Ten Class of 2026 to Watch for the High School Playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are ten class of 2026 who could have a big impact on the 2024 high school season. Not a surprise six of the ten are setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='249330' first='Charlotte' last='Arrington'] OH (Loundoun County) - Last year Charlotte took a year off from high school volleyball. Despite not having possibly one of their top hitters on the roster the Captains still made the state bracket class 4 playoffs. Unfortunately, they drew eventual champion James Woods in the first round of the state bracket and were swept. One of their strengths happens to exist with their pin hitters' [player_tooltip player_id='377334' first='Josephine' last='Seekford'], [player_tooltip player_id='279856' first='Kayla' last='Luther'] and team captain [player_tooltip player_id='523337' first='Ana' last='Smithson'] return from last season. Charlotte adds to that strength, giving them four offensive performers at the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["218149"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c8976a33077"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gigi also took a sabbatical from playing high school ball last year. Her frosh season she played libero for Millbrook and won first team All District and second team all region. James Wood won their first state championship that year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a year off Gigi transferred to James Wood to play libero. Last year James Wood used <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> as their libero, but halfway through the season decided to return Corbin to left side and finish the season without a libero. They again repeated as state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This year the Colonels hope Gigi fills the libero spot to open up one of the left sides to Brenna. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["220923"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c8976a330cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Soleil plays outside for Metro. That position was filled with outside hitters. All of them were talented enough but five committed to Division I colleges. Soleil hopes to be the sixth. She definitely has the skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year Patriot lost in the first round of the Regionals to Colgan. They return a number of their starters, including Soleil on the left side. A long run into the playoffs would certainly put her on the radar. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year she led the team in kills. She hopes to repeat that this year but with a reduction in hitting errors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["301696"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c8976a33110"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What would you do as a coach if you were told that a player selected to the roster of the United States Junior National team was transferring to your school? As Reggie Cruz stated I'll believe it when I see her walk in the gym. Riverside has yet to post rosters but in her profile Nadiya lists Riverside as her school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A dominating hitter with an approach jump that goes through the roof. The big question is whether she will play left side, right side or a little of both. Riverside brings a number of options as they vie for a Class 5 state championship that slipped through their grasp last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nadiya has committed to Baylor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["238357"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c8976a3314b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Langley lost Chloe Hokenson to graduation. They enter the season as the defending class 6 state champions. [player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'] returns as the main setter. For [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] she has run a 5/1. The question for the Saxons is will she do the same for them?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claire ranks as the top setter for the class of 2026. She plays up for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] setting the 17 team to a fifth place finish in the American Division of the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas. She was the only setter named on their roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Langley does have some options with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239322' first='Hailey' last='Park']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748535' first='Macey' last='Warshaw']</strong> listed as setters on their roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'] S (Urbana) -During her frosh year Charis played right side and set a little for Urbana. She finished with four kills and 12 assists in the championship final against Arundel. Charis transferred to Bullis the next season and shared setting duties with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='206729' first='Megan' last='Phan']</strong>. This year she will return to Urbana to hopefully bring them another championship. Last year they lost in four to Leonardtown in the semi-finals. A number of offensive pieces return for her to have success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["397536"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c8976a33189"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last year Aubrey set the Bears to a 27-3 record, the best in school history. Two of their three losses were to Riverside and the other to class 3 state champion Hidden Valley. They lost to Riverside in the finals of the Regional championship, then lost to them again in the semi-finals of the state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This year Aubrey will set for Courtland which lost in the first round of the class 4 state championship. At 5'11" Aubrey can set a 5/1 or stay in the front row to play right side. She set for [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] in the National Division in the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["221032"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c8976a331c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last year Wynn shared setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast']. As a junior Avery received more playing time as a setter. Avery transferred to Bishop O'Connell to set her senior year for the Knights. That makes Wynn the more experienced setter for the Cadets las she shares the duties with sophomore <strong>Gabrielle Deutz</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last year St. Johns finished third in the WCAC and lost early in the DC state championship. They have some offensive pieces in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235283' first='Racquel' last='Frazier']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437988' first='Sasha' last='Plummer']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530367' first='Ava' last='Gill']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='238376' first='Anasofia' last='Zanellato'] S (Holy Cross) - Last year Holy Cross won the WCAC, finishing with a 29-0 record. Washington Post voted them the number one team in the DMV area. While <strong>Emerson Sellman </strong>may be their biggest loss, they also lost setter<strong> Jaylyn Simon</strong> to graduation. At 6'0 Anasofia has the height to play right side as well as set. The roster still lists two senior setters but last year Anasofia finished second on the team in assists. The 2024 season will see her get the first shot to give the Tartans a second straight WCAC title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["308751"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c8976a331fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olivia has been setting for the junior varsity for the last two years. They have finished 35-2 during that time. With a new coaching staff the opportunity exists for her to take over the varsity setting responsibilities. Last year's setter<strong> Lucy Sroka </strong>graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Paul VI has not finished above .500 since they won the WCAC in 2018. With a new coaching staff they will try to change that trend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->