The High Risers from the Class of 2029

While the class of 2029 just came about last year there were some high risers. Below are the players who took significant jumps in our 2029 class. Next post we will identify those players who advanced from the watch list to the rankings.    There are times when I take height into account. Last year, or at least when the 2029 rankings came out Scarlett was 5'9". She was a setter/right side for Maryland Juniors. While her setting was nice it did not stand out as much as her hitting. However, because she was "only" 5'9" perhaps she should stick to setting.   With Annapolis Area Christian she moved to left side. Only now she lists at 5'11. That is significant. And a move to play for Metro. If Metro travel and hitting left side she would make that team much stronger.   But until I see official rosters I don't like to assume. We shall see how the season plays out. Moving from 3 to 2 is a significant jump in the rankings for any player.      14-10 - [player_tooltip player_id='750056' first='Kiera' last='Jordan'] Right side/Left side (Annandale/Metro) - While the conference that Annandale plays in is not one of the strongest in the area, for a frosh to win player of the year in any conference is quite the compliment. Kiera led Annandale to one of their best seasons of volleyball in over two decades. I have to search all the way back to 2009 to find a winning record (7-3), but then there still exist six unrecorded results from that year. While Kiera did not do it by herself her offensive explosiveness clearly overwhelmed the conference. There are still skills she needs to work on such as a more consistent approach to her hitting from the left side and improvement in her back row play. However, at 5'11" with a powerful right arm she screams potential.   17-11 - [player_tooltip player_id='753073' first='Aniston' last='Williams'] Middle (Holy Cross) - Jeremy seems to have tagged Aniston with a move from Maryland Juniors to Metro 15 travel. That would certainly strengthen a middle that has [player_tooltip player_id='750047' first='Caroline' last='Conroy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='746330' first='Hannah' last='Keating']. Aniston started middle for Holy Cross this year and led the team in blocks. Her offense could also be dynamic. While she was only fourth on the team in kills her .313 hitting percentage was second only to [player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe'] (another player said to be moving from Maryland Juniors 14 to Metro Travel 15). Aniston's efforts got her listed for honorable mention in the WCAC ([player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'] and [player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas'] received first team honors).   32-17 - [player_tooltip player_id='762829' first='Angela' last='Zhang'] Left Side (Churchill) - Angela impressed with her outside play for MVSA, especially after I heard she had just started playing volleyball. She made the varsity team for Churchill and impressed. She finished first on the team in service aces and third in kills, but her game seemed to get better as the season progressed. Against defending champion Richard Montgomery in the quarter finals Angela swatted 14 kills in their five set win. The Bulldogs followed by getting swept by eventual champion Broadneck. At 5'11 Angela brings height to the pins. She also brings six rotation potential.    When Avery played for Maryland Juniors 14 she was the third outside to [player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas']. She fell to an injury during the season but for junior nationals her health allowed her to play back row. From what people tell me she is one of the best passers on the team and Avery shared the libero role with [player_tooltip player_id='896390' first='Harper' last='Walker'].   When high school season started Avery was healthy enough to hit outside. During the Endless Summer tournament she played with a knee brace. She finished second in kills to [player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton'], leading Annapolis to the Bracket A IAAM championship. With libero like passing abilities she played six rotations.   Avery moved up from 51 to 25. She appears to be moving to Metro National, but no official rosters are available for Maryland Jrs. or Metro yet. Like with Annapolis, she just needs an opportunity to play to show off her abilities.    42-26 - [player_tooltip player_id='756342' first='Olivia' last='Baick'] (Oakton) - I actually coached her older sister at 13s using her as a middle. She later switched to libero after her growth slowed. Olivia started a couple years earlier and immediately fell into the libero role. As a frosh she got some libero opportunities for Oakton but for the most part played defensive specialist. She ranked sixth on the team in digs but did line up too much in serve receive. Olivia actually won a top performer award at the Salt Lake City showcase for her energetic libero play. This club season she will play for Virginia Juniors.   48-31 - [player_tooltip player_id='748492' first='Paetyn' last='Brown'] (Annapolis Area Christian) - Another impactful player who went from Maryland Jrs 14 to Annapolis Area Christian. As a frosh she led the team in blocks and was third on the team in hitting percentage. She is another player who could be moving from Maryland Juniors to Metro 15 National. At 5'10" she brings good athleticism to the middle position. A couple more inches of growth would put her in a Division I category.    Briar Woods was a bit of a surprise this past high school season with their varsity roster listing six frosh. While they did not do as well as Annapolis Area Christian in the playoffs they still made it to the semi-finals of the Regionals before losing to Riverside. They lost four time during the season to Riverside, who went on to become the Virginia Class 5 state champions.   Kayla was the straw that stirred the Falcon's success. Between her tough serving and consistent setting Briar Woods battled in every match. Kayla also set the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 14 team to a National bid this past club season and returns to repeat that feat. She has some tall talent she can use to trigger the offense.    47-38 - [player_tooltip player_id='902360' first='A'vielle' last='Lewis'] OH (Chesapeake Math - North) - A'Vielle brings some height to the outside at 5'10. As a frosh she also led her team in kills with an impressive .385 hitting percentage. A six rotation player who ranks second in digs and takes part in serve receive. Her serve is also pretty special as she ranks second in aces. She does it all for a team that made it to the semi-finals of the Maryland Class 1 state championships.    Her older sister Skylar was a 6'1" middle. Raegan is still working to achieve tht height sitting at 5'10 now. For a setter that would be more than enough height.   Last year was a bit of a rebuilding year for Potomac with frosh [player_tooltip player_id='762826' first='Avery' last='Nierenberg'] leading the team in hitting and frosh Raegan leading the team in assists. For the most part Raegan stayed on the right side for blocking and hitting.   Raegan rose from 55-45. She will set for Virginia Elite 15 this year. Her approach and block jump are close to the highest on the team making her an asset in the front row.

While the class of 2029 just came about last year there were some high risers. Below are the players who took significant jumps in our 2029 class. Next post we will identify those players who advanced from the watch list to the rankings.