Top Uncommitted 2027s Playing in East Coast Championships

The East Coast Championships in Pittsburgh are one of my favorite tournaments to attend. The Convention Center is near a number of restaurants as well as the Pirates baseball stadium. Though it may seem like I spend most of my time in the convention center watching volleyball I do like the opportunity to go out to have a pierogi.   There are eight Chesapeake teams competing in the 17 Beast of the East (BOE). Below an evaluation of one top uncommitted 2027 from each team competing.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] Elite</h2>    Danika is the fourth ranked setter in our class of 2027. The top three setters all led their team to state championships, with the top setter [player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum'] winning the D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year award. While Danica fell short of winning a state championship she set her team to the state bracket where they lost to eventual state champion West Springfield, who has the number three setter in the class of 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='438046' first='Anna' last='Dierks'].   This club season Danika has set [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] to the number one ranking in the Old Dominion Region. They will play in the National Division in Junior Nationals.   Love her competitive spirit on the court. She plays with a lot of fire and enthusiasm. For Patriot high school she sets a 5/1. For [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] it is more a 6/2. At 5'9" she has the height to play the front row. She is one of our Prep Dig showcase top performers.    Other uncommitted ranked 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='530368' first='Sadie' last='Barrera'] (libero/DS # 52) [player_tooltip player_id='483591' first='Willa' last='Voto'] (right side - # 70), [player_tooltip player_id='581553' first='Karinne' last='Goodrum'] (middle # 83), [player_tooltip player_id='502514' first='Jenna' last='Kate Tanner'] (left side # 131), [player_tooltip player_id='577515' first='Sierra' last='Beaver'] #142), [player_tooltip player_id='530396' first='Jaylyn' last='Barnes'] (left side # 167), [player_tooltip player_id='536957' first='Ava' last='Young'] (pin # 180), [player_tooltip player_id='760174' first='Sophia' last='Morin'] (pin # 183), [player_tooltip player_id='888906' first='Ella' last='Sloan'] (setter # 210)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MVSA Blaze</h2>    Ana is our third ranked libero in the class of 2027. The only two liberos rated higher than her are both committed. The highest rated libero [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] won Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year. Pretty good company to keep.   Her older sister also won Maryland Gatorade player of the year last year. Ana lacks the height of her sister to play outside but she does not lack the skills to play the libero position. As great a teammate as she is a player on the court, as evidence by her being selected as one of three captains. She is the only non senior among the three.   Her libero/defensive specialist play has led Richard Montgomery to two Maryland state championships. MVSA will play in the National Division in Junior Nationals.   The one constant with Ana is her passing and defensive skill allow the teams she plays for to run their offense with success.    Other uncommitted ranked 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='465322' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum'] (middle - # 27), [player_tooltip player_id='438097' first='Haile' last='Ma'] (left side - # 28), [player_tooltip player_id='438058' first='Vivian' last='Ngan'] (setter - # 74), [player_tooltip player_id='438091' first='Catherine' last='McIntyre'] (left side - # 76), [player_tooltip player_id='438053' first='Lucille' last='Deraleau'] (right side - # 94), [player_tooltip player_id='772008' first='Meera' last='Patel'] (Middle - # 98), [player_tooltip player_id='438118' first='Amelia' last='Cheng'] (Libero/DS - # 107), [player_tooltip player_id='752045' first='Maya' last='Dorsam'] (right side - # 138), [player_tooltip player_id='529444' first='Kathryn' last='Giesecke'] (rights side - # 141), [player_tooltip player_id='772012' first='Chloe' last='Tanseco'] (setter - # 160)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Elite</h2>    Perhaps one of the more potent offensive middles in the game. Her long arm swing carries the ability to hit both sides of the court. This makes her difficult to block. For O'Connell she strung together a team leading hitting percentage at .492. While her blocking movement and reads could be improved she still tied for the team lead in blocking. Finally, with a little more consistency at finding the court (73%) her serve has the potential to accumulate aces. It comes across the net hard and fast.   For Virginia Elite she is one of three middles who can also rotate to right side. Olivia was used a little as an outside for the Knights last year when injuries decimated the pins.   Virginia Elite will compete in Junior Nationals in the American Division.    Other uncommitted ranked 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='359401' first='Chloe' last='Barth'] (right side - # 38), [player_tooltip player_id='437448' first='Eva' last='Collingham'] (left side - # 39), [player_tooltip player_id='582293' first='Shannon' last='Treloar'] (middle - # 41), [player_tooltip player_id='465321' first='Marissa' last='Turek'] (right side - # 54), [player_tooltip player_id='325403' first='Annabelle' last='Kim'] (setter - # 55), [player_tooltip player_id='530363' first='Adelyn' last='Pye'] (pin # 69), [player_tooltip player_id='485504' first='Sydney' last='Miller'] (middle - # 97), [player_tooltip player_id='520868' first='Caroline' last='Semko'] (ds/libero - # 113), [player_tooltip player_id='568220' first='Madalyn' last='Norgart'] (ds/libero - # 162), [player_tooltip player_id='742633' first='Olivia' last='Cypcar'] (pin - # 177),   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Quintin</h2>    She is undersized for a front row player at 5'8". However, when you watch her sky on her jump (approach 10'1") you recognize her skill level. She also possesses a sixth sense of where to hit the ball to achieve the kill, whether that is off the block, through the block or even over the block. When hitting she appears to see or sense the block very well.   