First DMV High School Top Twenty List
In this article:
Virginia has played a week of volleyball while Maryland and D.C. will open up their seasons soon. Time to come out with our top twenty from the Virginia, Maryland and DC area. There will certainly be an ebb and flow to this list as the season progresses.
1 Riverside (1-0) - They were a pretty good team before the transfer of right side
Nadiya Johnson
Nadiya
Johnson
6'2" | RS/OH
Riverside | 2026
State
#38
Nation
VA
. While they lost an outside and a libero the addition of Nadiya and the maturation of libero
Camryn Coulther
Camryn
Coulther
5'6" | DS/L
Riverside | 2027
State
VA
will make up for those losses. Outsides
Simone Schaefer
Simone
Schaefer
5'11" | OH
Riverside | 2025
State
VA
and
Kennedy Peyton
Kennedy
Peyton
5'8" | OH
Riverside | 2027
State
VA
return as do setters
Sydney Ray
Sydney
Ray
5'8" | S
Riverside | 2026
State
VA
and
Mackenzie Davis
Mackenzie
Davis
5'11" | S
Riverside | 2026
State
VA
.
Gabriella Vizek
Gabriella
Vizek
6'0" | MB
Riverside | 2026
State
VA
can play either right side or middle and
Brianna Holladay
Brianna
Holladay
6'2" | MB
Riverside | 2025
State
VA
ranks as one of the top middles in the area. They opened the season with a sweep against Battlefield. Looks like another appearance in the Class 5 Virginia state championship. The goal this year is to finish it.
2 Richard Montgomery (0-0) - The Rockets have virtually the same cast of characters returning from their championship run from last season.
Ema Djordjevic
Ema
Djordjevic
6'0" | RS/S
Richard Montgomery | 2025
State
VA
and
Amy Ye
Amy
Ye
6'0" | S
Richard Montgomery | 2025
State
VA
both set and hit right side. Younger sister of Ema,
Ana Djordjevic
Ana
Djordjevic
5'7" | DS/L/S
Richard Montgomery | 2027
State
VA
will take over the libero responsibilities.
Corinne Howard
Corinne
Howard
5'11" | MB/OH
Richard Montgomery | 2025
State
VA
will fill one middle and
Elizabeth Mitchell
Elizabeth
Mitchell
5'9" | OH
Richard Montgomery | 2026
State
VA
will tutor her younger sister, frosh
Katherine Mitchell
Katherine
Mitchell
6'1" | OH
Richard Montgomery | 2028
State
#81
Nation
VA
on the left side with last year's frosh sensation
Saesha Dhote
Saesha
Dhote
5'7" | OH
Richard Montgomery | 2027
VA
also contributing. All they need to complete the lineup is another middle to replace
Caroline Kaye
Caroline
Kaye
6'2" | MB
Richard Montgomery | 2025
State
VA
, who graduated early to pursue her career in the Navy.
Caycee replaces DC Gatorade player of the year Clara Yu at the setting position. Clara Yu won the MVP award for the State championships the last two years for Georgetown Day. However, Caycee has won the top setter award at the DC Capitol Hill Classic the last three years.
Caycee ranks as the top setter for the class of 2027. The only concern is her 5'7" height may have to force her to be rotated out late in the game when she finds herself in the front row if the team wants to improve their blocking.
Highlights
3 Georgetown Day (1-0) - Another team with some impressive players to fill the floor. Start with right side
Jada Aksu
Jada
Aksu
6'0" | RS
Georgetown Day | 2025
State
VA
and ends with newcomer setter
Caycee Chhum
Caycee
Chhum
5'7" | S
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
, who can set a 5/1 or share setting duties with
Elizabeth Higday
Elizabeth
Higday
5'9" | S
Georgetown Day | 2025
State
VA
. Outsides are impressive with the double z's
Zoe Ryu
Zoe
Ryu
6'1" | OH
Georgetown Day | 2025
State
VA
and
Zora Dimbo
Zora
Dimbo
5'10" | OH
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
, who is coming off a successful frosh year. Middles will be a combination of
Tessa Fergusson
Tessa
Fergusson
6'2" | MB
Georgetown Day School | 2026
State
VA
,
Fiona McDermott
Fiona
McDermott
6'2" | MB
Georgetown Day | 2026
State
VA
and
Gabrielle Wigglesworth
Gabrielle
Wigglesworth
5'9" | MB
Georgetown Day | 2026
State
VA
.
