New Additions to the Class of 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2025 brought some new additions to the rankings. What impresses me most about this class is the depth. In addition, nine of our top ten have committed from this class, while 15 of our top 20. Pretty impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eighteen new players made the top 150 rankings to add to that depth. Below is a summary for 10 of those players and a list of all 18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs'] setter (North Hagerstown/[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) (pictured above) - She did not stand out when I watched her set North Hagerstown to the Maryland Class 2 State championship. The Doolan sisters took center stage in that match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setting a 5/1 for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] has given her a lot more exposure. While she is playing a year down for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 16, they have beaten at least eight teams from the 18U age group in various tournaments. In the Charm City Challenge they played at the 18 level and finished third out of 20 teams. In Capitol Hill Classic they finished third, losing to eventual champion Metro in three (26-28, 25-20, 13-15). Lauren earned best setter from the 16 Open after that tournament. Now that summer lurks around the corner many of their players are preparing for the sand. Their next indoor event will be the Northeastern qualifiers in April and after that AAUs in Orlando in June. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 16 currently ranks as the 30th best team nationally, according to Advance Event Systems (AES). Debut ranking - 30.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520352' first='Daja' last='Warren'] middle (Elanor Roosevelt/Chesapeake Elite) - She stands 6'3". Her reach rises above 10 feet. In addition, the quickness exists for her to run slides and quicks from the middle. With her arm extension Daja is a difficult hitter to block. She has already committed to North Carolina AT&amp;T. Debut ranking - 46.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='523337' first='Ana' last='Smithson'] left side (Loudoun County/[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - Ana played up on the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 team. At 5'9" she would be considered small for an outside. However, her six rotation play impresses, with diving, scrambling plays resulting in many different contortions on the court to prevent the ball from hitting the floor. At some point you have to think there is an ex-gymnast lurking there. An athletic player with a strong serve. Ana plays both volleyball and soccer for her high school team. Debut ranking - 61.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520371' first='Brooke' last='Gordon'] middle (Long Reach/Maryland Jrs) - Her 5'11" height sits on the shorter side when looking at middles, but she carries the hops and quickness to put the ball away. She led her high school team in blocks so the ability to go pin to pin exists. What impressed me most was the number of redirect blocks she converted to kills during a Maryland Jrs tournament in which they finished second. Juniors fell short of qualifying for the Junior Nationals by finishing in 7th place in the Chesapeake Regionals. They next play in the Northeast Qualifiers in late April. Debut ranking - 71</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520368' first='Tatum' last='Hall'] left side (Atholton/Maryland Jrs) - At 6'1" Tatum brings some height to the outside. She can hammer the ball from the left side, as well as put up an effective block. She led her high school team in kills and serving aces while also finishing second on the team in blocks. Despite her 6'1" height Tatum plays a strong back row making her a six rotation asset. Debut ranking - 77</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='523344' first='Jordan' last='Carter'] left side (James Monroe/[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']) - While I watched her she hit outside. At 5'9" she would be considered a smaller player for that position. A versatile player who plays six rotations. She led her high school in kills, digs and serve reception leaving a libero option open as well. As if that was not enough, she lists playing middle for her high school team as another option. Wherever you need her she appears up for the task. Debut ranking- 83</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["437641"],"_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":"Olivia is the third Maryland Juniors player to make this list.  She anticipates well on defense and shuffles her feet well when moving for serve receive.  A very emotional player on the court who appears to always encourage her teammates.  Glenelg reached the semi-finals of the Maryland state championship before losing to Arundel in four.  Debut - 84","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661060b10c9c8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='528451' first='Sadie' last='Gladhill'] libero/defensive specialist (Linganore/Metro) - In the games I watched Metro used Sadie a lot at the libero position while [player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang'] played defensive specialist. During the high school season Central Maryland voted her to their first team. That says a lot about her ability to play the back row. Her ace serve in the championship match against [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] at the Charm City Classic proved instrumental in giving Metro a 25-23 win in their first set. Another player who provides a lot of energy on the court. Sadie has committed to the University of Buffalo. Debut - 85.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520358' first='Avery' last='Jastrzemski'] outside (Goochland/River City) - Avery stood out as one of the new faces at the Charm City Challenge. At 6'0" she brings some height to the pins, with an approach jump that reaches 9'5". She also plays all six rotations, providing a solid back row attack. As a sophomore, when Goochland made the state playoffs in 2022 Avery earned a spot on the first team All Region 3B team. Debut - 88</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='523341' first='Makailah' last='Ford'] - middle (James Monroe/ [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']) - Makailah plays for the same high school and club team as [player_tooltip player_id='523344' first='Jordan' last='Carter']. Her 6'1" height and 9'8" approach jump makes her a presence in the middle. While Jordan may have led the team in kills, Makailah led the team in hitting percentage (.314) and serving aces. debut - 90</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520366' first='Christianna' last='Sledge'] left side (Magruder/Platform) - Debut - 96</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520365' first='Elyssamae' last='Shifflet'] - Settter (Dominion/[program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite']) - Debut - 107 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='523340' first='Naomi' last='Lucas'] right side (Academy Volleyball/Marshall) - Debut 108</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520362' first='Abby' last='Nguyen'] - libero/Defensive Specialist (Madison/[program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite']) - Debut - 109</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='523343' first='Elsie' last='Afful'] middle (Mountain View/[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']) Debut 110 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520360' first='Carmen' last='Quinn-Irons'] right side (South Lakes/[program_tooltip program_id='494491' first='DMV' last='Elite']) - Debut - 118</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='520354' first='Brianna' last='Thompson'] middle (Potomac/[program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] - Debut - 127</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='523345' first='Hayden' last='Ayers'] setter (Brooke Point/[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']) - Debut - 129</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_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-661060b10ca39"} /-->