New Additions to Class of 2025

Below are the new additions to the rankings of 2025. A number of surprises here. Just when you think you have seen every player in Northern Virginia a few players come out that surprise you. Seems like the smaller outsides dominate this list. As new players get discovered or other players move up in rankings others will fall. This club season offers new opportunities.   [player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye'] OH (Bishop O'Connell/Virginia Elite) Rank 26 - Starting the 2023 season the Knights carried five players on their roster who could play middle. A big hole existed at the pins. Jocelyn answered the call for one of the left sides. She led the team in kills and finished with the best passer rating on serve receive. At 6'0" she also brought a good block from the outside, finishing fifth on the team in that department. The one area she needs to improve on is establishing a back row attack. That should come with more repetition at the club level. Jocelyn transferred from Meridian High School.   [player_tooltip player_id='464589' first='Julia' last='Kelly'] OH (Alexandria City/Virginia Elite) Rank 27 - During the Titans championship run a couple years ago Julia did not get a lot of playing time. With the graduation of Milan Rex the 6'1" outside got an opportunity to start. While the Titans fell short of winning another championship they still finished second in the Patriot District, qualifying them for a playoff run. Julia played a critical role in that playoff run with her offensive production from the pins. Both Jocelyn and Julia will suit up for Virginia Elite 17, with Julia listed as an opposite. That Virginia Elite team is loaded at the pins.   [player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold'] OH (Hidden Valley/Next Revolution) Rank 45 - Two years ago when I watched Hidden Valley play Sophie failed to fall on my radar. This past high school season she shared the spotlight with [player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'], both of whom put together 24 kills in the Class 3 state championship win over Grafton. The 5'10" outside improved her hitting consistency to help the Titans take home the championship. It earned her a spot on the first team All State for Class 3. She also finished third on the team in blocks and second in aces. Perhaps next year she will improve her back row game enough to play six rotations. This would allow her to contribute more to the offense with a back row attack.   [player_tooltip player_id='481961' first='Addison' last='Ziegler'] RS (Clear Spring/Revolution VBC) Rank 54 - Addison impressed with her right side play during the Class 1 Maryland state championship, leading Clear Spring to a five set win over Smithsburg. The 5'11" lefthander was their primary weapon, firing lasers from the right side as well as the back row. A very emotional player on the court. While her back row attacks created offensive opportunities her overall play for passing could improve. For Clear Spring this was their second straight championship. Addison hopes to lead them to a third next year.   [player_tooltip player_id='479336' first='Gretchen' last='Brady'] MB (Leonardtown/South River VBC) Rank 57 - At 6'2" Gretchen makes an impact in the middle. In the class 4 Maryland state championship her blocks neutralized a potent Rocket offense. She also runs quick middles well to open up the offense to the pins. She brings leadership, positivity and athleticism to the court, something all coaches look for in a player. Unfortunately, for Leonardtown, they lost in the finals to the Rockets. With her returning to the middle next year they will have another shot.   [player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye'] S (Richard Montgomery/Maryland Jrs.) Rank 60 - At 6'0" she plays right side when she does not set. Amy could use a little more refinement in the setting area but it was enough to win a Maryland state class 4 championship. She finished third on the team in blocking.   [player_tooltip player_id='465297' first='Grace' last='Ostvig'] OH (Colonial Forge) Rank 67 - The younger sister of Isabel, Grace chose a different craft. Her 5'8" height makes her a little small for an outside but she makes up for that with a strong right arm and some leap in her jump. In a five set loss to eventual class 6 state champion Langley, Grace finished the match with 12 kills. Her steady offensive play earned her a spot on the Commonwealth District second team., while her older sister setter [player_tooltip player_id='182753' first='Isabel' last='Ostvig'] won player of the year honors.   [player_tooltip player_id='479338' first='Gracie' last='Zartman'] OH (Leonardtown) Rank 68 - Another smaller left side at 5'8" Gracie provided the offense for Leonardtown from the front row and back row. She earned a nod on the Post All Met second team. In the class 4 Maryland state championship match against Richard Montgomery Gracie finished with 15 kills. Despite her 5'8" height she brings the hops to get her hands high over the net to reject some balls from becoming kills. A gifted, athletic player.    [player_tooltip player_id='453965' first='Taylor' last='Hansen'] OH (Briar Woods) Rank 71 -Taylor is the third 5'8" outside new to the rankings who finds no problem putting the ball to the floor. Briar Woods completed one of their more successful seasons in school history and Taylor's offensive production from the left side ranks as a major reason why. The only player who brought more kills to the floor was Clemson bound Skylar Riggio, who hit from the right side.   [player_tooltip player_id='477134' first='Zora' last='Burrell'] OH (Potomac) Rank 73 - At 5'7" another smaller outside who can hammer the ball. An athletic girl who adds basketball and softball to her high school sporting activities. She plays point guard when playing basketball and centerfield when suiting up for softball. Playing travel ball sits somewhere on her list. Last year she appeared on the Metro 14 East roster. I only saw her play while involved in coaching, but she showed good vertical and everything she hit went to the floor. Lots of potential in her game, especially if she can focus on volleyball.   [player_tooltip player_id='479340' first='Marin' last='Esch'] RS (Reservoir) Rank 77 - Reservoir lost to eventual State champion Richard Montgomery in the Maryland State semi-final match. At 6'0" Marin put up some good blocks against a Rocket team that carried a number of players above 6'0". In the first set she also produced a number of critical kills that turned a 14-9 deficit into a 22-21 advantage, but they faltered after that. A late starter to the game. Marin did not begin to play volleyball until her frosh year in high school.   [player_tooltip player_id='471627' first='Allison' last='Spittal'] DS/L (North Stafford) Rank 78 - She brings a hard jump spin serve to the game, as well as setter hands for out of system opportunities. Allison plays a lot of beach and has committed to Florida Atlantic University to play the game in the sand.   [player_tooltip player_id='478768' first='Sofia' last='Silberfeld'] S (Walter Johnson) Rank 86 - She has a strong serve, leading the Wildcats in aces. Sofia set a 5/1 earning a spot as an honorable mention on the All Montgomery team.    [player_tooltip player_id='476364' first='Amber' last='Smith'] DS/L (Langley/Saint James) Rank 93 - One of the positions left open due to graduation last year was the libero spot. Amber took over that position and Langley went on to win the Class 6 State championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='481962' first='Gabby' last='Taylor'] RS (First Colonial/Beach Elite) Rank 97 - A 6'0" right side who finished the season third in kills and second in blocks. Her play on the right side was instrumental in First Colonial winning their first state championship since 2014.   [player_tooltip player_id='479342' first='Lindsay' last='Hunter'] MB (Leonardtown) Rank 98 - Lindsay is a multisport athlete. She plays middle for her volleyball team, shutting down offenses with her block. First base is her position when she plays softball.   [player_tooltip player_id='470555' first='Ava' last='Barnett'] MB (Langley/MOJO) Rank 101 - Langley has four pins that stand 6 feet or more. Ava lists at just 5'8" but occupies the middle spot for the Saxons. She surprised me with how well she hit from the middle. When blockers cheat anticipating an outside set Ava surprises teams with a quick middle spike soundly to the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='481963' first='Rachel' last='Zimmer'] MB (First Colonial) Rank 103 - Rachel led the Class 5 state champions in blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='481964' first='Ware' last='Nevaeh'] MB (North Hagerstown) Rank 109 - Ware put away the final spike to give North Hagerstown their second consecutive state championship. With the Doolan sisters struggling to put the game away the call went to Ware with a quick set in the middle to win the fourth set 25-23.   [player_tooltip player_id='465317' first='Kathryn' last='Nguyen'] S (Peninsula/East Volleyball Club) Rank 110 - She does a nice job distributing her sets. Her leadership got Peninsula to the semi-finals of the VISAA state championships.   [player_tooltip player_id='478769' first='Ariel' last='Mazor'] MB (Walter Johnson) Rank 112 - She led her team with an impressive .342 hitting percentage, finishing second on her team in kills but first in blocks. She earned a spot on the All Montgomery County second team.   [player_tooltip player_id='470561' first='Grace' last='Francis'] OH (Freedom) Rank 117 - She earned a spot on the All Cedar Run second team.

Below are the new additions to the rankings of 2025. A number of surprises here. Just when you think you have seen every player in Northern Virginia a few players come out that surprise you. Seems like the smaller outsides dominate this list. As new players get discovered or other players move up in rankings others will fall. This club season offers new opportunities.