Shiraz Benyoucef
Shiraz
Benyoucef
5'8" | DS/L
Georgetown Day | 2025
State
VA
will take over the libero role.
4 James Madison (1-1) - While they lost their opener to Yorktown, consider that a misstep.
Laila Chadwick
Laila
Chadwick
5'8" | DS/L/OH
James Madison | 2027
State
#57
Nation
VA
will switch roles from libero with Metro to left side for Madison. She will be joined by
Callie Agniel
Callie
Agniel
5'11" | OH
James Madison | 2026
VA
. Middles will see a trio of
Riley Lynch
Riley
Lynch
6'2" | MB/RS
James Madison | 2025
State
VA
,
Aubrey Loughlin
Aubrey
Loughlin
6'0" | MB
James Madison | 2025
State
VA
and
Chloe Bonney-James
Chloe
Bonney-James
6'0" | MB
Madison | 2025
State
VA
, one of the three possibly moving to right side. Callie and Chloe missed all of last season because of injury.
Chloe Barth
Chloe
Barth
5'9" | RS/DS/L
James Madison | 2027
State
VA
can play the other right side and provide offense from the back row. On the roster they do list
Laila Chadwick
Laila
Chadwick
5'8" | DS/L/OH
James Madison | 2027
State
#57
Nation
VA
as a libero but that role could eventually stick with
Abby Nguyen
Abby
Nguyen
5'3" | DS/L
Madison | 2025
State
VA
.
Briana Vo
Briana
Vo
5'4" | S
James Madison | 2026
State
VA
will be one of the setters, with
Judy Backman
Judy
Backman
5'8" | S
James Madison | 2026
VA
and Lauren Garrett fighting for the second setting spot.
5 North Hagerstown (0-0) -The Hubs may have the two best left sides in the DMV in sisters
Caydence Doolan
Caydence
Doolan
5'11" | OH
North Hagerstown | 2026
State
#49
Nation
VA
and
Baylee Doolan
Baylee
Doolan
5'8" | OH/DS/L
North Hagerstown | 2025
State
VA
. Making sure they get the sets will be senior
Lauren Hobbs
Lauren
Hobbs
5'7" | S
North Hagerstown | 2025
State
VA
, the third best setter in the class of 2025 and the top setter in that class yet to commit.
Nevaeh Ware
Nevaeh
Ware
5'10" | MB
North Hagerstown | 2025
State
VA
should not be overlooked in the middle. They are the defending 2023 Class 3 Marland state champions, and they bring back most of their roster. Clearly a veteran team with a roster filled with juniors and seniors.
6 James Wood (1-0) -The two time defending Class 4 Virginia state champions will have a number of talented teams looking to knock them off their perch. Last year they played without a libero, but this year they will have transfer
Giselle Norris
Giselle
Norris
5'6" | DS/L
James Wood | 2026
VA
patrolling the back row. The player of the year last year and recent Arizona State beach commit
Kennedy Spaid
Kennedy
Spaid
5'11" | OH
James Wood | 2026
State
#156
Nation
VA
returns to the left side and will be joined by libero, now left side
Brenna Corbin
Brenna
Corbin
5'5" | DS/L
James Wood | 2026
State
#169
Nation
VA
.
Tenley Mattison
Tenley
Mattison
5'10" | MB
John Handley | 2026
State
VA
returns as the middle and newcomer
Kylee Plumb
Kylee
Plumb
5'5" | S/RS
James Wood | 2027
State
VA
takes over the setting responsibilities. Frosh
Bella Middleton
Bella
Middleton
5'5" | S
James Wood | 2028
State
VA
can also set. The Colonels won their opener against one of their Class 4 rivals Dominion in four. Expect more battles in the future as teams fire up to play the two time defending champs.
