2025s Climbing the Ladder to the Top

These are the 2025s who made the biggest impression over the high school season. They were a driving force to lead their high schools toward a state championship.   [player_tooltip player_id='181300' first='Alexis' last='Ewing'] left side (Metro) 5-3 - The top ten from the class of 2025 are an impressive group and pretty fluid in their ranking. Alexis moved up a couple places because her game seemed to rise to another level. She played with a lot more confidence. The potential that always existed showed itself as Bullis won the Independent School League (ISL) championship. Her 18 kills led all players in that championship match against Georgetown Day. She also improved her back row play, especially on the defensive end. The Penn State commit may still fall short of playing six rotations in college, but her improvement in that area shows promise. Next year she will play with Emerson Sellman, who transferred from Ohio State to Penn State. Last year Alexis replaced Emerson on the Metro 18 team.    Moved from 13 to 10. Evelyn proved a dominant right side for West Springfield. She almost single handedly got them into the state playoffs hitting bombs from the front row and back row. Close to 48 percent of all sets during the season went to Evelyn and her 601 kills accounted for 56 percent of the team's kills.   This coming season the New Hampshire commit will play for Virginia Elite. She normally plays as a six rotation right side. Not many players can hit out of system sets as well as Evelyn.     Kadi climbed from 25 to 15. Her biggest attribute is her ability to know where to play defense. Any balls hit her way she has a knack for preventing them from hitting the floor. Perhaps the top libero in our class of 2025.   Kadi averaged just over four digs per set. Her passing and defense got Flint Hill to the finals in the VISAA state championship when it was supposed to be a down year for the Huskies.   This coming season the Lafayette commit will also play for Virginia Elite.     Destini rose from number 23 to 16 in the rankings. She lists at 5'10" but appears smaller. Her athletic ability ranks beyond the charts. She brings a great vertical for offense and is as quick as a cat on defense. She averaged close to five kills per set for Forest Park.   For Metro she normally played back row but as the season progressed she had won the left side battle. While she shines on the offensive front it would not surprise me if she later played as a libero. She could also play as a defensive specialist in the back row who has the ability to hit the three meter sets.   Destini has committed to American. Another player who handles out of system sets well.    [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] setter ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) 46-32 - She only played one year for Bishop O'Connell. The previous three years were spent setting for St. Johns. During that one year she set the Knights to two championships, the WCAC and the VISAA states. That is the first time the Knights have won both championships in the same year. Avery has a very calm demeanor on the court. She reminds me of a quiet assassin. You don't really feel her presence on the court until one of her setter dumps finds the floor. Her 48 percent kill percentage shows her success when she sneaks the second ball over the net. Avery has yet to commit. She will play for Paramount. Watch her quietly perform in the triple crown and beat you when you least expect it.   [player_tooltip player_id='481961' first='Addison' last='Ziegler'] right side ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) 60-48 - A 5'11" left hand hitting right side who generates velocity when she hits the ball. While she belongs to the class of 2025 she plays down for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17. In the first tournament of the year [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] upset Metro. Addison performed well in the state championship getting Clear Spring to the semi-finals. They eventually lost to Boonsboro but Addison was an offensive force in the match with a team leading nine kills. She finished second on the team in kills and tied for the team lead in blocks. The previous year Clear Spring won the state championship. Addison has yet to commit.   [player_tooltip player_id='481964' first='Nevaeh' last='Ware'] middle (Liberty Elite) 68-57 - Last year the 5'11" middle played for Liberty Elite. Nevaeh excelled with the quick tempo sets in the middle to lead North Hagerstown to their second consecutive state championship this year. While she might be undersized for a middle at 5'10" she showed some quickness playing backrow. This tells me hitting outside is possible. Nevaeh has committed to Frostburg State.    Skylar moved up in ranking from 82 to 74. Her play for Potomac High elevated them to the surprise team in the Independent School League (ISL). Her play earned her a spot on the AA ISL All League team.   Even as a middle she led the team in kills with a hitting percentage of .339. She also led the team in blocks. The Potomac School was just two points from getting to the finals of the VISAA state championship, losing to Flint Hill 15-13. Skylar finished with 17 kills in that match.   