Class of 2025 Whose Stock has Climbed

Rankings can be like club or high school tryouts. You have one to three days to look at a player to make your decision. Once you make a decision the stud turns into a dud and the dud taken by another team turns into a stud. With rankings you look at a player for a game and based on that performance you make a determination. A month later you watch her again and you wonder if you are looking at the same player.   The players below have climbed in rankings. Sometimes decisions occur based on a player's accomplishment, i.e. earning a spot on the all tournament team or a first team all conference. Also, comments from a coach can provide a different perspective on a player. Sometimes, the player just performs much better than the last time you watched her. Below are some of those players who climbed in the ranking.    [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] setter (Metro) moved from 6 to 2 - At the Junior Nationals her play earned her a spot on the All Tournament team in the National Division. Her setting and overall play has also improved. A lot of that can be attributed to maturity. As she has gained more experience she has also gained confidence in her decision making process. She has also gotten stronger and grown a couple inches to 6'2" without losing any of her quickness. Certainly, impressed with her progress.   [player_tooltip player_id='181300' first='Alexis' last='Ewing'] outside (Virginia Juniors) moved from 13 to 6 - Another player who has grown a couple inches as well as gained a lot of confidence in her game. She no longer seems to dwell on her errors or look at her coach to find answers. Her biggest improvement has come in her back row play. That defense still needs some work, but it is difficult for a 6'3" frame to get low. The hitting has gained consistency, with her increased length allowing her to hit over blocks. Virginia Juniors attracted a number of strong Division I college coaches at Junior Nationals. It was not difficult to figure out who they were looking at. Definitely beginning to look like a superstar in the making.    [player_tooltip player_id='181309' first='Brianna' last='Holladay'] middle (Paramount) moved from 18-11 - Perhaps it was her connection with [player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'], but her ability to hit the quicks improved. Her 6'2" frame also created more difficulty for opposing hitters to hit around. Her performance at Junior Nationals almost got Paramount into the gold bracket in the USA Division. Love the confidence she seems to exude on the court.    [player_tooltip player_id='230817' first='Riley' last='Lynch'] middle (Virginia Juniors) moved from 50 to 24 - Her play at hitting the quick shoots in the middle opened up the outsides. It did not matter who set the shoots, Riley put the ball down. Her 6'0" frame also penetrated far over the net to reject a number of attempted kills. The upward movement put her seventh at her position in the class of 2025. That should continue to rise.    [player_tooltip player_id='235306' first='Brianna' last='Washington'] middle (Paramount) moved from 54 to 34 - Another Paramount middle to rise in the rankings, but Brianna played down with Paramount 15. Her 5'11" height Division I coach's may consider small for a middle, but her block and approach jump rates the highest on the team. She also brings the flexibility to hit right side. Give her a couple years and she may exceed the 6' mark.   [player_tooltip player_id='183589' first='Angelique' last='Desamours'] right side (Virginia Jrs) moved from 53 to 39 - Her hits from the right side have gained consistency. She hit left side for her high school Paul VI. Another player who may be gaining confidence in her game as her maturity and confidence grows. She plays with a lot of energy.   [player_tooltip player_id='322104' first='Katie' last='Tomaszewski'] setter (MVSA Sparks) moved from 70 to 55 - At 5'4" she is probably relegated to a back row setter in a 6/2. Her hands have a nice touch on the ball bringing consistent location to her sets. She also brings a tough serve to the court. Another option could be as a defensive player. She plays a solid defense from the setting position which could translate into a secondary position as a libero or defensive specialist. Just a solid player to have on the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='240027' first='Kaitlyn' last='Demitz'] right side (Paramount) moved from 76 to 56 - Her lefthanded swing makes her a perfect fit for the right side. She also brings good velocity to her hits. When playing right side for her Dominion high school team she finished second in kills, blocks and aces. Not bad for a sophomore.   [player_tooltip player_id='235327' first='Jenna' last='Hathaway'] right side (VAVA Blue) moved from 95 to 58) - Her high school lists her as a setter. At 5'10" she stands tall for the setting position. For VAVA she mainly hits right side with a strong left handed swing. With her height and ability to hit she could make for a dangerous setter with lots of offensive versatility.   [player_tooltip player_id='181314' first='Aubrey' last='Loughlin'] middle (VAVA Blue) moved from 104 to 67 - She connected with her setter on a number of shoots in the middle. Her 6'0" height gives her length with the blocks. Both [player_tooltip player_id='230817' first='Riley' last='Lynch'] and Aubrey play middle for James Madison. That stands out as a solid blocking duo.    [player_tooltip player_id='294589' first='Maya' last='Tillman'] middle (Virginia Jrs) moved from 99 to 85 - The strength of Virginia Jrs. may lay with their outsides. The way [player_tooltip player_id='230817' first='Riley' last='Lynch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='294589' first='Maya' last='Tillman'] played in the Junior Nationals, their middles certainly performed well. At 5'10" Maya falls just short of most Division I middle needs, but there appears room for growth. Keep watching.    [player_tooltip player_id='245602' first='Bridgette' last='Templeton'] libero/defensive specialist (Virginia Juniors) moved from 108 to 90 - Another player whose skills were lauded at the Prep Dig Chicago event. For Virginia Jrs her back row play is limited with [player_tooltip player_id='184604' first='Nia' last='Thomas'] taking the libero spot and [player_tooltip player_id='181300' first='Alexis' last='Ewing'] playing six rotations. She takes advantage of her reps replacing Ewing late in games with the score close.   [player_tooltip player_id='181315' first='Sierra' last='Evans'] middle (Metro) - I was going to move Sierra up in the rankings based on her play at Junior Nationals with Metro 16. Turns out she belongs to the class of 2024. I will add her to that class with the next updates.

Rankings can be like club or high school tryouts. You have one to three days to look at a player to make your decision. Once you make a decision the stud turns into a dud and the dud taken by another team turns into a stud. With rankings you look at a player for a game and based on that performance you make a determination. A month later you watch her again and you wonder if you are looking at the same player.