Volley by the James Introduces New Faces
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Unfortunately, I had my own team to coach and could not get down to the Richmond Convention Center, where the open teams were playing until late Saturday night. The evening session featured the the15 and 16 Open teams. In just…
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Continue ReadingUnfortunately, I had my own team to coach and could not get down to the Richmond Convention Center, where the open teams were playing until late Saturday night. The evening session featured the the15 and 16 Open teams. In just those four hours a number of new faces were discovered. Below are some names to watch for the 2024 club season.
Lauren Hobbs Lauren Hobbs 5'7" | S North Hagerstown | 2025 State VA setter ( Blue Ridge 16/North Hagerstown) – She set North Hagerstown to the Maryland Class 3 State championship. Emily Gassaway Emily Gassaway 5'6" | S North Hagerstown | 2024 State VA also set for North Hagerstown which got her included in the class of 2024 rankings. While Hobbs got some mentions in my notes she fell short of getting ranked in the class of 2025. At the Volley by the James she orchestrated a 5/1 offense and led Blue Ridge to the gold in the 16 Open Division. Her variety of sets kept Paramount off balance, especially in set three where Blue Ridge demolished them 15-5. Blue Ridge won the gold over Club 540 in the final set 16-14. Lauren appears to be a winner wherever she plays.
Highlights
Olivia Smith Olivia Smith 5'7" | OH Williamsport | 2026 VA left side ( Blue Ridge 16/ Williamsport) – For her high school she finished second in kills. At 5’7″ her height could be a disadvantage, but she hit high off the Paramount blocks allowing her to accumulate kills. She also brought a tough serve that Paramount found difficult to pass.
Highlights
Meisha Sykes Meisha Sykes 6'2" | MB Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. | 2026 State VA middle ( Paramount 16/Henry A Wise) – At 6’1″ she brings some height to the middle. Her approach jump gets over 10 feet. The previous year she played for St. James. She puts up a solid block at the middle, her long arms able to reach high over the net. She has taken over the middle blocking responsibilities for Paramount with Parker Sutherland Parker Sutherland 6'3" | MB Hedgesville | 2026 State VA .
Gabrielle Tindall Gabrielle Tindall 6'2" | MB Yorktown | 2026 State VA middle (Virginia Elite/Yorktown) -At 6’2″ she also brings some height to the middle. While she got added to our rankings in May 2023 her name was still not that familiar. She has the highest approach jump for Virginia Elite, reaching close to 10 feet (9;8′).
Josephine Seekford Josephine Seekford 6'2" | OH Loudoun County | 2026 State VA left side (Virginia Elite/Loudoun Country) – A 6’2″ outside hitter who played for Loudoun County. She did not get a lot of playing time for them last year but with another year of club experience she should begin appearing on the radar. Currently ranked number 74 for the class of 2026. She put a few balls away for a Virginia Elite team that won their last five matches in Volley by the James.
Jaya Lewis Jaya Lewis 5'4" | DS/L Battlefield | 2026 VA Libero (American/Battlefield) – Jaya Lewis Jaya Lewis 5'4" | DS/L Battlefield | 2026 VA loves to hit the floor. She played for Battlefield last year, who appeared in the finals of the Class 6 state championship before losing to Langley. The Bobcats will be losing their libero next year but Jaya appears poised to inherit the position. She showed hustle on the floor at the Volley by the James. Next year the Battlefield libero position could be hers.
Terry Spring Terry Spring 5'9" | OH Arundel | 2026 VA left side (Maryland Juniors/Arundel) – Arundel will need to reload after losing a number of seniors. Terry should be part of that addition. She did not get a lot of playing time last year but she showed some springs hitting outside at the Volley by the James. for Maryland Juniors A couple more inches of growth and she should be scary good. Currently listed at 5’9″.
Alexa Bracey Alexa Bracey 5'10" | RS Bishop McNamara | 2027 State VA right side ( Paramount /Elizabeth Seton) – Alexa stands tall at 5’10” with a good left handed swing from the right side. She plays for a strong Paramount 15 team which won the 15 Open Volley by the James. Lots of talent on that team so playing time could be an issue but she has an arm. Younger sister of Erika Bracey Erika Bracey 6'0" | RS Elizabeth Seton | 2024 State VA , who has committed to Rhode Island.
Kennedy Cummins Kennedy Cummins 5'3" | DS/L Glenelg Country School | 2026 State VA libero (MVSA Sparks/Glenelg Country School) – Kennedy played a strong libero for MVSA Sparks. With her and Mia Fornasiero Mia Fornasiero 5'9" | DS/L Bullis | 2026 State VA patrolling the back row MVSA should be tough to get out of system. Kennedy shows quick movements and solid passing skills. I have her on my watch list for the class of 2026 and color me impressed.
Riley Forehand left side (Club 540/Caroline) – She made the second team in the Battlefield District representing Caroline High. A left side hitter who hits the ball hard and high off the block. Club 540 has some impressive talent with Lindsey Canty Lindsey Canty 5'10" | OH North Stafford | 2026 State VA hitting the other left side and Alyssa Kumah Alyssa Kumah 6'0" | MB Mountain View | 2027 State VA providing offense at the middle position. Riley also shows an ability to terminate balls from the back row as well.
London Jones left side (Richmond Volleyball/class of 2028) – A player to put on your radar. Richmond has her playing up on their 15 team with Blake Crawford Blake Crawford 5'7" | OH Atlee | 2027 State VA . She brings a good vertical but only plays three rotations for now. Still a bit raw but with more experience could develop into a monster offensive player. Next year will be her frosh season in high school.
