DMV Ranked Indoor Players Also Competing at Beach

That is the big question many girls debate as they decide what they want to do with their summer. Unfortunately, a number of girls choose beach but have no real plan for how they will carry this out. When the summer ends they went to the beach two or three times, perhaps playing in a couple tournaments, but not really getting the touches a player needs to improve their game. Ideally, joining a club for organized practices and regular tournament participation is ideal.   Back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth I played both beach and indoor. The beach was a little different game then. You could not block over the net, the court was bigger and you could only score a point when you served. In my second professional tournament if we could have won our match we would have gone to center court to play Karch Kiraly and Singin Smith. We lost 16-14. I went to center court to watch Karch and Singin demolish the team that beat us. At that point I realized I needed to get a real job. Those two were younger than me, taller and could jump higher. Sometimes you have to face reality.   The beach game definitely improved my indoor skills, especially my passing and jump. However, if you think the volleyball will provide scholarship opportunities much easier to obtain than indoor you are in for a surprise. The competition for those scholarship offers is just as intense as indoor. You need to put in the lengthy practice hours needed to enhance your game, otherwise you become another unprepared player on the court.   Below are some players who play both beach and indoor broken out by class. They do a pretty good job competing in both. Only players ranked in the top 100 by AVP as well as ranked indoor by Prep Dig are named below. No players from the class of 2026 were ranked in the top 100 for beach.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027</h2>    Jessica is a bit of a surprise here. Setting for beach is a different style than setting indoor. For accuracy and to avoid spin the set relies more on a deep dish release. Her last tournament was in August 2025 when she played with [player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko']. For the class of 2027 she ranks at 82 nationally when AVP compiles the points for a player's top three tournaments   For indoor in the DMV area Jessica ranks at 26. This past high school season she set Glenelg to the Maryland Class 2 State championship, accumulating 60 assists in a five set match. She also sets for the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Nick club which recently qualified for the Open Division in Junior Nationals. From an assist standpoint, her 567 total assists put her fifth in the state of Maryland.   With her excellence at both beach and indoor she shows some good qualities of success, no matter the environment.     Sienna ranks number five in the beach game for the class of 2027. She has already committed to play beach for Florida Gulf Coast. At 5'9" I would suspect she plays the defensive role while her partner does the blocking. She has been to the podium 36 times. Her last tournament was played January 26, 2026.   For Ocean Lakes she hits from both pins. She also plays for 757 Volleyball Club. Living in Virginia Beach provides her with the opportunity to play beach much easier. She stood out as one of our top risers after the December 2025 rankings. What impressed me most was her ability to place the ball in various areas of the court as well as turn the ball down the line. That tells me she uses her beach skills well to enhance her indoor game.     Kyla ranks number 76 in the nation for the class of 2027 beach. She last played in April 2026 at the Chesapeake Beach Qualifier, finishing in ninth place. She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] indoor and [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] Beach. At 5'8" she could play the blocking role since she lists middle as her position for James Wood. She also carries an impressive approach jump of 9'7".   For indoors she was added to our rankings in December 2025. She shared the blocking duties for James Wood, finishing third on the team in both kills and blocks. She does not appear on any of the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] rosters so it appears her focus this summer will be beach.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] also appears to have forgone club for the beach game. It is unclear how much she plays the indoor game. She holds the record for John Handley for most kills in a match with 33 done during her frosh season. She used to set as well as hit right side, but her roster position now lists only outside.   For the beach game AVP ranks her at number 6 in the class of 2028. She has an approach jump that reaches 10 feet. She recently played with [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] to win the Chesapeake 18U Regional Bid Qualifier. This makes them eligible for the Volleyball Beach National Championship, which will be held in Virginia Beach this July.   Last year Breeze teamed with Emma White to win the 18 U national beach championship. She also won the 16 U championship teaming with Elle Sossong.   Last year she played for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] in AAUs in Florida. For the season she was listed as a practice player. At 6'0" with her skill set she should succeed at either indoor or beach.     Riley last played beach in August 2025, when she played with [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li']. That is a tandem that lacks a clear blocker with a libero and setter covering the court. That requires quickness and reading to make the digs. She ranks number 33 in the class of 2028 national beach rankings. Last year she actually won the Chesapeake Regional 18 under and 16 under Fall beach tournament teaming with [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] in the 18U and [player_tooltip player_id='893067' first='Clara' last='Hays'] in the 16U.   While Riley plays libero for Metro she also hits outside for Reservoir. She plays libero for the Metro 16 travel team that qualified to play Open in the Junior Nationals.   