Prep Dig Showcase Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig will be holding a frosh showcase in the AM and an older group in the PM on June 7. While the early bird signup no longer applies you can still get a $10 discount by using my code of AbelsDig2025. It seems there are a number of different showcases in this area for that week. This showcase will provide you an opportunity to get the exposure to the Prep Dig scouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year the frosh showcase provided me with my first exposure to players like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554770' first='Rujuta' last='Singh']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569865' first='Eireni' last='Scott'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587876' first='Ariana' last='White']</strong>. Looking forward to seeing what I can find from this new group. Talented players eventually stand out because they will usually play for the better clubs but I always like to get a head start before the high school season. The frosh class already looks very good from what I have seen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year for club I tried to focus more on the 14 year age group. For the frosh group that has signed up libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748518' first='Harper' last='Walker']</strong> from Maryland Juniors is the one player I have seen play. She will attend Annapolis Area Christian School. That school has a good reputation for churning out volleyball talent. All the remaining frosh are new names that I am looking forward to see play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589290,"width":"266px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/Avery-Lefman.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589290" style="width:266px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='490057' first='Avery' last='Lefman']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The older group brings a number of familiar names, but also some new ones. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490057' first='Avery' last='Lefman']</strong> put together an excellent club season for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] last year. It was a bold move to play for one of the top five clubs in the Region, especially when you consider they already carried a quality setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs']</strong>. Lauren has set her high school to back to back Maryland Class 3 State championships. It appears playing time was restricted at first, but when [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] realized they carried a couple powerful right sides Avery saw her playing time increase. Last year she won a top performer award at the Prep Dig showcase but her setting for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] alone will move her up in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This class appears loaded with setters. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='541140' first='Maris' last='Francescon']</strong> set for Paul VI as a frosh. This will be her second Prep Dig appearance after attending the frosh showcase last year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772025' first='Kaitlin' last='Thomas']</strong> looked good setting for American in the Chesapeake Showdown tournament. What stands out with her is her high school, Northern Virginia Home School. At the Gran Prix in Richmond I watched a number of talented girls play for the club Momentum who also played for Northern Virginia Home School. Many of them, including Kaitlin should make their debut in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732538,"width":"267px","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/Maya-Downs.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732538" style="width:267px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='552700' first='Maya' last='Downs'] platform setting</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Additional setters include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559650' first='Rhea' last='Bhatia']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='552700' first='Maya' last='Downs']</strong>. Rhea hopes to set for South Lakes varsity while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='552700' first='Maya' last='Downs']</strong> tries to fill a setter role for Washington Liberty. Both set for me at club so it will be interesting to measure their improvement. They will also be competing with quality setters at their high school. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, it will be interesting to get another look at <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='739977' first='Elizabeth' last='Hemberg']</strong>. She lists as a right side/setter. At 6'0" she played a strong right side when I saw her play with Virginia Juniors. Unfortunately, I did not see her set. She will play for Langley hoping to make the varsity her sophomore season. She certainly has the talent. Langley did lose a couple pins to graduation last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589324,"width":"374px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/Olivia-Viva-Black.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589324" style="width:374px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='587036' first='Olivia' last='Black'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking a look at some nonsetters [player_tooltip player_id='587036' first='Olivia' last='Black'] (Yorktown) and [player_tooltip player_id='623199' first='Trinity' last='Rowles'] (Holy Cross) have passed through Bishop O'Connell. I also watched a little bit of Olivia when she played for Virginia Elite. Olivia already appears in our 2028 ranking at 59. Trintiy played last year for the Tartan junior varsity and was one of their top hitters. She has a challenging task to make varsity next year, however the quality of her play got her ranked at 91 in our class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='754613' first='Charlotte' last='Aus'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='602392' first='Elise' last='Nair']</strong> are strong liberos. Charlotte played for Maryland Juniors 14 but playing time appeared limited when I watched them play. Elise played as a frosh for Colgan but she found her playing time limited as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other players are all relatively new. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='754931' first='Abigail' last='Hegg']</strong> almost played for me at [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'], but our team for that age group was very raw and Abigail moved to a stronger team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->