New Pins to Watch in the Class of 2028

The new additions to the class of 2028 were posted this week. This class is relatively new so the process of getting a grasp on these players is just beginning. Below are the pins added to the class of 2028 rankings. Some nice surprises here.    I first saw her when she was a frosh playing middle for Chevy Chase at the Battle of Bethesda. When she showed up at a Prep Dig showcase she was hitting outside. Her performance won her a top performer award.   A third look at her was at a Mid Atlantic Power League (MAPL) tournament where she hit outside for Metro. Her and [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] powered the left side to lead Metro to the gold. In the future when [player_tooltip player_id='536727' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha'] is available she may see more time on the right side. Either way, Metro carries a lot of depth with their pins and can mix and match to their advantage.     She impressed with what I saw of her from the Volley by the James hitting on the right side. She appeared taller than the 5'5" height listed here but she is still undersized, even for a pin hitter.   As a frosh at her high school she did not get a lot of playing time. That could change with graduations. An example of a player who did not win a top performer award at a Prep Dig showcase but still impressed with her skills playing in a tournament.    36. [player_tooltip player_id='744473' first='Sophie' last='Weir'] (Sherando/[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - Sophia is another [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] player who performed well at Volley by the James. She generated offense from the left side. Another player who falls in the undersized category as a pin hitter. Her approach jump is 9 feet but she enhances that with a fast arm swing that generates good velocity when she hits. As her jump improves as she gains muscle she could be dangerous if she can add an inch or two with her height.    The East Coast Black 15 team impressed at the MAPL tournament. My first exposure to them was when they played in Las Vegas at the Junior Nationals winning four of their first five matches in the National Division. While Isabella was on the roster for whatever reason she did not make the rankings.   At the MAPL she clearly powered the East Coast offense with her ability to hit from both the front row and back row. She brought good velocity to her hits as well as created good placement with her shots. Her back row play also stood out.   Isabella finished fourth on her high school team in kills and third in digs.    53. [player_tooltip player_id='693144' first='Layla' last='Babiker'] (West Springfield/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - Layla plays on the second team for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. Last year that second team earned a bid to the Junior Nationals. They also finished in second place in the Volley by the James tournament. She flies at the net to generate powerful spikes but at 5'8" is a tad undersized. As a frosh for West Springfield she saw significant court time in a run that fell just short of winning the class 6 Virginia state championship. Next year will be her opportunity to contribute more to the success of the varsity.   67. [player_tooltip player_id='746325' first='Cheyenne' last='Wright'] (Landstown/757 Volleyball Club) - Cheyenne played up for the 757 16 team. She played right side. The second Landstown high school player to make this list (see [player_tooltip player_id='746323' first='Isabella' last='Decker'] above). She led her team in kills and service aces. At 5'10" she brings good height to the pins. Most Virginia Beach schools list a number of frosh on their roster because their schools do not have junior varsity or frosh teams. Landstown listed three frosh that contributed strongly to their varsity program. Watch out for them in the future.   75. [player_tooltip player_id='746329' first='Emma' last='Piccola'] (Frank Cox/EastCoast) - Emma is another player from the East Coast 15 team that did not get my attention at the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas, but she stood out at the Mid Atlantic Power League. She was limited to three rotations in the matches I watched but her left side play was strong. Her serve also accumulated a number of aces. Emma did not get a lot of playing time with her Frank Cox high school team this past season. That should change with graduations as well as her improvement in club play.   81. [player_tooltip player_id='746523' first='Isabella' last='Smith'] (Ocean Lakes/East Coast) - Isabella played down on the East Coast 14 team but she whacks the ball with authority. If she had played with the 15 team her playing time may have been limited by [player_tooltip player_id='746329' first='Emma' last='Piccola'] and [player_tooltip player_id='746323' first='Isabella' last='Decker']. The skills definitely exist to make an impact on the court.   100. [player_tooltip player_id='721737' first='Kaisy' last='Custer'] (Clear Spring/Revolution) - Clear Spring made it to the finals of the Maryland Class 1 high school state championships, eventually losing to Boonsboro in the finals. Kaisy stood out as one of the offensive contributors on the left side. Despite her 5'7" height she brings hops to the court jumping high over the net for the block. She finished third on her team in kills and digs. A solid six rotation player.

