Blue Ridge’s Duo National Ranking Debut, Club Dominates York MAPL

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] </strong>have been dominating the Virginia volleyball scene over the last four years now. At one point Kennedy sat atop the state of Virginia class of 2026 rankings but she now sits at number three, behind the Metro duo of [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'], two players also nationally ranked at 38 and 87 respectively. In the latest class of 2026 national rankings <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> debuts at 157 while [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] finds herself at 166. For Brenna there are only 16 liberos ranked ahead of her, making her the 17th ranked libero in the country, if you accept the rankings. Kennedy has about 66 outside hitters ahead of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When I began writing for Prep Dig about four years ago the duo were initially ranked as top prospects in the class of 2025. That was until we learned they were playing a year up and were not yet in high school. The next year they both began high school as frosh at James Wood, a school that had yet to win a state title. That would soon change when both Kennedy and Brenna led the Colonels to their first Class 4 state championship as frosh while both hit outside. They would repeat that accomplishment the next two years, again with Kennedy and Brenna hitting outside, though Brenna started the 2023 season playing as libero. Halfway through the season began she switched back to hitting outside. That team played without a libero as did the one last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At club they have led [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] to upset wins over the current Metro 18 team at a Capitol Hill Classic a couple years ago. This year in the first tournament of the year they beat Metro 17 in a local tournament. This weekend Metro 17 earned a bid in Open by taking second place in the Big South Open Division. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] does not choose to play in qualifiers to cut down their costs. However, when they do play in qualifiers they do well. They recently played in the Mideast Qualifier USA Division and finished third, qualifying for a bid. They turned down the bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy committed to Arizona State to play beach while Brenna committed to James Madison to play indoor. The two have been beach partners, club teammates and high school teammates for at least the last four years. It seems only appropriate that the two make their debut in the Prep Dig national rankings at the same time as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>York MAPL Black (16-18)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":571287,"width":"161px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/128-Avery-Lefman.jpg?w=920" alt="" class="wp-image-571287" style="width:161px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='490057' first='Avery' last='Lefman']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was the only age group that [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] fell short of winning, though the 17 team battled to a second place finish. Yorktown Blue 18 beat them in the finals 21-25, 28-26 and 15-11. I was watching the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] Blue 15 championship game so I did not see this match. Because I was also coaching during the same time as the Black Division was playing I did not see much of this age group play as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What I did watch was their match against [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18, which was a semi-final match. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17 won that match 25-20, 25-22. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='527011' first='Dreu' last='Patterson'] </strong>looked good hitting from the right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison'] </strong>always impresses me with her middle play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490057' first='Avery' last='Lefman'] </strong>looked strong setting while running a 6/2 with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs']</strong>. Class of 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481961' first='Addison' last='Ziegler']</strong> brings a strong left handed swing from the right side as well. It surprises me that no college program has picked her up yet. If not for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] </strong>playing libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320814' first='Alycia' last='Miller']</strong> would fill the bill. She showed off her tough serve with a seven point serving run in the semi-final match against [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18 and Yorktowne 17 had to settle for third place. All the other first division teams playing in the gold bracket were from the Keystone Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>York MAPL Blue (14-16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":764518,"width":"453px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/IMG_4494.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-764518" style="width:453px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 15</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 14-16 age group the championship match went down to [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 15 versus Baltimore Elite 16. While Baltimore Elite battled, they came up short 25-22, 25-19. They had trouble containing the 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536736' first='Alexis' last='Stephens']</strong> in the middle. While most of her kills were tips over the block, she showed excellent location with those tips. She finished the first set with three kills, all in critical parts of the set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest offensive performance was from left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610473' first='Catherine' last='Warren'] </strong>who finished with seven kills in the first set. Two of those seven kills scored the final two points to win the first set. Other players who performed well were left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='730594' first='Gianna' last='Molfino']</strong> and middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536738' first='Avery' last='Fauver'].</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baltimore Elite impressed with right side<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='764655' first='Shawna' last='Dyer']</strong> and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764659' first='Sophia' last='Harari'].</strong> The 6'0" Shawna appears to be a two sport athlete who plays both softball and volleyball. I had to look twice when she picked up a volleyball from the ball cart and palmed it while she walked to the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty Elite 15 took third place. They took their only loss in a semi-final battle with [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 15 (25-21. 25-16). Players who stood out for Liberty Elite was setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764664' first='Sloane' last='Dunn']</strong>, who showed good hands and intelligence in placing the ball. She set a 6/2 when I was watching but stayed in the front row to play right side in the first set, however she was taken out of the front row in the second set. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='764676' first='Isabella' last='Spinelli']</strong> played a strong middle, even putting up a block on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536736' first='Alexis' last='Stephens']. </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764683' first='Naomi' last='McNeal'] </strong>played a strong six rotation left side, showing offensive capability from the front or back row. She also brought a tough serve to the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia Elite 15 took a tie for fifth. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749640' first='Kiara' last='Oguno']</strong> stands 6'0" and brings a 9'9" approach jump to the middle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764687' first='Sloane' last='Mister']</strong> was a high flying left side for Baltimore Elite 16, who tied for 10th, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764688' first='Lindsey' last='Doggette']</strong> made her presence felt in the middle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764689' first='Carly' last='Sachs']</strong> generated a ton of offense for fifth place Coastal Hampton Roads 16. <strong>Sariah White</strong> showed a strong presence in the middle for Columbia Volleyball Academy 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>York MAPL Red (13-14) </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":764520,"width":"459px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/IMG_7945.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-764520" style="width:459px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 14</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 14 took this division. They beat Coastal Hampton Roads in the finals 25-13, 25-15. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 13 took third place. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 14 already has a couple players being considered for our class of 2029 rankings in middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749349' first='Avery' last='Curtis'],</strong> outside/middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749353' first='Brielle' last='Wolf']</strong> and left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749357' first='Ellie' last='Palmer']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->