Those in Class of 2028 Rising in the Rankings

Normally, you have to do something special to rise in the rankings. The most obvious is winning a prestigious national award. Even earning a local award such as an all-state selection or even all District will get you some notice. A Division I commitment to a power 4 or 5 college will up you a few ranking spots. It surprises, especially at the younger ages the vast improvement that occurs in a player's game. That was clearly evident in our new number one prospect for 2028 and others named below.   [player_tooltip player_id='833815' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] outside (Richard Montgomery/Metro) - Going from two to number one is not a big jump but it is a significant jump in our rankings. At the high school level Katherine as a frosh helped her Richard Montgomery team earn a second consecutive state championship. While she fell short of receiving star status for the Rockets she made significant contributions with her middle and outside play.   That seemed to provide a spark of confidence to her overall game because she followed that with a tremendous club season. Playing for Metro 15 she powered them to a National Division championship in the USAV junior nationals. Her efforts not only found her a spot on the all tournament team but she also earned the MVP award. As if that was not enough she won the Prep Dig MVP for the 15U 2025 club season. Next, she hopes to follow that with a third consecutive Maryland state championship for the Rockets.   While [player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] dropped to number two that is because her focus this club season was on the beach circuit. Before the club season finished she suited up for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 17 to play in the AAU National championships. As a six foot setter she also brings special skills to the indoor game. She did not participate as actively in the indoor club season but her skills stand out. When the high school season begins we will see how far Breeze can take John Handley towards the Virginia state championship.   Finally, [player_tooltip player_id='831110' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha'] is not new to the rankings. She ranked number three during our last ranking. She continues to rank number three in the updated ranking. A minor injury delayed her start to the club season but by the end of the season she was on fire. She also earned a spot on the junior national all tournament team in the National Division 15U.   To stay listed in the Virginia rankings you still must show Virginia as your home state in your profile. If you convert the Virginia profile to Maryland it will drop the player from the Virginia rankings and look for a Maryland state ranking. Because no Maryland state ranking exists the name disappears from our overall ranking data base. If this happens to your player contact me and we can fix it.   [player_tooltip player_id='800545' first='Riley' last='Ko'] Libero/DS (Reservoir/Metro) - Riley played a steady libero to also earn a spot on the USAV Junior National all tournament team for the National Division. This resulted in a climb up in the rankings from 37 to 6. The morning started off rough with three shanked passes in a row to put Metro behind in their first match of the gold medal round. Her resilience showed as she bounced back to help Metro win the national championship with proficient passing and tenacious defense. She never quit on a ball trying to find the floor making some sprawling digs that energized her teammates. All it takes is one player to make one play to turn a two point loss into a two point victory. Riley was making those crucial plays.   Now she gets ready to prepare her Reservoir team this year. Last year she was their starting libero as a frosh. She comes into the 2025 season filled with more experience. This past season Chruchill eliminated Reservoir in the first round of the state championship. This coming season she should be joined in the back row by another Metro libero [player_tooltip player_id='755672' first='Jaylin' last='Park']. It will be a potent back row.    Winning a top performer award can move you up a few spots in the rankings as well. The 6'3' middle [player_tooltip player_id='746330' first='Hannah' last='Keating'] went from 46 to 37. Her performance at the junior nationals also earned her some ranking recognition She played down for the Metro 14 team who competed in the 14U open in the junior national championships.   Last year as a frosh Hannah earned a spot on the Quince Orchard varsity team. The hope now for Hannah is to contribute to their overall success.       At 5'6" Ashly will probably set a 6/2 at least for Metro. With their collection of huge pin hitters, it is almost a given. Despite only playing back row her performance at junior nationals bumped her up from 94 to 46 in the class of 2028 rankings. She earned my award as the Prep Dig most surprising player for the 2025 club season.   She does everything you want to see in a setter. Quickness on the court, consistent location and steady defense. This past season for Reservoir Ashey did not make the varsity roster as a frosh. They lost two of their starting setters to graduation so this should give Ashley a chance to show off her championship pedigree.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Watch List Players Moving up</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='808039' first='Maren' last='Bert'] outside (Harrisonburg/Valley Juniors) - Maren finds herself a bit undersized for an outside in the front row but she showed she can put some velocity on the ball as a left side when she strikes the ball. She also plays the game well enough to fill in at all six rotations, including providing some offense from the back row. This generated a climb for her in the rankings to number 55 in our class of 2028. Last year she made the Harrisonburg roster as a frosh. This year she hopes to lead them to a successful season.   [player_tooltip player_id='693818' first='Ava' last='Callaghan'] right side/setter (Collegiate/[program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] - Ava and [player_tooltip player_id='828122' first='May' last='Moncol'] both made the Collegiate team as frosh. At 5'11" Ava brings good height to the position of setter. She also set for [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] which finished in 27th place in the AAU National championship Elite Division this past club season. Ava went from the watch list to number 98 in the rankings.    Audrey stood out at our Prep Dig Stock up showcase showing off her versatility in the front row. She can play middle or either of the pins. Her performance at the showcase earned her a bump up to 108 in the rankings.   It appears the preliminary roster for Holy Cross this season does not have [player_tooltip player_id='518008' first='Aubrey' last='Wade'] on it. Holy Cross is traditionally one of the top high schools in Maryland. It would not surprise me to see her name pop up on the roster before the completion of the season.   