Seven 2026 to Watch at East Coast Championships

This weekend will be the East Coast championships, the last big tournament in this area. A number of athletes from the class of 2026 still lacking a college commitment will compete in this event. Below are seven players from seven teams still looking to commit. All seven rank within the top 100 from our class of 2026.    Watching her play at the Shamrock Showdown it appeared she had reached 6'0". She appeared to confirm that when I asked her about it. Of course, the team won the Shamrock Showdown. Any team Aubrey sets for has this habit for winning, whether she sets a 5/1, or the team runs a 6/2 with her hitting right side.   [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] ranks second in the Old Dominion Region. They will also compete in the AAUs later this year. For Courtland high school they finished second in the Class 4 Virginia state championships, eventually losing to three time champion James Wood. Aubrey set a 6/2 in the finals but stayed at right side to provide offense there.   Last year 540 won the Beast of the East as the 16 team. It is always tough to repeat, but with a setter like Aubrey the job becomes so much easier. Only [player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'], who sets for Metro with a commitment to Columbia ranks higher than her for setters in the class of 2026.    [player_tooltip player_id='238850' first='Sydney' last='Bennett'] middle (Patriot/American) - At 6'2" Sydney has the height to dominate. She ranks number 21 in our class of 2026. Only three other middles rank higher than her and they play for either Metro or [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. I would prefer to see a little more fire in her game. There is more in the tank if she pushes herself. For Patriot she led her team in blocks while finishing third in kills with a hitting percentage at .257. Patriot was able to make the class 6 Virginia state bracket but lost in the first round to Chantilly. American Red ranks ninth in the Region. Watch for them to play in AAUs later this year.    At 6'0" Anasofia brings excellent height for a setter. Whether it is for Holy Cross, MVSA or Maryland Juniors she seems to fulfill the front row setter role in a 5/2 offense. She definitely brings an offensive threat when playing there.   Perhaps her quickness in the back row restricts her to front row setting. It has been a long time since I have seen her set in the back row. For Holy Cross only middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='235324' first='Rowan' last='Johnson'] finished the season with more blocks than Anasofia. Holy Cross went undefeated in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), but eventually lost to Bishop O'Connell in the finals of the playoffs.   If you are looking for height in your setter Anasofia is worth a watch.    [player_tooltip player_id='519343' first='Dylan' last='Cline'] left side (Midlothian/River City Volleyball Academy) - At 5'9" [player_tooltip player_id='519343' first='Dylan' last='Cline'] is a smaller left side. However, she was the top performer for Midlothian, who made a brief playoff run in the Virginia Class 5 state championship. They lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Independence. Dylan plays six rotations. For club she plays for River City which ranks 15th in the Region. Dylan brings the versatility to excel in the back row if you want to use an offensive player there. As a front row player her height may hinder Division I interest but Dylan can play.    Classify Eden in that same smaller outside category. A powerful jump puts her just short of that 10 foot approach jump category. She also brings athleticism to the court.   Eden has the versatility to also play back row, bringing that same offensive punch to the defensive specialist position. She is definitely a fun person to watch whether she is playing the front row or back row. A player whose athletic ability can make plays other players can only think about. Always shows some hustle while she is on the court.   Virginia Juniors will also be playing in the American Division at the USAV Junior Nationals in Dallas in June. Whether it be Pittsburgh or Dallas her play will impress.     Another smaller left side hitter who plays six rotations.   For Dominion her playing time was limited this year. Dominion was able to make their way into the Class 4 Virginia State Championship bracket. In the first round they eventually lost to James Wood, battling them to five sets.   Megan hopes to get her offensive groove back with her play at Virginia Volleyball Academy. I have yet to see this team play but with [player_tooltip player_id='308751' first='Olivia' last='LeBlanc'] setting she is another player worth watching, sitting at number 76 in our rankings.    [player_tooltip player_id='238858' first='Allyson' last='Burke'] libero (Grafton/[program_tooltip program_id='498498' first='Virginia' last='Wave']) - Recently watched Allyson play libero at the Mid Atlantic Power League (MAPL) in Hampton and came away impressed. While she ranks at 61 and is the 8th ranked libero in our class of 2026, this may rise. She shows great hustle on the court. She also made first team All State for Virginia in Class 3. Unfortunately, Grafton again finished second in States. For the season however Allyson led the team in digs at 5.5 digs per set. Her closest teammate finished with just 1.9 digs per set. She also led the team in service aces.

This weekend will be the East Coast championships, the last big tournament in this area. A number of athletes from the class of 2026 still lacking a college commitment will compete in this event. Below are seven players from seven teams still looking to commit. All seven rank within the top 100 from our class of 2026.