Unranked Class of 2029 Standing Out in High School Play

There were a number of frosh this year who made the varsity roster for their high school teams. Many of them I happened to watch play club ball. Those that impressed made the rankings. After watching a number of high school matches early this season below are some frosh who did not get ranked who have impressed this high school season. It would not surprise me to see them appear on the next rankings. They are listed alphabetically.   [player_tooltip player_id='888626' first='Blake' last='Ahn'] libero/ds (Fairfax) - The current libero is senior [player_tooltip player_id='800352' first='Elinor' last='Suh'], who does not play club but focuses on beach. After she graduates the libero position should be taken over by [player_tooltip player_id='888626' first='Blake' last='Ahn'], another beach player who also fills her time on the hard court. This past season she played for Metro 13 after playing for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] the previous season. On the court she shows good quickness, anticipating well to the ball. She lists at 5'4". I watched her in a match when Fairfax went against West Springfield. With just a little more consistency in her passing she will deliver as an excellent libero.    Her older sister appears to have gotten the height in the family, standing over 6 feet. She plays middle for Liberty Christian falling in at number 37 in our class of 2026 rankings. Elyse may still grow a bit. Occasionally, the two make contact with the quick tempo sets. What is unique about Elyse is her left handed swing when serving, which seems to give passers trouble. Elyse leads the team in aces. Her older sister ranks third.   Watching her older sister Evie play the game has given her some good court sense. She makes good choices when setting the ball. At 5'6" she normally rotates out once she hits the front row, coming out for a left side that leads the team in kills. Perhaps with some growth in the future she could see time on the right side.   Currently, Liberty Christian sits first in the Seminole Region at 6-0. They are one of the teams in the running for the Virginia Class 3 state title. As Elyse gains more experience setting their odds will improve.    [player_tooltip player_id='888520' first='Rachel' last='Bauer'] Setter (Annandale) - Rachel was an outside hitter when she played for [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite']. The Annandale coaches liked her hands and converted her into a setter. Now she sets a 5/1 for the Atoms. If she does not grow a bit her current height would make her undersized for an outside. For a setter she can at least play back row. While she just started setting this year she seemed to be in control of the game. Her consistency with height and location could see some improvement, but that could be said about almost all frosh setters. Give her a little more experience and she will be fine. Currently, Annandale is tied for first in the National Division, a place they have not been in more than a decade. A big game comes against Edison next week.   [player_tooltip player_id='883712' first='Alivia' last='Breckons'] outside (Grafton) - One player I have not seen play yet is Alivia. Her older sister [player_tooltip player_id='465315' first='Ana' last='Breckons'] is a junior middle blocker/right side Together the duo provide most of the offense for Grafton. They rank behind [player_tooltip player_id='810003' first='Kenzie' last='Smith'] for the most kills on the Clippers roster. They are also second and third to [player_tooltip player_id='810003' first='Kenzie' last='Smith'] in blocks. As an outside Alivia is responsible for serve-receive as well as defense. At 5'11" she is just an inch below Ana in height. Grafton is also a contender for the Virginia Class 3 state title. Alivia could be a key piece to halt the drought.   [player_tooltip player_id='888289' first='Emmerson' last='Croft'] setter (St. Catherines) - One of two frosh setters for St. Catherines. She follows in her sister's footsteps, who finished her high school career with 2,413 assists. Fielding Croft now sets for Christopher Newport. Emmerson may not reach that lofty goal in assists since to do that you need to set a 5/1 for most of your playing career. Emmerson shares the setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='888288' first='Lila' last='Cross']. She currently sitss second in assists to Lila. The Saints will use them in a 6/2 or could use them in a modified 5/1 with Lila setting front row. Both also set for [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'].   [player_tooltip player_id='888288' first='Lila' last='Cross'] setter (St. Catherines) - Lila is the second half of the St. Cathrine's setting duo. She leads the team in assists while also playing some right side. At times the Saints will run a modified 5/1 with Emmerson setting in the back row while Lila comes in to play the front row. Because Lila sits fifth on the team in kills she could stay in the front row at times playing right side when Emmerson is setting in the back row. The Saints can run a number of combinations with those two. Setting will not be an issue for the Saints for the next four years. St. Catherines needs to rank in the top eight in VISAA balloting to qualify for states.    When I watched the Wildcats play at the Crossroads tournament at Justice High Jenevieve came in as a defensive specialist. The libero was junior [player_tooltip player_id='541351' first='Charity' last='Morris']. Loved the intensity of Jenevieve when she was on the court. She showed no fear for hitting the floor to save a point. With those two covering the back row they won the Crossroads tournament hosted by Justice high school.   This past season Jenevieve played for the club named Libero. At 5'2" she may be small in stature but she shows the quickness to cover the court. It would not surprise me if she turns into a popular player on the recruiting club scene if she does not return to Libero.     Not a starter for St. Johns but she gets enough playing time on the varsity to make an impact. At 6'0" she brings some good size to the middle. Against Bishop O'Connell she played all five sets, finishing the match with five kills. The Cadets use [player_tooltip player_id='625593' first='Cairo' last='Turner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='530367' first='Ava' last='Gill'] as their primary middles. Those two are the top blockers on the team but Nika sits fourth.   This past season Nika played for the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 13 team. With a little more experience she could move to right side where she could find herself more engaged with the offense. Playing at her age level would make herself more competitive at the high school level if she plays as a starter.      [player_tooltip player_id='888046' first='Jacqueline' last='Potter'] middle (Robinson) - Another player discovered at the Crossroads tournament. Her game is still a bit raw but she shows promise with her athleticism. She also has a great enthusiasm for the game, especially after a big kill. This is a rebuilding team with a number of sophomores on the roster. Jacqueline is the lone frosh. She could be the start of something positive for the Rams after a number of disappointing seasons.

