Defining the 2028 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rankings will be updated after August 3. With the retirement of the class of 2024 comes the birth of the class of 2028. Within these next couple months defining this class will occur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More details on players from this class appear at this link - <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/05/who-among-the-2028s-is-ready-to-make-an-impact/">Who Among the 2028s is Ready to Make an Impact | Prep Dig</a>. Any of those players could reach the top ten. Most of them are 2028s playing a year up on 15U teams. Outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong> (Metro), Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536724' first='Ariel' last='Callwood']</strong> (Metro), middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536736' first='Alexis' last='Stephens']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) and setter<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='536737' first='Sophia' last='Zimmerman']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) all could receive consideration for top ten accolades.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The major event for finding class of 2028 candidates could play out in Las Vegas in early July at the USAV Junior Nationals. <strong>Metro </strong>plays in the Open Division. Other teams include <strong>MVSA Force</strong>, <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Maureen</strong>), <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black</strong>, <strong>Liberty Elite</strong>, <strong>Maryland Juniors</strong>, <strong>540 VB Academy</strong>, <strong>Libero</strong> and <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Cozad)</strong>. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Maureen) will play in the National Division while [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Cozad) will play in Freedom. Perhaps these two teams stand out as a first in the Chesapeake Region for earning two bids by the same club for the same age group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we have not watched the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Maureen) team play we have seen some of the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] (Cozad) play. Players who have impressed from that team include setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536729' first='Katelyn' last='Rolph']</strong>, Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536734' first='Serena' last='Wong']</strong> and right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536731' first='Rawan' last='Salem']</strong>. From Maryland Jrs. middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545725' first='Abisola' last='Adeyemo']</strong>, left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545726' first='Miley' last='Keyes'] </strong>and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554768' first='Bella' last='Chen']</strong> all stood out on the court at some point during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The DMV Frosh Showcase stands out as another important event for defining the 2028 class. This showcase occurs on August 3. This event gives frosh additional opportunities to stand out. See this link for details - <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1122/register/dmv-freshman-showcase">2024 DMV Freshman Showcase | Prep Dig</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two players from the Maryland Juniors team <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545725' first='Abisola' last='Adeyemo']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587884' first='Charlotte' last='Dittmar']</strong> will receive second looks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536726' first='Chloe' last='Canetto']</strong> (Metro), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='521323' first='Ilana' last='Collingham']</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587876' first='Ariana' last='White']</strong> (Paramount) will also get additional looks. I also watched a Virginia Juniors 14 match. Left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh']</strong> stands out as a player who impressed at a tournament. She will get another look at the Frosh showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At another tournament I got a chance to talk to Holy Cross coach David Geiser. Last year his Holy Cross team went undefeated, capturing a number one high school ranking by Prep Dig and the Washington Post. While he has lost Emerson Sellman he mentioned that seven incoming frosh who play club could create an impact for his program. There are two players from Holy Cross registered for the frosh showcase. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='623196' first='Brooke' last='Meikle']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='623199' first='Trinity' last='Rowles']</strong> both play for Maryland Juniors. Looking forward to seeing them in action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, Bishop O'Connell has been running weekly skill camps. Every year I help out with some of the camps. This year the first camp stands out as one of the more impressive with talent filling the courts. Not all the girls will play at Bishop O'Connell. Last year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530366' first='Gabriela' last='Donley']</strong> impressed at camp. At the time her main sport was basketball. While her volleyball skills seemed raw at that time she still made the Georgetown Visitation team as a frosh. She also played her first year of club for MOJO. Mojo finished second at the Spooky Nook. You can read about it here - <a href="https://prepdig.com/2024/05/mojo-15-shines-at-spooky-nook/">MOJO 15 Shines at Spooky Nook | Prep Dig</a>. Gabriela now focuses on volleyball. Another couple players from this clinic may appear in the rankings for the class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, at the AAUs [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] finished an impressive third place in the Premier Division. While <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536715' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] </strong>plays up on the 15 team, the 14 team carries a number of talented players on their roster. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536736' first='Alexis' last='Stephens'],</strong> libero <strong>Niko Diller</strong>, right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='744456' first='Savannah' last='Parker'],</strong> setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536737' first='Sophia' last='Zimmerman']</strong> and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536738' first='Avery' last='Fauver']</strong> all deserve consideration.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the club season is complete tournaments no longer get played. However, the discovery of talent still moves forward. For the class of 2028 it appears very rich in talent. How that talent defines itself will play itself out as the seasons progress. Looking forward to that future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chesapeake Chirps</strong>: Metro came out big for the class of 2026 with three early commits. [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] (Marquette), [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] (Baylor) and [player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner'] (Long Beach State). At the AAUs in Florida American marches on. They won their first eight matches. The more you win the tougher the opponent and they lost their last two matches, dropping them into the Consolation Division B. Still a good showing for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367784' first='Alexis' last='Steinmetz'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437452' first='Jolie' last='Vignier']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530368' first='Sadie' last='Barrera'] </strong>and the rest of the American players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->