Ten to Watch in the Class of 2025
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The high school season has come to a close. In a little over a week the first club tournaments will start. Below are ten players on my radar from the class of 2025. Some of these players did not play…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season has come to a close. In a little over a week the first club tournaments will start. Below are ten players on my radar from the class of 2025. Some of these players did not play during the high school season because of injury or they were home schooled. Others I watched just briefly and would like to see more. They are listed in order of their 2025 rank.
Highlights
15. Shylah Swope Shylah Swope 5'10" | S Herndon | 2025 State VA setter (Herndon/Virginia Elite) – The number two setter in the class of 2025. She did not play her high school season because of injury. Herndon paid the price because of her absence. They won only one match all last year, nine fewer than the year before. Shylah offers both offensive potential and leadership skills. She stands just 5’9″ but has an approach jump of 9’9″, which ranks higher than all of her pin hitters.
Highlights
19. Madison Smith Madison Smith 5'9" | MB Reservoir | 2024 State VA outside (home schooled/Metro) – Madison stands 6’1″ and established herself as one of the primary left side hitters for Metro last year. Her play showed immense improvement over the previous year, especially her attacks carried greater velocity with improved consistency. Her back row play also showed greater consistency. If she makes the same kind of improvements this year she will certainly stand out as a force to watch.
Highlights
22. Ava Dickerson Ava Dickerson 5'11" | MB Warren County | 2025 State VA middle/left side (Warren County/ Blue Ridge ) – Ava won player of the year honors in her district this past season after moving from middle to outside. She also earned a spot on the Class 3 All State team. The fact she finished second on the team in digs and first in kills seems a good indicator that the move to outside was a success. Last year for Blue Ridge she played middle. At 5’11” outside may be her best position, but with Ada McCoy Ada McCoy 5'11" | OH Musselman (WVA) | 2025 State VA and Berkeley Konrady Berkeley Konrady 6'1" | OH Millbrook | 2025 State VA fortressed there a return to the middle looks like a strong possibility. However, she is the complete team player and will suit up for any position of need.
29. Samantha Stephens Samantha Stephens 6'3" | RS Spring Mills | 2025 State VA middle/right side (Spring Mills/ Blue Ridge ) – When you are 6’3″ you are normally destined for middle. Samantha played mostly right side for her West Virginia high school. She led the team in kills and finished second in blocks. Last year for Blue Ridge she played both right side and middle. She also played a year down. This year she could see more middle and has moved up a year to match her high school class.
38. Gabriella Prather Gabriella Prather 6'3" | MB Reservoir | 2025 State VA middle (Reservoir/Maryland Jrs) – At 6’3″ she brings some good length to the middle. Her strong middle play got Reservoir to the semi-finals of the Maryland State championships, but they lost to the eventual state champions Richard Montgomery. Gabriella impressed me enough that she was the highest newcomer to the class of 2025 rankings. Definitely need to see more of her play.
Highlights
53. Abigail Litonjua Abigail Litonjua 5'9" | S West Potomac | 2025 State VA setter (West Potomac) – She made the list back in April as one of my biggest stock risers from the class of 2025. Last year she set for Paramount , but it appears towards the end of the season they went to a 5/1 with Claire Mo Claire Mo 5'10" | S Langley | 2026 State VA . Claire happens to rank as one of the top setters in the area. For West Potomac Caroline Christensen set a 5/1 in their playoff loss to Woodson. Abigail got credit for a couple back row kills in that match but her playing time was limited. As a lefthander Abigail fits the setter position well. She also carries all the tools to be a top notch setter. Hopefully she will get that opportunity this year.
73. Zora Burrell Zora Burrell 5'7" | OH Potomac | 2025 State VA left side (Potomac) – Zora stands just 5’7″ but is extremely athletic. She plays point guard for basketball and centerfield for softball. That tells me she has some quickness. In the one game I watched she consistently shredded a formidable O’Connell block to achieve a number of kills. Last year she played travel ball for Metro East. Potomoc eventually lost to Bishop O’Connell in the VISAA quarterfinals but Zora made an impact.
89. Chloe Bonney-James Chloe Bonney-James 6'0" | MB Madison | 2025 State VA middle (Madison)- Chloe impressed when playing for Virginia Volleyball Academy. She hit the quick sets well operating from all areas of the net. At 6’0″ she also brought some good height to the middle. For Madison she did not suit up but contributed as a manager. Hopefully, her health will return in time to play for a club this season.
91. Caroline Lang Caroline Lang 6'3" | MB St. Annes-Balfield | 2025 State VA middle (St. Annes Balfield) – She has a commitment to Virginia, stands 6’3″ and appears to be playing for Metro this year, though no official rosters have been posted by them. Previously, she played for Richmond Volleyball club. With all those accolades going for her a 91 ranking appears a little low.
96. Shiraz Benyoucef Shiraz Benyoucef 5'8" | DS/L Georgetown Day | 2025 State VA libero (Georgetown Day/Virginia Elite) – The only time I saw her play was as an outside for Virginia Elite last year. She moved to the libero position for Georgetown Day and helped them win their second consecutive state championship. She returns to Virginia Elite where they list her as an outside/defensive specialist. Kadi Pynchon Kadi Pynchon 5'6" | DS/L Flint Hill | 2025 State VA will probably retain the libero role but Shiraz can provide depth both for the back row and front row.