There were a number of frosh this year who made the varsity roster for their high school teams. Many of them I happened to watch play club ball. Those that impressed made the rankings. After watching a number of high school matches early this season below are some frosh who did not get ranked who have impressed this high school season. It would not surprise me to see them appear on the next rankings. They are listed alphabetically.

Blake Ahn Blake Ahn 5'5" | DS/L Fairfax | 2029 State VA libero/ds (Fairfax) - The current libero is senior Elinor Suh Elinor Suh DS/L Fairfax | 2026 State VA , who does not play club but focuses on beach. After she graduates the libero position should be taken over by Blake Ahn Blake Ahn 5'5" | DS/L Fairfax | 2029 State VA , another beach player who also fills her time on the hard court. This past season she played for Metro 13 after playing for Paramount the previous season. On the court she shows good quickness, anticipating well to the ball. She lists at 5'4". I watched her in a match when Fairfax went against West Springfield. With just a little more consistency in her passing she will deliver as an excellent libero.

Elyse Ballengee

S/RS

HEIGHT 5'6"

POS S/RS

CLASS 2029

View Player

Elyse Ballengee

State: Virginia

School: Liberty Christian Academy

Club: HOV

Subscribe to read

Is this you, Elyse? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing

Highlights

Rachel Bauer Rachel Bauer S/OH Annandale | 2029 State VA Setter (Annandale) - Rachel was an outside hitter when she played for Vienna Elite . The Annandale coaches liked her hands and converted her into a setter. Now she sets a 5/1 for the Atoms. If she does not grow a bit her current height would make her undersized for an outside. For a setter she can at least play back row. While she just started setting this year she seemed to be in control of the game. Her consistency with height and location could see some improvement, but that could be said about almost all frosh setters. Give her a little more experience and she will be fine. Currently, Annandale is tied for first in the National Division, a place they have not been in more than a decade. A big game comes against Edison next week.