This season the Emory College commit will play for Virginia Elite, the third player from this group playing for them.    [player_tooltip player_id='326533' first='Shiraz' last='Benyoucef'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) 99 to 77- Shiraz played libero for Georgetown Day. Her steady play helped the team in the DC state championship. She also earned a spot on the ISL AA All League first team. A steady player and team leader she brings a character trait you want to have on a team, unselfish and bent on winning. She will play for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] this year. Shiraz has not committed.    Makenzie rose from 108 to 84. At 5'10 she impressed with how hard she can hit the ball from the left side. She also plays six rotations. She earned a spot on the first team for the Class 5 All State as well as the first team All Region.   Her skill set could allow her to play as a defensive specialist who can also attack behind the three meter line.   Makenzie has committed to Hobart and William Smith College.     Amber jumped from 114 to 97 in the rankings. Her strong libero play sealed the back row for the Saxons, a critical position for them to repeat as Class 6 state champions. She shows team leadership, being named captain for the Saxons.   This was her second year playing libero for Langley. Interesting to note that during that time they won back to back state championships. Sometimes a libero goes unnoticed when their team is always in system.   Amber will play for MOJO this season. She has yet to commit. Definitely a player to take a look at if a team seeks back row help.     She climbed the rankings from 124 to 99. At 5'10 she is undersized to play middle. However, she uses her athleticism to achieve success, using a good vertical combined with impeccable timing to set up her blocks. This athleticism would translate well at a pin.   Ava earned a first team spot for the Region. Another Langley player whose excellence at her position gave the Saxons back to back state championships.   Ava has committed to Mary Washington.     Danielle rose from 113 to 100 in the rankings. She plays for Metro. The team carries so much talent that playing time for Danielle can be a challenge. Unfortunately, I never got to see her play when I watched Metro.   It was when Jackson Reed visited Flint Hill that gave me the first opportunity to watch her play. Danielle started at libero for Jackson Reed. She showed me why Metro has her on the roster. She hustles for the ball well, making some incredible plays at the libero position and shows a quit platform for passing.   Daniel has committed to Elon.     Maya moved from 135 to 101 in the rankings. Normally she plays middle or right side for North Stafford. At the Virginia Volleyball Showcase she impressed me with her ability to play left side. Her swing puts good velocity on the ball.   Based on her play at the Virginia Volleyball Showcase she earned a spot on the All tournament team. When playing left side she was limited to three rotations in the sets I watched.   Maya has committed to Indiana Tech.     Kaleigh jumped from 118 to 102 in our rankings. Her middle play led Howard to an amazing season where they fell just short of a state championship, losing to Wootten in the semi-finals. It was their only loss during the season. Her play earned her a spot on the Baltimore Sun All Metro team as well as the player of the year. She also made an appearance as an honorable mention in the Washington Post all met team.   Her height is considered a bit undersized for a middle, however she brings strong athleticism to the court. She also has a vocal presence that motivates her teammates.   Kaleigh has yet to commit. She also lacks a club footprint.    [player_tooltip player_id='569805' first='Larissa' last='Blair'] outside (Liberty Elite) 132-103 - Her left side play impressed helping Boonsboro win the Class 1 state championship. The last time Boonsboro won a state championship was 40 years ago. At 5'10 she brings decent height to the left side. She plays six rotations. Washington County named her their Preseason player of the year. Larissa has yet to commit. Last year she played for Liberty Elite.    Sydney climbed from 145 to 106 in the rankings. She brings an aggressive spirit to the court, showing great leadership. Her strong libero play got Kellam to the finals of the state championship, before finally losing to Riverside.   Sydney averaged close to 4.5 digs per set. She also finished third on the team in service aces.   Sydney has committed to Virginia - Wise.     Allie moved from 159 to 124 in our state rankings. Anyone that finishes with over 2,000 assists in high school probably deserves higher. She impressed in the first tournament of the year for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']18, setting a 5/1. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] won the tournament by defeating MVSA Chaos in the finals.   Allie operates an offense well. Her sets are consistent and she spreads the ball around. She will probably rise again as I watch her more.   Allie has committed to Marymount

These are the 2025s who made the biggest impression over the high school season. They were a driving force to lead their high schools toward a state championship.