Seven to Watch in the Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are two teams to watch as well as five players to target for the 2024 club season. It originally began as ten players to watch but a number of players were from the same two teams. The 2026 season is shaping up to be an exciting one. It begins this weekend. For the class of 2026 nine of the ten players in the top ten are composed of players from Metro and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. This will be a rivalry to watch all year. They can only make each other better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["322107"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65984a35c630a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325599' first='Raegan' last='Lentz']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='322107' first='Eden' last='Tardy']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325603' first='Parker' last='Sutherland']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325602' first='Alexa' last='Smith']</strong>) - Last year these four players were affiliated with other clubs. Raegan and Eden played for MVSA and Parker and Alexa played for Liberty Elite. Three of the four finished the 2023 season in the top ten for the class of 2026. Alexa ranked as the third best libero in the class of 2026, slotting in the top twenty. For 2024 all four will play for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] in what should be an explosive rivalry with Metro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'] </strong>played middle and right side for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] last year. She took her number four ranking and moved to Metro. To replace her [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] picked up middles/right sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325599' first='Raegan' last='Lentz']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325603' first='Parker' last='Sutherland']</strong>, who rank seven and ten in the class of 2026. Though they may have lost one middle/right side ranked in the top ten they gained two in return.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='322107' first='Eden' last='Tardy']</strong> ranks number eight in our class of 2026. Last year she was the top hitter for MVSA. The previous year she played for Metro. In addition to Eden [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] added two other new faces to the outside position. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves']</strong>, who played for the now defunct EC Power club last year and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='557033' first='Aniah' last='Bass']</strong>, who played high school at Oxon Hill in Maryland and St. James and MVSA for club ball. That counts as five new players to the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325602' first='Alexa' last='Smith'] </strong>- The sixth newbie is libero [player_tooltip player_id='325602' first='Alexa' last='Smith'] who played for Liberty Elite last year, as did [player_tooltip player_id='325603' first='Parker' last='Sutherland']. Both Parker and Alexa also play for Hedgesville high school in West Virginia. Hedgesville lost to Musselman in the semi-finals of the West Virginia Class AAA playoffs last season. Alexa ranks as the number three libero in the class of 2026. That now gives a possibility of six new players to the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 16 lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='249330' first='Charlotte' last='Arrington']</strong> - Charlotte played for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 15 last year, but this year she will skip a beat and will suit up for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 17. This is interesting since Charlotte sat out her high school season last year. Now she will be playing a year up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325601' first='Sydnee' last='Peters']</strong> - Sydnee is a third MVSA player who has moved to [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. She has a nice left handed swing that is ideal for the right side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377335' first='Mackenzie' last='Davis']</strong> - Another new addition to the team will be [player_tooltip player_id='377335' first='Mackenzie' last='Davis'], She will be one of the two setters on the team. She played for Virginia Elite last year but also set for a talented Riverside High, who lost in the semi-finals of the Virginia state championship. The count of new faces entering the roster now jumps to eight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all the new faces on the roster the trickle of returnees is small. One is setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast']</strong>, who will be setting her St. Johns teammate<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377328' first='Madison' last='Phan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='412055' first='Lilly' last='Kennedy']</strong> are two defensive specialist who return. [player_tooltip player_id='238851' first='Piper' last='Xeller'] returns as a strong candidate for a right side position. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='249331' first='Isabella' last='Moore']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495262' first='Imani' last='Thomas']</strong> provide depth for the middle/right side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time will tell whether these new faces can congeal as one to make Paramount a competitive team. Their first tournament is scheduled for this Saturday at Maryland Jrs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["238341"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65984a35c6396"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metro does not appear to have remained stagnant either. They added a few impressive names to their roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek']</strong> - At 6'2" Teodora gives Metro some length in the middle that they lacked last year. Almost all of their pins stood taller than their middles. Now that will not be the case. [player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek'] is another new name that could be added to the middle. She played right side for Riverside last year but Metro remains loaded with their returning pins. The two will probably share middle opportunities with returner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490643' first='Bryah' last='Breaux']</strong> - Metro also appears to have picked up a new outside in the 6'4" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490643' first='Bryah' last='Breaux']</strong>. This club always seems to recruit the tall, athletic players and transform them into pin hitters. With the 6'3" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='D. Williams']</strong> at the other left side this could be the tallest 16 combo in the country. Visions of [player_tooltip player_id='180288' first='Emerson' last='Sellman'] and Macaria Spears dance in my head. Also returning to the left side is six rotation player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] </strong>who stands only 5'10" but she ranks number three in the class of 2026. Other pin hitters include the 6'3" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner']</strong>, the 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> and the 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt']</strong>. It remains to be seen how they will make room for all those pin hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377326' first='Elly' last='Vanlandingham']</strong> - As if their pins were not tall enough Metro has landed some length in their libero position. While most of the MVSA players may have migrated to [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''], the 5'10" libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377326' first='Elly' last='Vanlandingham']</strong> took a different turn. She will be joined in the back row by returnees <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='218149' first='Giselle' last='Norris']</strong>. With three back row players this could open up some outside possibilities for Laila, but the pins seem crowded as well. It will be interesting how they accommodate all this talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325600' first='Taryn' last='Su']</strong> - A fourth new addition is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325600' first='Taryn' last='Su']</strong>, another MVSA player who set for the team last year in a 6/2. She will probably do the same with returnee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first tournament for Metro 16 is a local one on Sunday in Gambrills. The next weekend they travel to Cleveland, Ohio to play in the Rock N Rumble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <strong>Other Names on my Radar in the Class of 2026 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238850' first='Sydney' last='Bennett']</strong> - Not all the rosters for the clubs are complete. Last year Sydney played for American. She is absent from their roster this year. At 6'2" she can dominate at the middle, leading her high school team in blocks. Curious where her new home will be. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["238857"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65984a35c640d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238857' first='Julie' last='Xu']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite']) - The [program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] have her rostered on the 18 team. That means playing two years up. While she has set, her primary position has been right side. At 5'11" she brings some height to the position with good arm extension. Julia ranks number 38 in the class of 2026 but is the fourth ranked right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377334' first='Josephine' last='Seekford'] </strong>(Virginia Elite) - At close to 6'2" she brings some height to the outside with an approach jump at 9'3". For Loudoun County she rosters as a middle/right side She did not see a lot of playing time but she did make varsity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["238860"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65984a35c6478"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238860' first='Mia' last='Fornasiero']</strong> (MVSA) - The last time I saw Mia play she hit left side. At 5'8" she was a smaller outside hitter, but she played with fire. She has now moved to the libero position. As a six rotation outside she should have no problem adjusting to the position switch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["367784"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65984a35c64dd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367784' first='Alexis' last='Steinmetz'] </strong>- She will set for American 15 this year. She first got added to the rankings in May 2023 and was on my list of biggest climbers in the last rankings. Osbourne lists her as their primary setter on the varsity roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->