Alivia Breckons Alivia Breckons 5'11" | OH Grafton | 2029 State VA outside (Grafton) - One player I have not seen play yet is Alivia. Her older sister Ana Breckons Ana Breckons 6'0" | MB Grafton | 2027 State VA is a junior middle blocker/right side Together the duo provide most of the offense for Grafton. They rank behind Kenzie Smith Kenzie Smith 6'0" | /RS Grafton | 2026 State VA for the most kills on the Clippers roster. They are also second and third to Kenzie Smith Kenzie Smith 6'0" | /RS Grafton | 2026 State VA in blocks. As an outside Alivia is responsible for serve-receive as well as defense. At 5'11" she is just an inch below Ana in height. Grafton is also a contender for the Virginia Class 3 state title. Alivia could be a key piece to halt the drought.

Emmerson Croft Emmerson Croft S St. Catherine's | 2029 State VA setter (St. Catherines) - One of two frosh setters for St. Catherines. She follows in her sister's footsteps, who finished her high school career with 2,413 assists. Fielding Croft now sets for Christopher Newport. Emmerson may not reach that lofty goal in assists since to do that you need to set a 5/1 for most of your playing career. Emmerson shares the setting duties with Lila Cross Lila Cross S St. Catherine's | 2029 State VA . She currently sitss second in assists to Lila. The Saints will use them in a 6/2 or could use them in a modified 5/1 with Lila setting front row. Both also set for Richmond Volleyball Club .

Lila Cross Lila Cross S St. Catherine's | 2029 State VA setter (St. Catherines) - Lila is the second half of the St. Cathrine's setting duo. She leads the team in assists while also playing some right side. At times the Saints will run a modified 5/1 with Emmerson setting in the back row while Lila comes in to play the front row. Because Lila sits fifth on the team in kills she could stay in the front row at times playing right side when Emmerson is setting in the back row. The Saints can run a number of combinations with those two. Setting will not be an issue for the Saints for the next four years. St. Catherines needs to rank in the top eight in VISAA balloting to qualify for states.

Jenevieve Crowder

DS/L

HEIGHT 5'3"

POS DS/L

CLASS 2029

View Player

Jenevieve Crowder

State: Virginia

School: Centreville

Club: VA Juniors

When I watched the Wildcats play at the Crossroads tournament at Justice High Jenevieve came in as a defensive specialist. The libero was junior Unranked Class of 2029 Standing Out in High School Play Unranked Class of 2029 Standing Out in High School Play . Loved the intensity of Jenevieve when she was on the court. She…

Subscribe to read

Is this you, Jenevieve? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing

Highlights

Nika Fackel

VA #85

RS/MB #7

HEIGHT 6'0"

POS RS/MB

CLASS 2029

View Player

Nika Fackel

State: Virginia

School: St. Johns (DC)

Club: Paramount

Not a starter for St. Johns but she gets enough playing time on the varsity to make an impact. At 6'0" she brings some good size to the middle. Against Bishop O'Connell she played all five sets, finishing the match with five kills. The Cadets use Cairo Turner Cairo Turner 6'2" | MB St. Paul VI Catholic | 2028 State VA and Ava Gill Ava Gill 6'2" | MB St. Johns | 2027 State VA as their primary middles. Those two are the top blockers on the team but Nika sits fourth.

This past season Nika played for the Paramount 13 team. With a little more experience she could move to right side where she could find herself more engaged with the offense. Playing at her age level would make herself more competitive at the high school level if she plays as a starter.

Highlights

Jacqueline Potter Jacqueline Potter 5'10" | MB Robinson | 2029 State VA middle (Robinson) - Another player discovered at the Crossroads tournament. Her game is still a bit raw but she shows promise with her athleticism. She also has a great enthusiasm for the game, especially after a big kill. This is a rebuilding team with a number of sophomores on the roster. Jacqueline is the lone frosh. She could be the start of something positive for the Rams after a number of disappointing seasons.