A Dozen Rising Stars in Class of 2028 on the Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The players named below do not yet appear in our rankings but that may change when rankings get updated. They list in alphabetical order.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722538' first='Maren' last='Bert'] </strong>OH (Harrisonburg/Valley Juniors) - Maren is a smaller outside who brings the two "V"s to the court. Her athleticism provides her a good vertical jump while the quickness of her arm swing gives her maximum velocity on her hits. She generated most of the offense for Valley Juniors at the Gran Prix tournament hitting from both the back row and front row. Her defense and passing are also above average. As a frosh in high school Maren also stood out for her offense from the outside. With a couple more inches of growth she could develop into an impact hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749358' first='Eva' last='Bujanauskas']</strong> setter/right side (Glenelg/Maryland Juniors) - Eva sets in the front row for Maryland Juniors in their modified 5/1. At 5'6" she needs to grow a little more if she hopes to stay in the front row. She plays a year down for the Maryland Juniors 14 volleyball team, which earned both a USA bid and National bid. Seven bids still exist for allocation to the Open Division and Maryland Juniors stands out as a favorite to snag one of those. While Eva played for Glenelg as a frosh [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] was the main setter running a 5/1. Eva hopes to get a few more opportunities her sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772028' first='Sofia' last='Gelston']</strong> outside hitter/setter (Lightridge/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - Sofia is another smaller outside who puts good velo on the ball. She acts as floor captain, plays six rotations and is quick to the ball when playing defense. She plays on the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] second team, providing most of their offense with attacks from the front and back row. With her improvement this year Sofia should make the varsity for Lightridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739977"],"_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-681a36eb1cdbb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6'0" she has good height. While she lists herself as right side/setter I only saw her hit right side. She puts the ball away from the right side with authority. She also swung well at an out of system set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic player, it appears she played shortstop on a travel softball team. She hung up her cleats when she discovered volleyball. It will be interesting to see her development as a setter. [player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'] has one more year and Langley will need another setter to replace her. Elizabeth could fill that role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even if she did not set her offense is strong enough to fit into the rankings. The junior varsity at Langley voted her the most improved player. That could spell a jump to varsity next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim']</strong> Setter (Richard Montgomery/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - Richard Montgomery lost both of their setters [player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic'] and [player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye']. Ellyn still made the varsity as a setter but did not receive a lot of playing time. While both Ema and Amy stood 6'0" or greater and stayed in the front row to hit right side, Ellyn lists at 5'4" so she may play back row only. She moves quickly to the ball and has good hands. She is one of two setters for a[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] team who earned a bid to play in Open at the Nationals. Ellyn played just eight sets as a setter last year for Richard Montgomery. As a sophomore next year she should be one of their main setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768529' first='Tess' last='Mahon']</strong> (Ireton/[program_tooltip program_id='431413' first='Braddock' last='Road Youth Club']) - At 5'10 she brings some height to the right side. For Ireton, she finished second on the team in kills despite being a frosh. Her hitting percentage should improve next year after her year of club. For Braddock she was one of their key offensive pieces, hitting left side. In the matches I watched she did not play back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768531' first='Luciana' last='Martinez']</strong> middle (Oakton/[program_tooltip program_id='431413' first='Braddock' last='Road Youth Club']) - She played middle putting some power on the quick tempo sets. At 5'10 the height exists to play middle in high school. Luciana put together a number of explosive redirect blocks on balls tight to the net. She also has a tough serve that opponents found tough to pass. Last year she did not make the Oakton high school varsity. The tools seem to be there to make the team this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["767523"],"_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-681a36eb1ce18"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grace proves that waiting for me to watch you play is not a requirement. Sometimes just an email with a video will get you on the radar. Videos fall short of showing the complete player, but they provide an introduction. When building that profile on Prep Dig always include a video. It may put you on the radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grace shows an ability to hit outside, but at 5'5" her best position exists at libero/defensive specialist. Her video shows she has the tools to play the position. There also is a good work ethic to put herself through physical training to improve her overall strength that will help her game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749640' first='Kiara' last='Oguno']</strong> middle (Virginia Elite/Thomas Jefferson) - One of the more impressive verticals in the gym. At 6'0" she has a block jump already listed at 9'5" and an approach jump at 9'9". Virginia Elite feeds her a lot in the middle with quick tempo sets. Her next place to shine will be for Thomas Jefferson. She did not get a lot of playing time there last year. With the improvement in her game she should make a difference this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768545' first='Autumn' last='Schwartz'] </strong>outside (Momentum/Central Virginia Home School) - She played for her team at the 17 age group and competed well. While she swings left handed making her valuable on the right side, she generated most of her offense putting balls away from the left side. She plays for the Virginia Home School where as a frosh she led her team in kills. A six rotation player who also brings out exemplary defensive skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768375"],"_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-681a36eb1ce6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] 16 has some talented players on their team. They rank number one in the Old Dominion Region and just miss the top 100 nationally. A number of their players appear in the rankings for 2026 through 2028. For some reason Alexis was absent from these rankings. A 6'1" left side, she plays a year up with the 16 team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As a frosh she led her high school team in kills with an impressive .407 hitting percentage. She also finished first on the team in service aces and second in blocks. It also appears she sets for her high school placing second in assists. Certainly someone to watch for the next rankings. Another player I may have missed if she had not sent me a video.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768530' first='Ellen' last='Verwys'] </strong>outside (Fairfax/[program_tooltip program_id='431413' first='Braddock' last='Road Youth Club']) - She plays left side for Braddock. At 5'10" she has good height for the position. Playing in the Gran Prix tournament she was restricted to front row. While she made the Fairfax roster as a frosh the team finished 2-17. The Lions can only hope that her improvement will result in their improvement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Juniors Captures the Beachfest in Ocean City.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732545,"width":"275px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/Reese-Roberts-Mandela-Masimini.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-732545" style="width:275px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='523664' first='Reese' last='Roberts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='728971' first='Mandela' last='Masimini']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia Juniors won the Beachfest tournament in Ocean City, beating a pesky [program_tooltip program_id='431413' first='Braddock' last='Road Youth Club'] in the finals. Braddock recently won the Gran Prix in Richmond. Virginia Juniors swept them in the finals 25-20, 25-21. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Interesting these two teams should meet in the finals when I am looking at some prospects absent from the rankings in 2028 that could make an appearance next ranking. The 6'0" [player_tooltip player_id='739977' first='Elizabeth' last='Hemberg'] plays for Virginia Juniors. While most of the Virginia Juniors players are ranked, she is not. That should change when rankings get updated. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gran Prix tournament in Richmond a couple weeks ago was my first exposure to the Braddock Road 15 team. They won that tournament. It appears they played well in this tournament as well. Braddock Road shows three players on their roster mentioned above that could appear in the updated rankings. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768529' first='Tess' last='Mahon']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768531' first='Luciana' last='Martinez']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768530' first='Ellen' last='Verwys']</strong> impressed at Gran Prix. They also have setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='664951' first='Micki' last='Millsaps']</strong>, who made our watch list, as well as libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768534' first='Carolyn' last='Angelicchio'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='696208' first='Kiley' last='Foster']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia Juniors also carriers a number of players who won top performer awards at the Prep Dig showcase last year. They include middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='728971' first='Mandela' last='Masimini']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523664' first='Reese' last='Roberts']</strong> as well as left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587876' first='Ariana' last='White']</strong> setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='558212' first='Violet' last='Zimmitti']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia Juniors ranks third in the region. They will play in the Freedom Division at Junior Nationals in Dallas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->