA Starz/Damascus) – At 5’11” some might say Avery needs to rise taller to play in Division I. That is until you see her complete a kill and the velocity she puts on the ball. Avery hits the ball hard and when MVSA needs a point her name is called. For Montgomery County Avery earned an honorable mention nod. Last year I watched her team play at Junior Nationals. Her game has improved since then. This year the Starz will be playing in the 17 Premier Division at AAUs.
Highlights
Campbell Wood Campbell Wood 5'5" | DS/L St. Catherines | 2024 State VA s (Richmond Volleyball Club/Hanover) – At 6’2″ Campbell covers a lot of territory when she puts up a block from the right side. She shows a block jump that reaches 9’10”. Her left handed swing fits well for the right side. Campbell earned first team class 4b All Region honors and second team Class 4 All state. Richmond Volleyball Club will be playing in the 17 Premier Division.
Skyler Riggio Skyler Riggio 6'1" | RS Briar Woods | 2024 State VA (VAVA/Briar Woods) – At 6’1″ with a left handed swing, Skyler also fits nicely at the right side. She also played six rotations in high school and at VAVA, showing off a powerful back row attack. Class 5d All Region voted her to the first team. VAVA will be playing in the 17 Premier Division in AAUs.