Top Non Commits at the National Harbor
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If you are thinking about checking out some of the play at the National Harbor tournament this weekend these are some of the top players who have yet to commit, sorted out by team and year of graduation. Virginia Elite…
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Continue ReadingIf you are thinking about checking out some of the play at the National Harbor tournament this weekend these are some of the top players who have yet to commit, sorted out by team and year of graduation.
Virginia Elite
Highlights
2024
Samia Sayd Samia Sayd 5'11" | OH Marshall | 2024 State VA outside (Marshall) – Samia ranks number 20, one of five players in the top 20 who have yet to commit. She plays six rotations. Her back row play is as solid as any libero but at 5’11” she can be used in the back row to attack. Samia plays beach which helps enhance her all around game. For the high school season she earned a spot on the Class 6 All State first team.
2025
Shylah Swope Shylah Swope 5'10" | S Herndon | 2025 State VA setter (Herndon) – She had an injury last year that prevented her from playing in the AAU nationals and this past high school season. Now that she has completely recovered it is time for her to show off her game. She ranks number 15 in our class of 2025 but sits at number two for our setters. She stands 5’10” but her approach jump reaches 9’9″. This jump ranks higher than the middles or outsides on her team. With that kind of jump she has the ability to provide an offensive attack on the right side. It would not surprise me to see her set a 5/1 for Virginia Elite this year but they could also mix in a 6/2 and use her offense on the right side.
Jocelyn Pye Jocelyn Pye 6'0" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2025 State VA left side (Bishop O’Connell) – Jocelyn ranks 26 in this class. Last year she led the Bishop O’Connell team in kills from the left side. She also proved to be their best passer in the back row. Her 6’0″ height gives her an opportunity to provide a good block from the left side. Jocelyn finished fifth for the Knights in blocking. A player that can possibly do it all but set.
Julia Kelly Julia Kelly 6'1" | OH Alexandria City | 2025 State VA outside (Alexandria City) – Julia ranks number 27 in this class. Like Jocelyn, this past year was her first opportunity to shine for her high school team, replacing Gatorade Player of the Year Milan Rex as an outside force. She stands 6’1″ and can hit either right side or left side. For Virginia Elite she lists as a right side.
2026
Sofie Ferrell Sofie Ferrell 5'9" | S Woodson | 2026 State VA (Woodson) and Kai Gorman Kai Gorman 5'11" | S Flint Hill | 2026 State VA (Flint Hill) – Both set and will probably run a 6’2″. Sofie ranks number 14 but sits at number two for the setters in this class. Kai ranks at 25 and number six for the setters. Sofie has set a 5/1 but at 5’9″ with some loaded pin hitters on the roster she may be rotated out in the front row. She is a very smooth setter who earned second team honors as a sophomore in the Patriot District. Kai played down last year at the 14 level but a foot injury prevented her from finishing play at the Junior Nationals and playing in high school. She lists at 5’11 and could be a force in the front row once she starts playing again.
MVSA
2024
Cassandra Bradley Cassandra Bradley 5'6" | DS/L Richard Montgomery | 2024 State VA libero (Richard Montgomery) – High schools that carry good liberos win state championships. Richard Montgomery won their first ever state championship last year with Casey controlling the back row. Her passing is rock solid and she moves smoothly on defense, knowing where to play from her base. Casey has consistently moved up in the rankings and now sits at 35. She is the sixth ranked libero in the class, but four of the five ahead of her have already committed.
Christina Lockett Christina Lockett 5'11" | MB Tuscarora | 2024 State MD middle (Tuscarora) – Colleges, especially division I, normally look for a little more than 5’11” for their middles when they are looking at length. Christina has got the long reach that makes that 5’11 carry a little higher. She also has the athleticism to play right side. She ranks number 41 in our class of 2024. When in a zone she can dominate a game.
2025
Ema Djordjevic Ema Djordjevic 6'0" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA outside/setter (Richard Montgomery) – Eight of the ten players in the top ten for the class of 2025 have committed, two of those to Big Ten schools. Ema ranks as the second highest uncommitted player ranking number five in our class of 2025. She set and hit Richard Montgomery to the Maryland Class 4 state championship, winning player of the year honors in the process. While she sets for her high school team she plays left side for MVSA, her left arm being used for offense in the back row. She tends to hit better from the right side than the left side, but she remains effective either side. At 6’0″ she can be an impact player hitting right side and contributing from the back row, either setting or passing.
Corinne Howard Corinne Howard 5'11" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA middle/leftside (Richard Montgomery) – Still do not have a complete picture of Corinne. She misses a lot of club ball because of her commitment to basketball. She is extremely athletic so if given the opportunity to focus on volleyball she could dominate. At 5’11” her best position may be left side, but her vertical and quick movements allow her to put up good blocks in the middle. She has played outside, but the middle seems to be her home. As with any middle moving to outside can be challenging. Because the sets are higher she can be a little early in her approach. She ranks 24 in our class of 2025.
Kareena Rathnam Kareena Rathnam 5'3" | DS/L Winston Churchill | 2025 State VA and Sherry Ye Sherry Ye 5'3" | DS/L Winston Churchill | 2025 State VA (Churchill) libero – You could call them twins on the volleyball court. Both play for the same high school and club teams. They tend to alternate between libero and defensive specialist. They even rank near each other in the rankings with Karenna at 30 and Sherry at 31. Both play a solid back row, though when one has her struggles as a libero the other comes in to replace her. The replaced player then becomes the defensive specialist. Any college would benefit from having both play the back row.