Her outside hitting earned Potomac Falls an appearance in the Virginia state championship. They lost in the first round to powerhouse Midlothian. With the high school season over Layla now spins her magic with [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Quintin, who rank 5th in the Chesapeake Region. They will play in the American Division in Junior Nationals.   Clearly one of the more exciting players to watch as she performs on the court.    Other uncommitted ranked 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='941998' first='Olivia' last='Stroupe'] (right side - # 110), [player_tooltip player_id='445966' first='Emerson' last='Barbrow'] - (right side - # 114), [player_tooltip player_id='444617' first='Kamilla' last='Hendrix'] (setter - # 132), [player_tooltip player_id='778213' first='Ellie' last='Nguyen'] (setter - # 150), [player_tooltip player_id='763215' first='Kaylee' last='Mehta'] (pin - # 186), [player_tooltip player_id='937494' first='Delia' last='Brooks Terceros'] (left side - # 194), [player_tooltip player_id='754934' first='Addison' last='Lopez'] (ds/libero - # 197)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Allorie</h2>    At 6'1" Maya has good height for a setter. The big concern with taller setters is their speed to get to the ball. Maya does not seem to have a problem with that.   Maya set St. Andrews to the finals of the ISL Division AA where they faced Georgetown Day for the championship. Georgetown Day beat them in three. This was a nice rebound after finishing next to last in the standings. Maya was one of three setters voted to the ISL All League team. The other two were DC Gatorade Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum'] and Megan Phan who has committed to Brown.   This year Maya is setting for Paramount Allorie. The previous seasom she set for Metro North. Maya shows good hands while running the offense. Her approach jump reaches 9'9". She also can dish out a pretty potent serve.    Other uncommitted 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='728459' first='Ali' last='Joyce'] (Setter - # 77), [player_tooltip player_id='728965' first='Rhylie' last='Wheeler'] (Middle - # 79), [player_tooltip player_id='735308' first='Audrey' last='Estabillo'] (ds/libero - # 134), [player_tooltip player_id='921819' first='Kyla' last='Russell'] (middle - # 169), Ariana Howard (pin - # 206)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Tony</h2>    At 5'10" she brings good height to the setter position. For [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] she set when in the front row in a modified 5/1. It appears they missed a shot at a bid in Junior Nationals this year and will play in Wave 3 in AAUs.   Josephine also set for Westfield. They lost in the first round to George Marshall in the Regional Round of the playoffs. If used in a 6/2 she shows the ability to stay in the front row to provide offense with her hitting.   Looking forward to watching Josephine set in the East Coast championships. It has been at least a year since I last saw her play. That is far too long.    Other 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='747675' first='Haley' last='Marsh'] (pin - # 175), [player_tooltip player_id='748129' first='Morgan' last='Karle'] (setter/right side) - # 176), [player_tooltip player_id='801817' first='Gillian' last='Cook'] (ds/libero - # 190), [player_tooltip player_id='719026' first='Ella' last='Jaques'] (ds/libero - # 191)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">American Red</h2>    She debuted in our rankings after earning a top performer award at our Prep Dig Showcase. She sets a 5/1 for Northern Virginia Home school. They do not play the most competitive schedule but Kaitlin gets her reps. In one match she served 30 points, stringing together 17 aces.   At American is where she can showcase her skills. The game is faster and she keeps up with the pace. At 5'9" she has decent height for a setter in the front row. Her hands are strong to push the ball outside. Like most young setters she still needs to work on consistent location, but it has been a year since I last really watched her set.    Other 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='776027' first='Desi' last='Cappolla'] (left side - # 184), [player_tooltip player_id='932191' first='Sydney' last='Black'] (setter - # 200)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MOCO Matrix </h2>    Only watched a little bit of Isabelle play at the Shamrock Showdown. I came away impressed with her left handed swing. She was playing middle at the time.   When watching video of her play for Banneker high school hitting right side fits better for her. She led her high school in kills with a .580 hitting percentage. It is a public school in DC where matches consist of only two sets. Unfortunately, the D.C. talent also falls a little short. It is good to see her compete at the club level.   Isabelle currently is not ranked but she is worth the watch. She has found a spot in my private watch list as a player deserving of a ranking    Other 2027s worth the watch - [player_tooltip player_id='772019' first='Jasmine' last='Kastens'] (middle - not ranked)

The East Coast Championships in Pittsburgh are one of my favorite tournaments to attend. The Convention Center is near a number of restaurants as well as the Pirates baseball stadium. Though it may seem like I spend most of my time in the convention center watching volleyball I do like the opportunity to go out to have a pierogi.