Dozen Middles Added to the Class of 2029 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A dozen middles were added to the Class of 2029 rankings. How many will remain at that position as they continue to play is unknown. For many of these players the window for watching them was very brief, but there was something they did that led to their debut in the rankings. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a wonderful journey for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["956015"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920cfee8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Anna made the biggest debut among the middles, jumping into the top 100 at #82. She impressed with her play at the Shamrock Showdown. One of the stronger offensive players for MOCO who finished second in the Shamrock Showdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite ranking number 4 in AES for the Chesapeake Region MOCO Menace has yet to earn a juniors national bid. Their next big tournament will be the East Coast Championship in Pittsburgh. At this point it appears AAU in Florida is their best bet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["951346"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920cff5c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">MOCO Monsoon could be the second team. They finished first in the Shamrock Showdown in the club division. I watched them when they played at the Platform Open. They took second place in that tournament. Like Anna above with MOCO Menace Meredith was the offensive firepower for Monsoon. She put up some critical blocks but more importantly, when the team needed a point she got the call.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Meredith is the lone frosh on the School Without Walls roster. Despite that she finished third on the team in kills and second in walks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MOCO Monsoon will play in the East Coast Championship as their warmup to AAUs in Orlando.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["932206"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920cffa8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was impressed with her play at an early Maryland Juniors tournament. While her skill set is still a bit raw her 5'11" height with a 7'1" father who was watching gives you pause for thought about her potential. Her brother plays basketball for Paul VI while Kaitlyn played volleyball for Battlefield. She played for the junior varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It will be interesting to see how her game improves in the future and what height she will attain as she gets older. It will be an interesting journey to follow. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The American Red team has struggled a bit this year. They did have one of their better finishes in the Liberty Division, finishing in 17th place out of 42 teams. They will also compete in the East Coast championship on May 23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["947212"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d000b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='947212' first='Shae' last='Donnelly'] showed a good serve playing for Maryland Juniors. She made a critical kill in a gold bracket playoff game that won them a tight 28-26 set one win. Unfortunately, they failed to sustain that momentum and they lost their next two sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shae was one of two frosh to make the varsity team for Severn. She lists 6'0" which is a good height for a middle. Severn won the IAAM C Division championship. It was Shae stringing together eight consecutive aces that helped them secure the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maryland Juniors will play in the American Division at Junior Nationals. A qualifier in Salt Lake this weekend remains on their schedule. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["922980"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d004e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Anaya made the Seton varsity team as a frosh. Her 6'0" height gives her lots of potential to play middle. Despite being on the varsity she did not get a lot of playing time. With her improvement in club play I expect that o change.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anaya will team with [player_tooltip player_id='947212' first='Shae' last='Donnelly'] to play in the American Division in Junior Nationals. While the team relies on [player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='753079' first='Reagan' last='Barrett'] for most of their offense from the left side, Anaya and Shae will create blocking difficulties with their opponents when they achieve success running the quick tempo sets in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maryland Juniors is scheduled to play in a qualifier in Salt Lake City this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["956017"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d008d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Even at 5'9" Nicole does a good job of putting up a blaock. She rejected a number of kills at the Northeast Qualifier in Philly. All it takes is a bit of timing and putting your hands over the net and the blocks will follow. In the early years the smaller blockers tend to show the superior timing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nicole is one of two frosh to make the Heritage roster. The other is [player_tooltip player_id='765187' first='Chelsea' last='Kolas'], the younger sister of libero [player_tooltip player_id='443558' first='Emily' last='Kolas'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Tony appears to fall short of making it to the junior nationals after their ninth place finish in the Chesapeake Regional Bid Championships. They play in a qualifier in Salt Lake City the first weekend in May to change that status. If no bid is attained they are scheduled to play in AAUs in Orlando.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["937564"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d00cb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leighann lists middle but she also plays right side. At 5'8" she is a bit undersized to play either middle or right side. Her game focuses on quick movement to block the pins. Another one of those smaller blockers with good timing on the block. She also shows off some athleticism that makes up for her lack of size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It does not appear MVSA Charge will earn a bid for Junior Nationals. They do have a couple first place finishes in tournaments, but they have not done well playing in Qualifiers. There next big tournament is the East Coast Championships in Pittsburgh.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["962155"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d0108"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malia plays for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Maggie, which is the second "15" team. She lists at 5'11" with an approach jump of 10 feet. At the Northeast Qualifier she put up a thunderous block. Still a bit raw but she carries oodles of athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Maggie captured a couple first place finishes early in local tournaments to qualify them for the Chesapeake Regionals. Unfortunately, they did not play well there so a junior national bid appears unlikely. They will play in Salt Lake City in one of the last qualifiers on May1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["932208"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d0146"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">First noticed her play with American 14 where she showed a good serve, going on a five point serving run, while also putting up a good block in the middle. At an early Maryland Juniors tournament she showed a good middle attack while continuing to block well. This time she makes her debut in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">American Red has not earned a bid to play in Junior Nationals. It appears they will play in AAU in Orlando. There next big tournament is the East Coast championship in Pittsburgh.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["945614"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d0182"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rachel was one of two frosh to make the Trinity Christian roster. Both Rachel and [player_tooltip player_id='945610' first='Hannah' last='Wiggins'] made their debut in the rankings, Hannah as a left side and Rachel as a middle, both based on their play with [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] fell short of playing in the junior nationals. For their last tournament they will compete in the Volleyball Festival Championship in Arizona. Prior to that they will compete in the East Coast championship in Pittsburgh. Still a lot of volleyball on their schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["961881"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d01c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6'1" Lex impresses with her size when you first see her on the court. She still needs more development before she makes an impact in the game. I did not see her name on the varsity, JV or frosh volleyball team for Mclean, however her name does appear on the varsity softball team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVSA Charge did not earn a bid to Junior nationals. Their next big tournament is the East Coast Championship in Pittsburgh.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["961880"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e77920d01fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While Riley is listed as a middle, she participated in a couple strong blocks while playing right side for Virginia Elite. She lists at 5'11" which is a good size for both positions at this age.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley plays for Good Counsel but does not appear on the varsity roster. Virginia Elite did not earn a bid to Junior Nationals. They have three big tournaments to play in, the JVA World Challenge in Kentucky, the East Coast championships in Pittsburgh and the JVA Summerfest in Ohio, to prepare them for AAUs in Orlando. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->