A very versatile player who can play multiple positions on the indoor court while also killing it at the beach.     Another libero who shines in the sand. It appears she has a younger sister Charlotte Hays that is from the class of 2030. Clara recently played in a beach tournament in Texas. She has played in five tournaments with six more planned. She ranks at number 42 nationally for the beach in the class of 2028.   Clara also plays club for [program_tooltip program_id='893362' first='Capital' last='Volleyball Club'] to keep her indoor game intact. This prepares her for the high school season where last year her libero play helped Paul VI win the WCAC conference championship.     While the 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='536736' first='Alexis' last='Stephens'] provides the bulk of the offense from the middle the 5'9" [player_tooltip player_id='536738' first='Avery' last='Fauver'] does the damage from the pins. She may lack the height of Alexis but the velocity stays strong.   Avery has developed many of those volleyball skills toiling on the beach. She ranks number 41 in the class of 2028. Recently she played with [player_tooltip player_id='752047' first='Teagan' last='Braun-Duin'] to take second place in the Chesapeake Regional National Qualifier. This earns them a bid to National Championships which will be played in Virginia Beach.   Avery will also compete with [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] in the Junior National championships in the USA Division in Indianapolis, Indiana.     Kendal is ranked at number 32 in the class of 2028 beach rankings. She plays indoor as well as beach for [program_tooltip program_id='574146' first='108' last='Beach Volleyball Club']. Her 112 Prep Dig indoor ranking perhaps should be higher, but her focus on the beach possibly limits her indoor exposure. She hit the ball well from the left side at the Colgan Jamboree. That is the only time I have seen her play. Colonial Forge advanced to the semi-finals in the Class 6 Virginia state championship before losing to Colgan.   For the beach she finished second in the 18 under Chesapeake Regional National Qualifier playing with Emerson Thomas. This duo also finished first in the 16 U division. This earns them a bid to play in the National Championship which will be played in Virginia Beach.     Even at 5'2" she covers the court well in the beach game. She ranks at number 57 for the beach. She recently played with [player_tooltip player_id='877850' first='Kennedi' last='Bower'] in the Chesapeake Regional National Qualifier finishing in fifth place, just one short of earning a bid to play in the National Championship.   For indoor she also plays for Colonial Forge. At a Prep Dig showcase she showed a great platform as well as an excellent volleyball IQ. She seems to anticipate well. It would not surprise that this skill was learned while playing at the beach.     Teagan ranks at number 51 at the beach. She recently teamed with [player_tooltip player_id='536738' first='Avery' last='Fauver'] to finish in second in the Chesapeake Regional National Qualifier earning them a bid to the National Championship in Virginia Beach.   Like Avery, Teagan plays for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']. She also sets for John Handley, the same school that [player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] attends. She does a good job of mixing her sets up, using all her weapons on the indoor side. Her defense appears polished by her beach play.   [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] will play in the Junior Nationals in the USA Division. That gives Teagan two national championships to compete in.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2029</h2>    Ella plays with her sister [player_tooltip player_id='750053' first='Alexis' last='Luscomb']. Ella is ranked 64 on the beach while Alexis sits at 95. The two recently paired at the Chesapeake Regional National Qualifier, finishing in 9th place. This falls short of earning them a bid at the National Championships.   For Metro Alexis plays the role of setter while Ella hits outside. For Broadneck, which won the Class 3 Maryland State championship Alexis played libero.   Metro has qualified for the Open Division in Junior Nationals.     Isabelle is ranked number 52 in the class of 2029. For [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] she sets a 5/1. Her hands are great for the indoor game. Like with [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] setting for the beach game is so much different than setting indoors. The last tournament she played in was April 6.   For [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] and Fredericksburg Christian high school she played excellent defense at the setter position. For Fredericksburg she also finished third on the team in kills. A lot of versatility in her game, something the beach game will bring out in a player.   [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] will play in the American Division at Junior Nationals.     Macie ranks number 20 in the class of 2029 for beach. She recently teamed with [player_tooltip player_id='878688' first='Mckenna' last='Homans'] for a third place finish in the 18 under Chesapeake Beach Regional earning them a bid to the Beach National Championships. Considering both players are from the class of 2029 that finish is impressive in an 18 under age group. They also finished in third place in the 16 and under.   Macie and McKenna play for the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] team that earned a bid in the National Division in Junior Nationals. Macie also played defensive specialist for James Wood, which won their fourth straight Class 4 Virginia national championship this past season.

That is the big question many girls debate as they decide what they want to do with their summer. Unfortunately, a number of girls choose beach but have no real plan for how they will carry this out. When the summer ends they went to the beach two or three times, perhaps playing in a couple tournaments, but not really getting the touches a player needs to improve their game. Ideally, joining a club for organized practices and regular tournament participation is ideal.