Top Five 18 U DMV Volleyball Club Teams

Not a lot of tournaments left in the club volleyball season. For the 18s the season is essentially done. Below are my top five clubs from the DMV area for the 18s. Next week I will name the top five in the 17s with a new age group each week until we get to the 14s. I have to do more homework on the 14s. There are only two teams that clearly fall in my top five. I need to find three more.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Metro</h1>     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/71-Skyler-Riley.jpg?w=880" alt="" class="wp-image-781895" style="width:330px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='716365' first='Skyler' last='Riley']</figcaption></figure>     Metro was the lone club to qualify for open in the Junior Nationals. Despite losing top ranked players to early departure like Nadiya Johnson (Baylor), Caydence Doolan (Marquette), Morgan Williams (Tennessee), Teodora Stamenkovic (St. Johns), Charis Burge (Syracuse) and Bryah Breaux (Kentucky) they were still able to find replacements to qualify for Open.     Most of those replacements came from [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] with defensive specialists Lilly Kennedy and Kennedy Cummins (Seton Hall) coming over to join incumbent Eva Huang (George Washington) to cover the back row. They also picked up offensive pieces in Charlotte Arrington (Duquesne) and Raegan Lentz (Amherst) to cover the pins. Additional pickups from other clubs included Sydnee Peters (Loyola Maryland) and Jewel Moore to also help with the pins.     The key pieces that stayed were two of their setters Claire Mo (Columbia) and Taryn Su (Stony Brook). They also kept middles Gabriella Vizek (American), Simone Assasie (George Washington) and Gabrielle Wigglesworth (Denison) to keep the middle position intact. Soleil Rancourt (Buffalo) was one of the pins who stayed while [player_tooltip player_id='716365' first='Skyler' last='Riley'] came from Virginia Juniors 16s to play up on the Metro 18s to strengthen the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='849571' first='Kadey' last='Zee'] is another 2027 that is a defensive specialist that came from Maryland Juniors. Elaina Murphy (UNC Wilmington) was also promoted from the Metro North team to play travel. While she lists only 5'6" she has an approach jump that reaches 10 feet.     This rag tag group of misfits were able to coalesce together to win the Chesapeake Regional Bid championship to at least qualify for the National Division. The Open qualifiers they competed in saw them earn a spot in the gold bracket but always falling short of snagging a bid. They finally captured that Open bid right after winning the Chesapeake Regional by finishing 5th in the Northeast Qualifier.     Playing in the Junior Nationals they finished 21st out of 48 teams. However, when you look at what they lost it was a magical season.     <h1 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] Elite</h1>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/89-Aubrey-Parker-rotated.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-516124" style="aspect-ratio:0.667008667008667;width:287px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aubrey Parker</figcaption></figure>     One of my favorite teams to follow. Also the only team in this top five which saw every player on the roster commit to play college ball. If you look at their tournament history they finished first in almost every tournament they played except the Northeast Qualifier, in which they finished in 14th place while competing in the Open. They also finished third at Capitol Hill Classic where they lost to Virginia Juniors in the semi-finals 19-25, 25-22, 12-15. Other than that, they spent their time collecting first place gold medals.     The team is led by setter Aubrey Parker,(Shepherd) who sets both a 5/1 and 6/2. When they use a 6/2 she stays in the front row to play right side. They used either Sanai Jones (Rowan) or Aiden Jolly (Randolph Macon) as the other setter. Both can also play as defensive specialists. Brenna Raymond (Virginia Weslayan) was also used as a defensive specialist while the main libero was normally Kadie Cardozo (Gardner Webb).     Jasmine Williams (Christopher Newport) and Jordan Ellis (Virginia State) were the main middles. Right side Elizabeth York (Virginia Wesleyan) could also play middle, a position she played for Colgan, but she was used mostly on the right side. They also used Madeline Dumais (Bridgewater) on the right side. The two main lefts sides were Lindsay Canty (UNC Pembrooke) and Riley Forehand (Richard Bland). Savannah Gray (Curry College) was also used at either pin.     While Virginia Juniors beat them in a head to head match the overall body of work for 540 Volleyball Elite impressed the most. That earned them the second spot.     <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Juniors</h1>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/114-Piper-Xeller-rotated.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-516148" style="width:342px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Piper Xeller</figcaption></figure>     Virginia Juniors finished 35th out of 48 teams in the National Division in Junior Nationals. They captured one first place finish at the Atlantic Grand Prix while finishing second at the Capitol Hill Classic, defeating 540 Volleyball Elite. Ultimately, they lost to Metro in the finals 25-23, 25-23, the second time they had lost to them in a tournament. They did beat [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club'] earlier in the Classic 25-14, 25-12.     Virginia Juniors strength lied in the setting of Sydney Ray (Clark Atlanta), Camille Ciambruschini (Ithaca) and [player_tooltip player_id='735304' first='Meg' last='Ronayne'] all available to set. Meg was a call up from the Virginia Juniors 17 team to provide depth at Junior Nationals. Morgan Reeves (Hampton) and Eden Tardy (Mary Washington) provided much of the offense from the left side while Piper Xeller (Eastern) could help out with both pins. Playing mainly right side were Sydney Onley, Aniah Bass and Layla Parker.     