With the departure of Charis Burge Charis Burge 5'10" | S Urbana | 2026 State VA the setting responsibilities will all be on Megan this year. This past club season she set a 5/1 for the Virginia Juniors 15 team and they finished 13th in the USA Division of Junior Nationals.
At 5'7" she brings a decent jump in the front row so that allows her hands to get over the net for blocking. While ranked as the fifth best setter in the class of 2026 this could rise with an ISL championship. Megan is a technically smooth setter who uses the jump set to her advantage. Extremely crafty at her position.
Highlights
7 Bullis (0-0) -
Megan Phan
Megan
Phan
5'7" | S
Bullis | 2026
State
VA
appears to be taking over the setting responsibilities, taking over as the 5/1 setter after
Charis Burge
Charis
Burge
5'10" | S
Urbana | 2026
State
VA
returned to Urbana high school. Her weapons include
Alexis Ewing
Alexis
Ewing
6'3" | OH
Bullis | 2025
State
#173
Nation
VA
and
Angelique Desamours
Angelique
Desamours
5'10" | OH
Bullis | 2025
State
VA
on the left side and
Sydney Mayfield
Sydney
Mayfield
5'10" | RS
Bullis | 2025
State
VA
punishing balls on the right side.
Kyla Harris
Kyla
Harris
6'1" | MB
Bullis | 2025
State
VA
and
Alexa Telly
Alexa
Telly
5'11" | OH
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
will plug up the middles. The back row will be covered by libero
Nia Thomas
Nia
Thomas
5'7" | DS/L
Bullis | 2025
State
VA
and
Mia Fornasiero
Mia
Fornasiero
5'9" | DS/L
Bullis | 2026
State
VA
. Expect the Bulldogs to be fighting with Georgetown Day to take away the ISL title from Flint Hill.
Claire is the top setter in the class of 2026. Last year she shared the setting duties with Chloe Hokenson in Langley's run to the Class 6 Virginia state championship. This year she may be tasked with running a 5/1 to repeat the task.
This past weekend she earned a spot on the all tournament team, setting Langley to the Virginia Volleyball Showcase championship. This was accomplished without
Ana Toumazatos
Ana
Toumazatos
6'1" | OH
Langley | 2025
State
VA
on offense. Claire reminds me of that special ingredient a master chef puts in their lasagna to make it taste better. Claire is that special player who can make her team play better.
Highlights
8 Langley (5-1) - Despite missing
Ana Toumazatos
Ana
Toumazatos
6'1" | OH
Langley | 2025
State
VA
on the left side the Saxons still won the Virginia Volleyball Showcase against some top competition this past weekend. Talented frosh
Rujuta Singh
Rujuta
Singh
5'8" | OH/DS/L
Langley | 2028
State
VA
made the all tournament team and won the Prep Dig top performer this year.
Chloe Lin
Chloe
Lin
5'10" | OH/RS
Langley | 2026
State
VA
and Vivian Nitowski look to fill the other pins until Ana's return.
Claire Mo
Claire
Mo
5'9" | S
Langley | 2026
State
VA
also made the all tournament team setting a 5/1. Prep Dig rates her as the top setter in the DMV in the class of 2026.
Amber Smith
Amber
Smith
5'6" | DS/L
Langley | 2025
State
VA
plays a quality libero and
Ava Barnett
Ava
Barnett
5'10" | MB
Langley | 2025
State
VA
will surprise you playing middle.
Hailey Park
Hailey
Park
5'4" | S
Langley | 2026
State
VA
can be used at setter or to play back row.