Jordyn Palazzo Jordyn Palazzo 5'11" | OH Watkins Mill | 2025 State VA outside (Watkins Mill) – At 5’11” Jordyn plays under the shadow of Ema with her attacks from the other left side. She ranks number 34 in our class of 2025. She hits the ball as hard as any pin hitter. Her best fit may be for a Division III school but she has two years to enhance her game and perhaps gain an inch or two in growth.
2026
The 2026 team is loaded with talent. The setters are worth watching. Charlotte Deraleau Charlotte Deraleau 5'8" | S Churchill | 2026 State VA stands just 5’8″ but her sets tend to find a more consistent location. She ranks at number 95 but that should rise based on the improvement in her game. Anasofia Zanellato Anasofia Zanellato 6'0" | S Academy Of The Holy Cross | 2026 State VA brings height to the setting position at 6’0″. For Holy Cross she was the second setter behind senior Jaylyn Simon Jaylyn Simon 5'9" | S Holy Cross | 2024 State VA . Once she gains more game experience her consistency in location will improve. She ranks at number 41 in our class of 2026,
Elizabeth Mitchell Elizabeth Mitchell 5'9" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2026 State VA plays as strong a left side as anyone in this class. She also has the ability to play six rotations. She ranks number 23 in our class of 2026. The 6’1″ Eliza Lowe has impressed me with her middle play and should move up from her current 89 ranking. If you are looking for back row players who show some hustle take some time to watch libero Kennedy Cummins Kennedy Cummins 5'3" | DS/L Glenelg Country School | 2026 State VA and defensive specialist Mia Fornasiero Mia Fornasiero 5'9" | DS/L Bullis | 2026 State VA ,
Virginia Juniors
Highlights
2024
Seliz Aktuglu Seliz Aktuglu 5'9" | OH Oakton | 2024 State VA outside (Oakton) – A smaller outside at 5’9″. She hits the ball hard and battles for every point, not afraid to go toe to toe even against the larger blocks. A solid six rotation player with a good serve. Seliz could offer versatility as a defensive specialist/libero plus provide some depth at the pins. Seliz ranks number 30 in the class of 2024.
Sydney Pham Sydney Pham 5'3" | DS/L Madison | 2024 State VA libero (Madison) – The top libero in the class of 2024 who has yet to commit. She currently ranks number 29 in the class of 2024. A solid passer with great knowledge of where to play defense behind the block. It is rare to see a ball hit the floor when it is hit in her direction.
2026
Sydney Ray Sydney Ray 5'7" | S Riverside | 2026 State VA setter (Riverside) – Sydney is the younger sister of Ava Ray, who committed to Texas Southern. Sydney took over the setting responsibilities for Ava at Riverside and in her first year led them to an almost undefeated season. Unfortunately, they lost in the Class 5 state championship final to First Colonial. Still a very successful first season. Sydney ranks number 26 in our class of 2026. As a sophomore Sydney got voted to the second team of the Regional 5d team and also earned a spot on the second team in the Potomac District.
Virginia Volleyball Academy (VAVA)
Highlights
2025
Aubrey Loughlin Aubrey Loughlin 6'0" | MB James Madison | 2025 State VA (Madison) – At 6’0″ she played a strong middle for Madison. Currently, she ranks number 41 in the class of 2025. While she played middle in the sets I watched, it appears she has the ability to play right side. When you watch her play it is hard to believe she did not start playing volleyball until her frosh season in high school. Lots of upside here.
2026
Megan Hiltner Megan Hiltner 5'9" | OH Dominion | 2026 State VA (Dominion) outside – Megan is a smaller outside at 5’9″. She played well enough to earn second team honors in the Dulles District as well as rising from number 71 to 46 in the most recent Prep Dig rankings. While she stands small for an outside Megan plays six rotations showing off offense from the back row as well as the front row.
Highlights
2026
Julie Xu Julie Xu 5'11" | RS Oakton | 2026 State VA setter/right side (Oakton) – Julie found herself on the roster for the 18 team, playing up two years. While she has set on her travel teams, her greatest use has been as a right side, where her 5’11” height can put balls away as well as put up a solid block. Julie ranks number 38 in our class of 2026.
Faith Ramirez Faith Ramirez 5'7" | S Lightridge | 2026 State VA setter (Lightridge) – Faith has been used at multiple positions. She played libero last year for Virginia Juniors. This year she will set for DMV Elite . She only stands 5’7″ but she has the vertical to put the ball away as an outside hitter. She ranks number 47 in our class of 2026. A very athletic player.
Maryland Juniors
Highlights
2025
Amy Ye Amy Ye 6'1" | S Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA setter (Richard Montgomery) – Another Rocket to watch. At 6’1″ she has good height for a setter. She still needs to work on her consistency with location but give her another year or two of experience and she could be a solid contributor. Her setting along with Ema Djordjevic Ema Djordjevic 6'0" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA led the Rockets to their first ever state championship. Amy will play up on the Maryland Jrs. 18 team with a 60 rank in the class of 2025.
Gabriella Prather Gabriella Prather 6'3" | MB Reservoir | 2025 State VA middle (Reservoir) – At 6’3″ Gabriella has the height you like to see in the middle. She also runs quicks well hitting to all areas of the net. She transitions well from hitting to blocking. If you are looking to build a wall in the middle you might want to give Gabriella a look. Her ranking of 38 could be on the rise.
Gabrielle Washington Gabrielle Washington 6'2" | MB Glenelg Country School | 2025 State VA middle (Glenelg Country School) – At 6’2″ Gabrielle brings height to the middle. She also has the athleticism to hit outside as well. Her ranking sits at 64 but this could rise once I see her play. She performed well at a Metro workout.