The strength of this team may have been in their strong back row play. Bailey Swinton (Morgan State) handled the libero duties while Celiana Caraballo would spell one of the left sides for some back row play. The middles were Elizabeth Lowe (Middlebury)and Jolene Green Ewen, though [player_tooltip player_id='728971' first='Mandela' last='Masimini'] was added to the roster for depth in the Junior Nationals. She plays with the 16 team.     <h1 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']</h1>     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/40-Avery-Lefman.jpg?w=878" alt="" class="wp-image-781865" style="aspect-ratio:0.857313500753676;width:343px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Avery lefman</figcaption></figure>     Another team missing two of their top players in Kennedy Spaid (Arizona State) and Brenna Corbin (James Madison). Kennedy will focus on beach this year. The two combined to win four state championships together at James Wood from their frosh year to their senior year. They also combined to make [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] one of the top clubs in the Chesapeake Region. They pulled off a number of upsets against Metro and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] while playing for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']. Prep Dig gave the duo a national ranking because of their accomplishments. Another key piece missing from the roster was middle Tenley Mattison.     While [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] had a disappointing 21st place finish in the Capitol Hill Classic (losing their last four matches in three sets) they did finish first in York Maple and a local Maryland Juniors Open tournament. In these tournaments they split with [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Cozad and won two against Columbia Black, two other teams under consideration for Top Five.     Alycia Miller replaced Brenna Corbin at the libero position. Olivia Smith returned to play left side while Ava Barvick may have seen the most time at left side. Others who could have played left side include middles Diem Bagent, Ella Collis or Colette Mercker. Those three are all listed as middles in addition to Parker Sutherland (Lindsey Wilson). The setters were Avery Lefman (Mary Washington) and Katie Zittle. Callie Hose is another libero/defensive specialist option.     Another club that faced significant departures but still found the personnel to rank number 125 nationally.     <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Elite</h1>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/01/11-Lexiana-Everetts.jpg?w=684" alt="" class="wp-image-935600" style="aspect-ratio:0.6670108415074858;width:272px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='443570' first='Lexiana' last='Everetts']</figcaption></figure>     Not too sure what happened to them at the Junior Nationals when they played in the National Division but they went 0-7 finishing in 47th place out of 48 teams. They are a much better team than that, finishing fifth in the Northeast Qualifier while also finishing third in the Chesapeake Bid Regional championship. They lost to Virginia Juniors in the semi-final but beat Columbia in the battle for third place.     Virginia Elite carried two great setters in Sofie Ferrell (Mary Washington) and Mackenzie Davis (Christopher Newport). Mackenzie ended her high school season setting Riverside to a State championship after sitting out her junior season. Tessa Furgusson (Tufts) and Fiona McDermott (Colby) also won state championships for Georgetown Day.     On the left side they carried Josephine Seekford (Queens), Chloe Lin (Carnegie Mellon), Elizabeth Gordon and class of 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='438043' first='Katherine' last='McLaughlin']. On the right side another class of 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='443570' first='Lexiana' last='Everetts'] could also shift to left side. Both setters Sofie and Mackenzie could provide offense on the right side if needed. At 5'10" Mackenzie could smack the ball from the right side.     The defensive magicians were Molly Gardner (Bridgewater), Madison Phan and Nora Lim Yang.     <h1 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Marissa</h1>     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/130-Kamora-Mack.jpg?w=993" alt="" class="wp-image-571289" style="aspect-ratio:0.9697508896797153;width:346px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kamora Mack</figcaption></figure>   I did not watch that much of the 18s this year so no real surprise team stood out. But these [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] players always played better as a team than what you would expect when you looked at their individual ranking. At the end of the season AES ranked them fifth in the region. This was a team filled with over achievers.     Setter Kamora Mack (Ithaca) transformed herself physically, turning herself into a setting machine. Though I only ranked her at number 97 for the class I was really proud of the way she pushed herself. She played above her ranking. Other players like Nina Schweigert (Brandeis) stood only 5'8" with a 142 ranking. That did not stop her from finishing off her senior season with a state championship. She will continue her volleyball career at Brandeis. She led her team in kills proving that a 142 ranking for her should have been much higher. Amaya Bowles was another smaller outside at 5'7" who hit the ball well.     Finally, what about the performance of Ryleigh McGovern. As a junior she did not make the West Springfield varsity team. She never quit, tried out as a senior, made the team and finished third in kills as they won a Class 6 Virginia state championship. She led her team in kills in that match with 15. Because of that she debuted in my rankings at 186 but she may be one of those late bloomers who deserved higher. I remember watching her hit right side and asking myself where did she come from? Why don't I have her ranked?     These [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] players showed that it does not take a high ranking to still achieve success.

Not a lot of tournaments left in the club volleyball season. For the 18s the season is essentially done. Below are my top five clubs from the DMV area for the 18s. Next week I will name the top five in the 17s with a new age group each week until we get to the 14s. I have to do more homework on the 14s. There are only two teams that clearly fall in my top five. I need to find three more.