9 Bishop O'Connell (1-0) - The Knights lost some big pieces, but they bring in some talented newcomers.
Avery Prendergast
Avery
Prendergast
5'9" | S
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
transferred from St. Johns and will take over the setting responsibilities, with frosh
Natalie Hobson
Natalie
Hobson
5'9" | S
Bishop O'Connell | 2028
State
VA
backing her up. The 6'0"
Olivia Boggs
Olivia
Boggs
6'1" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
transferred from Yorktown and teams with
Teodora Stamenkovic
Teodora
Stamenkovic
6'3" | MB
george marshall | 2026
State
VA
in the middle. The third newcomer is left side
Macie Murray
Macie
Murray
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
who will share the left side limelight with
Jocelyn Pye
Jocelyn
Pye
6'0" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
. The back row will see returnees
Hannah Kotb
Hannah
Kotb
5'6" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
and
Maia Cerezo
Maia
Cerezo
5'2" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
hold down the position.
Ellyson Miller
Ellyson
Miller
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2026
State
VA
will play right side and
Gracie Davig
Gracie
Davig
6'0" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
provides depth at both right side and middle. It appears the Knights have reloaded but it may take some time for the newcomers to mesh.
10 Holy Cross (3-3) - Another team that hopes to reload is Holy Cross.
Sarah Jeremias
Sarah
Jeremias
5'11" | OH/DS/L
Holy Cross | 2025
State
VA
will be one of the veteran left sides to return and she will be joined at the pins by frosh
Ana Woods
Ana
Woods
6'1" | RS/OH
Academy of the Holy Cross | 2028
State
VA
and sophomore
Catherine McIntyre
Catherine
McIntyre
5'9" | OH
Holy Cross | 2027
State
VA
.
Anasofia Zanellato
Anasofia
Zanellato
6'0" | S
Bishop McNamara | 2026
State
VA
and
Sibel Ozan
Sibel
Ozan
5'9" | S
Holy Cross | 2025
VA
will share setting duties. The middles will return with
Rowan Johnson
Rowan
Johnson
6'1" | MB
The Academy Of The Holy Cross (MD) | 2025
State
VA
and
Aaliyah Williams
Aaliyah
Williams
6'0" | MB
Holy Cross | 2025
State
VA
while
Kate Bickel
Kate
Bickel
5'7" | DS/L
Holy Cross | 2027
State
VA
returns as the primary libero. Last year the Tartans finished undefeated, ranking as the top team in the DMV area by the Washington Post and Prep Dig. This year they have already begun the season with three losses. However, conference championships are never won at the start of the year. They should be contending by season's end.
11 Millbrook (2-0) -The last couple years Millbrook has fallen short against James Wood. They still have talent to change that dynamic. The offense remains potent with
Berkeley Konrady
Berkeley
Konrady
6'1" | OH
Millbrook | 2025
State
VA
and
Aaliyah Green
Aaliyah
Green
5'11" | OH/RS
Millbrook | 2027
State
VA
putting balls away from the left side.
Paisley Cook
Paisley
Cook
5'5" | S
Millbrook | 2027
State
VA
returns for her second season at setter.
Lora Totcheva
Lora
Totcheva
6'0" | RS
Millbrook | 2027
State
VA
won a top performer award at Prep Dig and could be a force at outside or middle.
Natalie Huck
Natalie
Huck
5'5" | DS/L
Millbrook | 2026
State
VA
and
Katherine Madden
Katherine
Madden
5'5" | DS/L
Millbrook | 2027
State
VA
will cover the back row.
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12 Hidden Valley (1-0) - The trio of
Caleigh Ponn
Caleigh
Ponn
5'6" | DS/L
Hidden Valley | 2025
State
#91
Nation
VA
,
Calli Anderson
Calli
Anderson
5'8" | S
Hidden Valley | 2025
State
VA
and
Sophie Arnold
Sophie
Arnold
6'0" | OH
Hidden Valley | 2025
State
VA
have been playing together for three years. Last year they won a Class 3 Virginia state championship. They hope to end their high school careers with a repeat. Caleigh is another libero who transforms into a hitter in high school, but she finished number two in the state of Virginia in kills. Calli sets for her and Sophie fills the other left side. Now they have to fill in the other positions.
13 Wooten (0-0) - Wooten played to a tie against Flint Hill last week. A number of Maryland schools don't have completed rosters yet so they are difficult to assess.
