Where Are Those Vipers Now

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A little bit of nostalgia here. The players in the above photo played for [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] 12, or Vipers as they were called. They won six medals over the course of their club season, including a tournament run by Bishop O'Connell, an Irish Rumble, a Mason Dixon tournament, two [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] Campus tournaments and a Maryland Jrs. tournament. Clearly, they achieved a lot of success in what for many may have been their first year of club volleyball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Because these girls won a tournament at Bishop O'Connell and also attended a clinic at the school I was curious about their progress. One player moved out of the area and a few I could not identify or are no longer playing volleyball. However, for the most part many of them continue to play the sport. Below are the Vipers four years later. Going from left to right, starting at the bottom row and then moving to the top row left to right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd']</strong> (# 5) - She made the frosh team at Marshall. She also plays for Virginia Jrs 15 playing left side. She has sprouted to 6'0" and currently ranks at number 24 in our class of 2027. When playing for the Vipers she was a year younger than most of her teammates. Virginia Jrs. currently ranks as the number three team in the Chesapeake Region. They finished first at the National Harbor and captured a second place finish in the Nike Steel City Freeze tournament. Ayla hits left side for the club. Her older sister Samia also played for Virginia Jrs and Marshall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='586831' first='Zahara' last='Coleman']</strong> (#3) - She plays as a defensive specialist/setter for Madeira and Renaissance Volleyball Club (16 Red). Zahara belongs to the class of 2026 and is not ranked. Unlike some of the other girls who grew to be six foot, Zahara lists at 5'0". She may have brought the most enthusiasm to the court when she played for the Vipers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239322' first='Hailey' last='Park']</strong> (#7) - She plays setter/defensive specialist for Langley. Another player who made her high school team as a frosh, though her playing time was a bit limited. Currently she plays for Mojo Volleyball club. Hailey ranks number 121 in our class of 2026. Next year will be a critical year for her. With the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson'] a setter position may open up. Hailey has the ideal traits needed for a setter with good hands, quickness and a great team first personality. Her 5'4" height restricts her to the back row for setting. A libero/defensive specialist position is another option for her.</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":"#10 in the picture.  She has sprouted to 6'2u0022.  Tea made the Bishop O'Connell high school team as a frosh and played middle for them when they won the WCAC in 2022.  Last year the Knights finished second in state and second in the WCAC.   She currently plays middle for Metro 16, which ranks in the top 20 nationally.  She can put up a good wall for blocking and has a quick wrist snap to deposit the ball to the floor quickly.  Improving her volleyball IQ to anticipate plays would be her next progression for success.   Prep Dig ranks her as the number four prospect in the class of 2026, but the number one ranked middle.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d78d36c6dcc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </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":"# 12 in the back row.  Another player who has seen some growth,  Julie now stands 5'11u0022.  She made Oakton as a frosh playing right side.  For club ball she has been used as a setter, but right side seems to be her best position.  Currently, she plays for [program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite'] 18 team where she has been used as a setter.  Her biggest challenge is gaining consistency with her location and finding the right tempo with her hitters.  That comes with repetition, something she has not had an opportunity to work on.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d78d36c6e2e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377328' first='Madison' last='Phan']</strong> (#11) - Madison plays defensive specialist for a very talented [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 16 team that recently competed in the prestigious Triple Crown. They rank as the number one team in the Chesapeake Region and number 189 in AES. Madison could probably play libero for most clubs in the Chesapeake Region., Defensive Specialist is also her position at Freedom High School. Prep Dig ranks her number 123 in our class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='395684' first='Jessica' last='Ding']</strong> (8) - Jessica was one of the older players on the team. She ranks number 142 in our class of 2025. Last year she got an opportunity to set for the East Coast Power Delaware 18 team when they needed a replacement for Junior Nationals 18. The team finished 33rd but played well. After losing their first two matches they bounced back and won their next six. This year she is setting for Renaissance Black DE 17. She also got an invite to attend the 2023 Under Armor Next Camp. For high school she plays for a small private school Basis Independent in McLean. She lists at 5'9".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["204152"],"_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":"#24 in the back row.  Another player who earned her mark as a setter.  She set for Woodson as a frosh and currently sets for Virginia Elite 16. This past high school season the Patriot District voted her to the second team.  Prep Dig currently ranks her 14 overall in the class of 2026 but she is the number 2 setter on the list.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d78d36c6e80"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->