Capitol Hill Classic Top Ten Uncommitted Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ten top uncommitted prospects broken out among ten different clubs. Many college coaches will flock to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) in Kansas City to watch the top club teams play. But there remain a number of quality players still uncommitted playing in the Capitol Hill Classic. Below are my ten favorite with their uniform number in parenthesis next to the player's name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metro 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181303"],"_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-65cd66cd4c13d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> (16) setter - Clearly number one. She stands 6'3" which is normally a nice height for a middle blocker. Except Isabelle sets. And does an excellent job at calling the shots in a 5/1. Her blocking is exceptional on the right side. Except for perhaps the 6'5" middle [player_tooltip player_id='235284' first='Caitlin' last='Johnson'] her hands get higher over the net than the other front row players. On free balls the back row players pass the ball tight to the net when Isabelle plays front row to give her an opportunity to attack the ball. Metro 17 has already taken gold in two tournaments in Cleveland (Rock n Rumble) and Baltimore (Charm City Classic). After Capitol Hill the Qualifiers are next. Definitely a five star recruit. 2025 ranking - 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch for Metro 17- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang']</strong> (17) is a 2026 libero/defensive specialist who brings a tough serve to the court and plays a solid back row. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181764' first='Kristen' last='Moore']</strong> (30) has been playing middle and buries the quicks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235293' first='Destini' last='Pickett']</strong> (1) is a smaller outside who plays a strong back row, including providing offensive fire power with her three meter attacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - [player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker'] (28 - Michigan), [player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu'] (20 - Lafayette), [player_tooltip player_id='235284' first='Caitlin' last='Johnson'] (27- Santa Clara), [player_tooltip player_id='413247' first='Madison' last='Smith'] (22 - Brown), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528451' first='Sadie' last='Gladhill'] </strong>(18 - Buffalo), [player_tooltip player_id='181244' first='Ryan' last='Hicks'] (23 - Duquesne).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryland Juniors 18</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ziqing Ziou </strong> (22) left side - Ziqing comes all the way from Beijing, China. It appears she is relatively new to the roster. A complete player who puts excellent velocity on her hits, whether she swings from the front row or back row. She identifies as a outside hitter/libero and her passing and defense shine with the top liberos. Finally, her jump spin serve hits the seams as well as the deep corners of the court making it one of the more difficult serves to pass. Since picking up Ziou Juniors has taken second at National Harbor and fifth in the Ohio Valley Qualifier. 2024 ranking - none. Ziou is a new arrival. An extremely exciting player to watch. She would easily fit in the top twenty. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch for Maryland Jrs - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon']</strong> (26) normally plays middle but for the Harbor tournament she hit outside. At 6'1" she provides good height for the position and when her timing is there puts the ball away from front row and back row. For passing she needs to be hidden but her defense appears adequate. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye'] </strong>(17) belongs to the class of 2025. At 6'1" she brings some height to the setting position but needs more consistency with her location and the tempo with her hitters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - [player_tooltip player_id='395680' first='Kaila' last='Baker'] (5 - New Orleans), <strong>Kaiyana Rawlins </strong>(9 - Coppin State) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVSA 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["235748"],"_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-65cd66cd4c1b4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>(4) right side/setter) - For her club team Ema plays left side. The right sides are rotated out for the setters. They use Ema for passing and as a back row attacker. At her high school she sets and plays right side. She won player of the year for leading Richard Montgomery to the Maryland Class 4 state championship. A versatile player who can do everything on the court. She stands 6'0" and swings left handed, ideal for a right side. 2025 ranking - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch for MVSA - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard']</strong> (22) can play middle or outside. A very athletic player who only recently started playing volleyball, having focused more on basketball as a youth. Even at 5'11" she can dominate a game in the middle. Two very solid back row players in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235749' first='Kareena' last='Rathnam']</strong> (11) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='306543' first='Sherry' last='Ye']</strong> (10). <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309031' first='Caroline' last='Kaye']</strong> (16) brings some height to the middle at 6'1". </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - According to AES MVSA has the seventh ranked team in the Chesapeake region and rank number 89 in the country however they have yet to have a player commit. Not a team colleges should ignore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club']</strong> 18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464566' first='Taylor' last='Meredith']</strong> (8) middle - An athletic middle who also plays basketball in high school. Her team played at the Charm City Classic but Taylor was unavailable to play. She dominated for her high school team St. Catherines, leading them to a fourth place finish in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) tournament. She earned a spot on the second team of the VISAA, with players from Flint Hill and Bishop O'Connell taking all the first team slots. 2024 rank - 43</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch for [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248640' first='Maddy' last='Eslinger'] </strong>(1) is from the class of 2025 and hustles in the back row as a defensive specialist. Clearly there are libero skills there. Her older sister Brooke from the class of 2023 committed to Missouri State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196196' first='Campbell' last='Woods'] </strong>(2) - Furman </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryland Jrs 17</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434859' first='Gabriella' last='Prather'] </strong>(8) middle - At 6'3" she makes an impact in the middle. She did not start playing volleyball until her frosh year in high school so if there remains no more growth in her height there remains plenty of growth in her development. Her preparation for the block moving from pin to pin seems fluid. More repetitions in running quicks in the middle will enhance her game. Still a bit of rawness in her swing but loads of potential if you can unlock her skills. 