Taryn Su
Taryn
Su
5'7" | S
Wootton | 2026
State
VA
and
Sofia Sossa
Sofia
Sossa
5'6" | S/DS/L
Thomas S. Wootton | 2026
State
VA
appear to be the two setters.
Haile Ma
Haile
Ma
5'11" | OH
Wootton | 2027
State
VA
and
Sara Foster
Sara
Foster
5'9" | OH
Thomas S. Wootton | 2026
State
VA
return as the primary offensive weapons from the left side.
Caitlin Doherty
Caitlin
Doherty
5'9" | RS
Thomas S Wootten | 2025
VA
will fill one of the middles. That is enough club talent to compete for a State championship.
14 Kellam (1-0) - The Virginia Beach team carries some impressive pins in
Sofia Barnes
Sofia
Barnes
6'0" | OH
Kellam | 2026
State
VA
,
Mia Schmidt
Mia
Schmidt
5'7" | DS/L
Kellam | 2027
State
VA
and Audriana Neil from the left side.
Riley Erwin
Riley
Erwin
6'1" | S
Kellam | 2026
State
VA
will hit from the right side but also set.
Emma Irving
Emma
Irving
5'5" | S/DS/L
Kellam | 2027
State
VA
will be the other setter.
Sydney Stone
Sydney
Stone
5'7" | DS/L
Kellam | 2025
State
VA
will handle the libero position. They have already won a big match when they took down last year's Class 5 Virginia State champion First Colonial in five. They took the fifth set 16-14 with
Sofia Barnes
Sofia
Barnes
6'0" | OH
Kellam | 2026
State
VA
ending the match with 27 kills.
15 Loudoun County (1-0) - The Captains may have more outsides than they have positions with captain
Ana Smithson
Ana
Smithson
5'9" | OH
Loudoun County | 2025
State
VA
,
Charlotte Arrington
Charlotte
Arrington
5'10" | OH
Loudoun County | 2026
State
VA
,
Josephine Seekford
Josephine
Seekford
6'2" | OH
Loudoun County | 2026
State
VA
and
Kayla Luther
Kayla
Luther
5'7" | DS/L/OH
Loudoun County | 2027
State
VA
all vying for a spot.
Isabella DeWan
Isabella
DeWan
5'6" | DS/L
Loudoun County | 2026
State
VA
will cover the back row as the libero. The middles could be Lauren Norton and
Sydney Miller
Sydney
Miller
6'0" | MB
Loudoun County | 2027
State
VA
.
Clara Jolly
Clara
Jolly
5'5" | S
Loudoun County | 2025
VA
will fil one of the setting positions with Claire Popish. They swept past a tough Briar Woods team in their first match. At one point they won ten consecutive state championships. They hope to overcome James Wood to return to that level.
16 First Colonial (4-2) -The defending Class 5 Virginia State champions strength may be in the power of their left sides Teagan Emdadi Teagan Emdadi 5'8" | RS First Colonial | 2026 State VA and Grace Davies-Hackenberg Grace Davies-Hackenberg OH First Colonial | 2026 State VA . Gabby Taylor Gabby Taylor 6'0" | RS First Colonial | 2025 State VA can also contribute from the left side, but she also plays a solid middle. Setter Kaiyah Hiles Kaiyah Hiles 5'4" | S/DS/L First Colonial | 2025 VA will orchestrate the offense running a 5/1. Libero Helen Murray Helen Murray 5'7" | DS/L First Colonial | 2025 VA will take over back row responsibilities. The Patriots came close to playing in the Virginia Volleyball Showcase championship. They lost to Courtland in a gold bracket match that knocked them out of an appearance in the finals.
17 Flint Hill (0-0) -This may be a down year for the Huskies. They lack offensive weapons, which may force them to use setter
Isabelle Bardin
Isabelle
Bardin
6'3" | S
Flint Hill | 2025
State
#75
Nation
VA
as a left side. At 6'3" she can hit the ball as hard as any player in the DMV area, even though her position is listed as a setter.