Avery Hurley Avery Hurley 5'11" | S Colonial Heights | 2026 State VA setter ( Richmond Volleyball Club /Colonial Heights) – Avery sets a very clean ball and at 5’11 brings height to the position. She put up a nice block against Paramount . Richmond Volleyball Club started out strong winning their first four games but a loss to Paramount dropped them to the silver division where they also lost to MVSA Charge and 540 Volleyball.
Volley by the James Results
15 Open
Highlights
It was all Paramount (pictured above). They did not lose a set as they swept through the competition. In the finals to determine the gold bracket winner they swept through Maryland Juniors 26-24 and 25-16 then beat a strong Blue Ridge team by almost the same scores 26-24 and 25-18.
They are led by Taylor Harrington Taylor Harrington 6'2" | MB Wakefield | 2027 State VA in the middle, who sits as the top prospect in our class of 2027. She plays taller than her 6’1″ height with the athleticism to reach over 10 feet with her approach jump. At this age she was pounding it over most blocks. At the pins Paramount added Louise Neuhart Louise Neuhart 6'0" | OH Independence | 2027 State VA to a roster already crowded with Kayla Luther Kayla Luther 5'8" | OH Loudoun County | 2027 State VA and Eva Collingham Eva Collingham 6'0" | OH South Lakes Reston | 2027 State VA at the left sides and Erin Green Erin Green 5'11" | RS Chantilly | 2027 State VA and Sofia Delarosa Sofia Delarosa 5'10" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2026 State VA on the right. With that kind of fire power the coach can go with the hot hand.
Erin Green Erin Green 5'11" | RS Chantilly | 2027 State VA played a strong right side against Richmond Volleyball Club . She swings hard and produced kills from the right and left side, though the right side is her main position.
The setting combo of Anna Dierks Anna Dierks 5'9" | S West Springfield | 2027 State VA and Ingrid Smith Ingrid Smith 5'8" | S Dominion | 2027 State VA may be the best in this class.
16 Open
Blue Ridge was playing without their top hitter Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State VA , who was playing in a beach tournament in Florida. She planned on joining the team on Monday, the third day of the tournament. That did not prevent Blue Ridge from going undefeated the first two days. They had a secret weapon in Gracelyn Brown Gracelyn Brown 5'9" | OH Hedgesville | 2026 State VA who took over for Kennedy on the left side and played just awesome. Gracelyn plays both basketball and softball for Hedgesville so her volleyball this year will be limited. But against Paramount her defense scooped a number of balls from hitting the floor and she was adept at using the Paramount block to achieve kills.
Lauren Hobbs Lauren Hobbs 5'7" | S North Hagerstown | 2025 State VA ran the offense well. She has a nice touch to the ball and the hitters fed off her sets. One of those hitters was middle Tenley Mattison Tenley Mattison 5'10" | MB James Woods | 2026 State VA , who Paramount found difficult to stop. Tenley also put up a number of monster blocks against Paramount in their biggest victory of the tournament. Olivia Smith Olivia Smith 5'7" | OH Williamsport | 2026 VA also provided an offensive presence from the left side and brought a bullet serve that produced shank after shank for Paramount .
Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA and Alycia Miller Alycia Miller 5'3" | DS/L Musselman | 2026 State VA smothered the back row. They provide hustle and grit to the Blue Ridge winning mentality.
Blue Ridge topped a tough 540 team 25-20, 16-25, 16-14 in the final bracket. After that they beat Jersey Jrs 26-24, 25-11 to win the championship. Quite a good start to their season.
17 Open
Highlights
Virginia Elite took first place based on a tie breaker. Three teams went into the gold undefeated, Virginia Elite, Blue Ridge and Paramount . Virginia Elite first lost to Blue Ridge 23-25, 25-23, 15-13. That had to be one fun game to watch. Then they were able to sweep past a strong Paramount team 27-25, 25-16. When Paramount roasted Blue Ridge 25-11, 25-12 all three teams finished 7-1. Virginia Elite finished on top at 15-2, Paramount took second at 14-2 and Blue Ridge settled for third at 14-3.
Virginia Elite is loaded at the pins with left sides Jocelyn Pye Jocelyn Pye 6'0" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2025 State VA and Ana Toumazatos Ana Toumazatos 6'1" | OH Langley | 2025 State VA and right sides Evelyn Jurden Evelyn Jurden 6'2" | RS West Springfield | 2025 State VA and Julia Kelly Julia Kelly 6'1" | OH Alexandria City | 2025 State VA . All of these girls stand over 6 feet with approach jumps close to 10 feet. The player with the highest approach jump though is setter Shylah Swope Shylah Swope 5'10" | S Herndon | 2025 State VA , who reaches 9’9″. Even though she stands just 5’10” she has the ability to out leap her pin hitters.
Libero Kadi Pynchon Kadi Pynchon 5'6" | DS/L Flint Hill | 2025 State VA covers the back row. Virginia Elite will be a team to contend this year. Looking forward to watching them play in their next tournament. They are coached by Heather Stout, who ran the first ever Prep Dig 250 Expo Showcase. She also coaches at Catholic University.
18 Open
Jersey Juniors beat back the locals Valley Juniors and Richmond Volleyball Club to win the highest age group. Valley Jrs is led by Natalie Rocco Natalie Rocco 6'0" | MB Western Albermarle | 2024 State VA while Richmond Volleyball Club is led by right side Campbell Woods and middle Taylor Meredith Taylor Meredith MB St. Catherines | 2024 State VA .
Chesapeake Chirps: Metro 16 and 17 finished first in the JVA Rock and Rumble in Cleveland. A good start to their season… Metro 18 played well at their first qualifier. They earned their way to the gold bracket but losses to 1st Alliance and Team Pineapple prevented them from winning a bid.