2025 rank - 38</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch from Maryland Jrs 17 - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='399509' first='Lauryn' last='Allen']</strong> (1) is a smaller right side (5'9") who has some springs in her jump. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393939' first='Gabrielle' last='Washington']</strong> (9) at 6'2" plays middle but can also hit right side. Getting greater extension from her arm swing could enhance her hitting ability. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - None. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17 </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181299"],"_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-65cd66cd4c20b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181299' first='Ada' last='McCoy'] </strong>(8) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady']</strong> (2) left sides - They both play six rotations. In our 2025 rankings they sit back to back at 11 and 12. Berkeley tends to be the more physical player at 6'1" while Ada has a slighter frame and stands 5'11". Ada attends high school at Musselman in West Virginia, a perennial powerhouse in volleyball who always finds a place in the state finals. For this past high school season Maxpreps voted her player of the year for the state of West Virginia. Berkeley attends high school at Millbrook in Winchester. She brings big time power to the court. The strength of their outside hitting has [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] ranked 41 nationally. They finished third in MAPL and second at Charm City, beating a strong Triangle team. Unlike many [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] players dedicated to the beach, these two prefer the indoor game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='290899' first='Ava' last='Dickerson'] </strong>(11) won player of the year for her high school region playing as an outside. She normally plays middle for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'], but that did not stop her from playing a little back row at the Charm City tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='309032' first='Samantha' last='Stephens'] (99) swings left handed, stands 6'3" and plays right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180302' first='Emma' last='White'] </strong>(1) North Alabama (beach) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVSA 18 </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["352786"],"_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-65cd66cd4c25b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352786' first='Cassandra' last='Bradley']</strong> (77) libero - Casey checks all the boxes for a premium libero. Passes well, plays great defense, has a good serve and is a great teammate. She currently ranks number 35 in our top 150 for class of 2024, the sixth top libero for the class. Of that class only [player_tooltip player_id='209800' first='Sydney' last='Pham'] (number 29) lacks a college commitment. Her libero play was key to Richard Montgomery winning their first Maryland state championship,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch for MVSA - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352784' first='Christina' last='Lockett']</strong> (5) lists at just 5'11", small for a middle. But her arm extension creates additional length that allows her to return to sender more blocks than taller players. She also runs the quicks well to various areas of the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Elite 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181242"],"_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-65cd66cd4c2c6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181242' first='Shylah' last='Swope']</strong> (2) setter - Last year Shylah could not play in the AAU championships in Orlando and sat out her high school season. This year she returns with a vengeance setting Virginia Elite to the number 1 ranking in AES for all local teams and a 16 national ranking. At 5'10 she brings good height to the net, but more impressive her 9'9" approach jump ranks the highest on the team. She actually played baseball until she turned 15, which explains the strong arm she brings to her serve. Class of 2025 ranking - 15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch for Virginia Elite - Two of their pin hitters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye'] </strong>(1) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464589' first='Julia' last='Kelly']</strong> (12) have nice height for the pins. Jocelyn at 6'0" puts up a good block in the front row while also contributing to the serve receive. For Bishop O'Connell she ranked as the top passer on the team. Julia lists at 6"2" and plays right side. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon']</strong> (8) gets the job done in the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos'] </strong>(11) - James Madison, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181243' first='Evelyn' last='Jurden'] </strong>(10) - University of New Hampshire </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Jrs 18</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209800' first='Sydney' last='Pham']</strong> (2) libero - In our 2024 rankings Sydney ranks as the highest libero/defensive specialist that has yet to commit. She ranks 29 in our top 150. For Virginia Jrs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181239' first='Lanie' last='Goff']</strong> plays libero while Sydney comes in as a defensive specialist. Sometimes those two line up in a two person serve receive. When you watch Sydney play defense she stands her ground even against some of the hardest spikes. Rallies stay extended when you hit the ball in her area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch at Virginia Jrs - At 5'9" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209789' first='Seliz' last='Aktuglu'] </strong>(7) is undersized for a left side hitter. Physically she brings strength and a strong velocity to her hits. Her back row play is also stellar, though for Virginia Jrs she plays right side and rotates out in the back row for the setter. [player_tooltip player_id='181230' first='Lydia' last='Darville'] (4) brings some power to the left side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243772' first='Charizma' last='Lofton']</strong> (22) Georgia State, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181239' first='Lanie' last='Goff']</strong> (11) Robert Morris, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='244159' first='Jaylyn' last='Simon']</strong> (15) Iona</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309023' first='Allison' last='Lach']</strong> (8) left side - While she only ranks at number 50 in our class of 2024 that could rise. She helped get Riverbend into the Virginia State championship where they ultimately lost to Riverside in the semifinals. The Commonwealth District voted her to their first team. She stands 5'10" and plays six rotations, providing offense to both the front and the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other uncommitted players to watch for 540 volleyball academy - I have yet to see libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489855' first='Bella' last='Brienza']</strong> (5) play in a game, but she impressed me at a showcase with her passing ability. Might be a player to take a look at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181237' first='Zoe' last='Strachan']</strong> (16) Ithaca, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233560' first='Carley' last='P Coghill']</strong> (3) Christopher Newport,, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='515539' first='Tiana' last='Stubbs']</strong> (20) Old Dominion </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->