Hunter Ross
Hunter
Ross
6'2" | MB/OH
Flint Hill School | 2027
State
#75
Nation
VA
can also provide power from the middle. The back row looks solid with
Kadi Pynchon
Kadi
Pynchon
5'6" | DS/L
Flint Hill | 2025
State
VA
at libero and frosh Delaney Malloy assisting her in the back row.
Caroline Semko
Caroline
Semko
5'7" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
can also help in the back row.
Audrey Sealock
Audrey
Sealock
OH
Flint Hill | 2025
State
VA
will occupy one of the left side positions.
Ava Zender
Ava
Zender
5'10" | S
Flint Hill School | 2027
State
VA
and Breckon Paige could set if they want to use Isabelle for offense.
18 Ocean Lakes (4-2) -
Santina Martcheva
Santina
Martcheva
6'1" | OH
Ocean Lakes | 2026
State
VA
has that long, lean physique with great arm extension to dominate at the outside. The Virginia Tech commit did not play back row in the matches I watched, but appears to have the ability to play defense and pass. Setter
Carmela Mendoza
Carmela
Mendoza
S
Ocean Lakes | 2026
State
VA
runs a 5/1 offense.
Sienna Carr
Sienna
Carr
5'9" | RS/OH
Ocean Lakes | 2027
State
VA
powers well from the right side and middle
Lyla Shannon
Lyla
Shannon
6'1" | MB/OH
Ocean Lakes | 2027
State
VA
rejects spikes with great regularity.
Kayla Bennett
Kayla
Bennett
5'5" | DS/L
Ocean Lakes | 2025
State
VA
covers the libero position.
19 St Johns (1-0) -In their first match they struggled against St. Johns Prep, winning in five with the fifth set going 19-17. The two outsides
Morgan Reeves
Morgan
Reeves
5'10" | OH
St. Johns | 2026
State
VA
and
Racquel Frazier
Racquel
Frazier
6'1" | OH
St. Johns | 2025
State
VA
score points with their offense.
Leana Gould
Leana
Gould
5'11" | RS
St. Johns | 2025
State
VA
and
Ava Gill
Ava
Gill
6'2" | MB
St. Johns | 2027
State
VA
cover the middles. The setting appears to be a duo of sophomore Gabrielle Deutz and
Wynn Mendez Eaton
Wynn
Mendez Eaton
5'10" | S/RS
St. John's College | 2026
State
VA
. Gabriella appears to have gotten the most opportunities to set in their opener.
Sasha Plummer
Sasha
Plummer
6'0" | RS/OH
St. John's College | 2027
State
VA
will handle the right side. A couple frosh may contribute with middle
Cairo Turner
Cairo
Turner
6'2" | MB
St. Paul VI Catholic | 2028
State
VA
and libero/defensive specialist Shea Wilson.
20 Chantilly (2-0) - As long as they have
Lameen Mambu
Lameen
Mambu
6'0" | OH
Chantilly | 2025
State
#68
Nation
VA
hitting left side Chantilly should win their fair share of matches.
Erin Green
Erin
Green
6'0" | RS
Chantilly | 2027
State
VA
lists as an outside but for club she played right side. She can also hammer the ball. With the departure of
Caycee Chhum
Caycee
Chhum
5'7" | S
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
the setting duties will be shared by
Sarah Kim
Sarah
Kim
5'6" | S
Chantilly | 2026
VA
and
Hala Younes
Hala
Younes
S
Chantilly | 2025
VA
.
Nola Murphy
Nola
Murphy
5'6" | DS/L
Chantilly | 2025
State
VA
returns from the sand to play libero on the hard courts.
Julia Horan
Julia
Horan
6'2" | MB
Chantilly | 2026
State
VA
and
Gabrielle Nelson
Gabrielle
Nelson
5'11" | MB
Chantilly | 2025
State
VA
will surprise you with their quality middle play. This team has some players to compete.
On the outside looking in include Urbana, Patriot, Frank Cox (who I have been told are loaded), Courtland and Marshall.
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