The new additions to the class of 2028 were posted this week. This class is relatively new so the process of getting a grasp on these players is just beginning. Below are the pins added to the class of 2028 rankings. Some nice surprises here.

Claire Tepper

OH/RS

HEIGHT 5'10"

POS OH/RS

CLASS 2028

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Claire Tepper

State: Virginia

School: Bethesda Chevy Chase

Club: Metro Volleyball Club

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Gianna Molfino

HEIGHT 5'6"

POS OH

CLASS 2028

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Gianna Molfino

State: Virginia

School: Light Ridge

Club: Paramount

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36. Sophie Weir Sophie Weir 5'9" | OH/RS Sherando | 2028 State VA (Sherando/ Blue Ridge ) - Sophia is another Blue Ridge player who performed well at Volley by the James. She generated offense from the left side. Another player who falls in the undersized category as a pin hitter. Her approach jump is 9 feet but she enhances that with a fast arm swing that generates good velocity when she hits. As her jump improves as she gains muscle she could be dangerous if she can add an inch or two with her height.

Isabella Decker

OH/DS/L

HEIGHT 5'10"

POS OH/DS/L

CLASS 2028

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Isabella Decker

State: Virginia

School: Landstown

Club: East Coast Volleyball Club

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53. Layla Babiker Layla Babiker 5'8" | OH/DS/L West Springfield | 2028 State VA (West Springfield/ Paramount ) - Layla plays on the second team for Paramount . Last year that second team earned a bid to the Junior Nationals. They also finished in second place in the Volley by the James tournament. She flies at the net to generate powerful spikes but at 5'8" is a tad undersized. As a frosh for West Springfield she saw significant court time in a run that fell just short of winning the class 6 Virginia state championship. Next year will be her opportunity to contribute more to the success of the varsity.

67. Cheyenne Wright Cheyenne Wright 5'10" | OH/MB Landstown | 2028 State VA (Landstown/757 Volleyball Club) - Cheyenne played up for the 757 16 team. She played right side. The second Landstown high school player to make this list (see Isabella Decker Isabella Decker 5'10" | OH/DS/L Landstown | 2028 State VA above). She led her team in kills and service aces. At 5'10" she brings good height to the pins. Most Virginia Beach schools list a number of frosh on their roster because their schools do not have junior varsity or frosh teams. Landstown listed three frosh that contributed strongly to their varsity program. Watch out for them in the future.

75. Emma Piccola Emma Piccola 5'9" | OH Frank Cox | 2028 State VA (Frank Cox/EastCoast) - Emma is another player from the East Coast 15 team that did not get my attention at the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas, but she stood out at the Mid Atlantic Power League. She was limited to three rotations in the matches I watched but her left side play was strong. Her serve also accumulated a number of aces. Emma did not get a lot of playing time with her Frank Cox high school team this past season. That should change with graduations as well as her improvement in club play.

81. Isabella Smith Isabella Smith 5'8" | OH Ocean Lakes | 2028 State VA (Ocean Lakes/East Coast) - Isabella played down on the East Coast 14 team but she whacks the ball with authority. If she had played with the 15 team her playing time may have been limited by Emma Piccola Emma Piccola 5'9" | OH Frank Cox | 2028 State VA and Isabella Decker Isabella Decker 5'10" | OH/DS/L Landstown | 2028 State VA . The skills definitely exist to make an impact on the court.

100. Kaisy Custer Kaisy Custer 5'8" | OH/DS/L Clear Spring | 2028 MD (Clear Spring/Revolution) - Clear Spring made it to the finals of the Maryland Class 1 high school state championships, eventually losing to Boonsboro in the finals. Kaisy stood out as one of the offensive contributors on the left side. Despite her 5'7" height she brings hops to the court jumping high over the net for the block. She finished third on her team in kills and digs. A solid six rotation player.