Once she contributes to the Tartans volleyball roster her further climb up the rankings could occur.    All of the players named below deserve a spot in the rankings. I generally do not like to leave a player on the watch list for more than one year. During the season they did something to catch my eye. It could have been a brief look at our showcase or some impressive stats for their high school team. Unfortunately, I have not physically seen them play for more than a set or two, but each caught my eye. Hopefully I will get to watch them during the high school season. Kaleigh Dudley also appeared on this list at 139 but with her move to Georgia she dropped out of the Virginia rankings shortly after publication. Her file transferred to Georgia,. That dropped the number of players we ranked from 150 to 149.   [player_tooltip player_id='829552' first='Anna' last='Fiedler'] outside (Howard/Columbia Volleyball Academy) - She contributed a couple kills at Junior Nationals for Columbia. Next on the agenda will be a contribution to Howard. Last year she contributed 56 kills in 39 sets in a limited role. She moves to 129 in our rankings   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/110-Anna-Hudson.jpg?w=923" alt="" class="wp-image-781933" style="width:275px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='730577' first='Anna' last='Hudson']</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='730577' first='Anna' last='Hudson'] Libero/DS (Bishop Ireton/MOJO) - She stood out at the Prep Dig showcase but also made the varsity team at Ireton las season as a frosh. Unfortunately, she received limited playing time while on the roster. Perhaps I will see more of her this year. She jumped to 131 in our rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='664973' first='Annalese' last='James'] Libero/DS (Mountain View/[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']) - She performed impressively at the libero position at the Prep Dig Stock Up showcase. She was loud and proud at the position as she fearlessly went after every ball. As a frosh she led her team in digs. Definitely, somebody to put on my radar this high school season for Mountain View. She climbs to 132 in our rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='728974' first='Aria' last='Erdie'] Setter (Alexandria City/[program_tooltip program_id='730175' first='Legacy' last='Volleyball Academy']) - She shined at the Prep Dig showcase. It appears her addition to the Alexandria high school team roster as a frosh last year during the playoffs provided some depth at the setting position. She climbed to 133 in our rankings.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/01/Ava-Parker.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-738781" style="width:390px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='733269' first='Ava' last='Parker']</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='733269' first='Ava' last='Parker'] outside (Freedom/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - Ava stood out at our Prep Dig showcase in Maryland. She shows off an impressive wrist snap in her swing generating a climb to 136 in the ranking.   [player_tooltip player_id='720415' first='Bella' last='Middleton'] setter (James Wood) - As a frosh she shared the setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='621440' first='Kylee' last='Plumb'] leading the Colonels to their third consecutive championship. I could not find a club footprint for her, but it would not surprise me that her game is in the sand. She jumps to 137 in the rankings.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/66-Bella-Stringfellow.jpg?w=878" alt="" class="wp-image-729674" style="width:286px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='725299' first='Bella' last='Stringfellow']</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='725299' first='Bella' last='Stringfellow'] outside (Lightridge/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] - She caught my eye at the Prep Dig DMV Expo last December and made the roster of the second team at Paramount, which qualified for Nationals. This put her at 138 in our rankings. If she cam make the Lightridge roster this could lead to a rise in the rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='696208' first='Kiley' last='Foster'] right side (Annadale/Braddock) - Her athleticism and drive impressed one of our writers moving her to 139 in our rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='725350' first='Leila' last='Bataineh'] middle (Freedom/[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - She also impressed at the Prep Dig 250 Expo as well as played right side for the Paramount 15 team. She climbed to 140 in our rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='835033' first='Lois' last='Amewu'] outside (Seneca Valley/Metro) - At the Prep Dig DMV Expo she showed a good jump but still needs to work on building her core to generate t a more powerful swing. She climbed to 141 in our ranking.   [player_tooltip player_id='828122' first='May' last='Moncol'] Libero/ds (Collegiate/Richmaond Volleyball Club) - Like [player_tooltip player_id='693818' first='Ava' last='Callaghan'] above she played as a frosh for Collegiate while occupying the libero position. She did well at the position earning a spot at number 143 in our rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='664951' first='Micki' last='Millsaps'] setter (Lake Braddock/Braddock Volleyball Club) - I first saw her set as a frosh for Lake Braddock high school. At 5'5" she lacks height but she shows potential earning a ranking of 144.   [player_tooltip player_id='744471' first='Olivia' last='Harris'] Libero/ds ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - She played some good defense at the Volley by the James cracking a spot at 145 in our rankings.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/Zalikah-Pabalan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732567" style="width:501px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zalikan Pabalan</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='800582' first='Zalikah' last='Pabalan'] Libero/ds (North Hagerstown/Revolution - She played some good defense at the Prep Dig 250 Expo, standing out for her communication. This earned a spot at 147 in our rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='800583' first='Zoe' last='Byrd'] Libero/ds (Riverdale Baptist/Athletic Republic - As a frosh she led her team in digs. She also shined at the Prep Dig 250 Expo with a couple excellent defensive plays. This got her a spot at 148 in our rankings.

Normally, you have to do something special to rise in the rankings. The most obvious is winning a prestigious national award. Even earning a local award such as an all-state selection or even all District will get you some notice. A Division I commitment to a power 4 or 5 college will up you a few ranking spots. It surprises, especially at the younger ages the vast improvement that occurs in a player's game. That was clearly evident in our new number one prospect for 2028 and others named below.