Reviewing DMV Clubs in the Premier Division in AAUs
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The Open Division has already been previewed. That is supposedly the highest level of competition in AAUs, though clubs can enter in any Division they want. The Premier Division is the second highest. There are 13 clubs in the DMV area covering four different age groups competing at this level. Below are some of the players perhaps worth a look in this Division.
Premier 14
Metro East
AES Ranking - 82nd locally and 2,878 Nationally
Team Summary - This is a regional team that played well in the Northeast Qualifier finishing 9th out of 79 teams. They also brought an impressive third place finish out of 56 teams in the Chesapeake Non-Bid Regional Championships. They can be a feeder club for the Metro Travel team.
Players to Watch - Unfortunately, I have yet to see them play.
Premier 15
Go Volley
AES Ranking - 100th Locally and 4,252 Nationally
Team Summary - Go Volley traditionally plays in Open tournaments but generally lack the consistent skills to play at the higher level. They usually finish near the bottom, but they compete. The high level of competition can help improve their overall play if they can tolerate the constant beat downs.
Player to Watch -
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Highlights
Maryland Juniors Elite Black
AES Ranking - 7th locally and 366 Nationally
Team Summary - I wrote about them in the USAV Liberty Division post at the link below. They are playing in both AAU and USAV.
Player to Watch
Sierra Thomas
Sierra
Thomas
6'0" | OH
Bishop McNamara | 2029
State
VA
was highlighted when I wrote about them playing in the Liberty Division in USAV. Reagan is the other big left side hitter responsible for Maryland Juniors success.
Last year she played right side for the 14 team. She was used for only three rotations but was not a primary source for offense. With the departure of a number of players to Metro this coming club season Reagan moved to left side giving her an opportunity for her star to shine.
The transition has come easy for her. With her height, 10 foot approach jump and long arm extension she fires missiles from both the back row and front row that are rarely returned. She is also getting more involved in serve receive and playing defense.
A player with a lot of upside.
Highlights
Premier 16
757 Black
AES Ranking - 19th locally and 729 Nationally
Team Summary - In a USA Division Northeast Qualifier they finished 45th out of 87 teams. They did win the Atlantic Coast Grand Prix which I got the opportunity to watch.
Player to Watch -
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Highlights
Other ranked players to watch - left side
Emma Kesler
Emma
Kesler
5'10" | OH/RS
Cox | 2028
VA
(WL), Libero/DS
Rilan Smith
Rilan
Smith
5'7" | DS/L/OH
Peninsula Catholic H | 2028
VA
(WL), left side
Shekinah Anderson
Shekinah
Anderson
5'6" | OH/DS/L
Norfolk Christian | 2028
State
VA
(WL)
Columbia Black
AES Ranking - 6th ranked locally and 595 Nationally
Team Summary - A seventh place finish in the Chesapeake Regional Bid Championship fell short of earning them a bid. It doesn't appear they played in any Qualifiers. There were a number of first place finishes such as a Maryland Juniors Open tournament, Rocky Mount Super Regional and a UA Showdown.
Top Prospect to Watch
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Other Ranked Players to Watch - left side Emma Golnoski Emma Golnoski 5'9" | OH VA (101), Left side Savannah Smith Savannah Smith 5'7" | OH Severn Run | 2028 State VA (107), Middle Gianna LaGuardia Gianna LaGuardia 5'9" | MB/OH River Hill | 2028 State VA (162) outside Julia Drapalski Julia Drapalski 5'9" | OH/DS/L Severn Runscho | 2028 State VA (WL)
AES Ranking - 79th Locally and 3,780 Nationally
Team Summary - They played in the Northeast Qualifier American Division and finished 69th out of 115 teams. I have yet to see them play.
Adelynne Cocks
Adelynne
Cocks
5'5" | DS/L
Chantilly | 2027
VA
plays libero and shows a good platform for passing. She also is not afraid to hit the floor to make a dig. That is based on video in her profile. She failed to make her high school team Chantilly as a sophomore, but she worked hard to make it as a junior. Since she does not appear on the varsity roster from last season she perhaps appears on the junior varsity roster. One of those hard workers who could be a late bloomer. Next year will be a critical year for her.
Maryland Juniors Black
AES Ranking - 20th Locally and 615 Nationally
Team Summary - They finished 9th in the Chesapeake Regional Bid Championships failing to earn a bid. In the Northeast Qualifier American Division, they finished 9th out of 117 teams again falling short of a bid. The Maryland 15 and 17 teams will play in both AAUs and USAV. Only eight players appear on their roster for this AAU tournament.
Top Prospect to Watch
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Other Ranked Players to Watch - Middle Alexis Beasley Alexis Beasley 6'0" | MB VA (140), setter Dakota Pentorn Dakota Pentorn 5'6" | S Annapolis Area Christian | 2027 State VA (2027, 96)
Platform Black
AES Ranking - 85th Regionally and 4,004 nationally
Team Summary - They finished second in the Chesapeake Non-Bid Regional Championships. Also, a 79th place finish out of 117 teams in the Northeast Qualifier American Division. To date, there are no players ranked or who appear on the watch list for Platform.
Virginia Juniors
AES Ranking - 4th locally and 311 Nationally
Team Summary - A 9th place finish in the Chesapeake Bid Regional Championships dashed their hopes of competing in the Junior Nationals. In the Sunshine Classic they played in the Open Division finishing 45th out of 48 teams. At the Northeast Qualifier they lowered their expectations playing in the American Division and falling just short of a bid, finishing 3rd out of 115 teams. Juniors ended their season with a second place finish in the East Coast Championship, losing to 540 Volleyball Academy Elite in the finals. In my opinion this team has the horses to do well. They just need to play with more consistency.
Top Prospect to Watch -
The upside with Mandela is she is a relative newcomer in the competitive volleyball world. Only after her frosh season in high school did she begin to try to raise her game. She transferred to Flint Hill from Archbishop Carroll as well as competed at the higher club level.
She has also sprouted to 6'4" making her a force at the middle. Virginia Juniors 18 picked her up to play in the Junior Nationals. Her improved play has led to NTPD invites. For her first invite to the NTDP she could not participate because of injury. She recently received a second invite and was able to compete in the drills.
Mandela is the type of player who will only get better as she continues to play against strong competition.
Highlights
Other Ranked Players to Watch - setter
Zeynep Anaz
Zeynep
Anaz
5'9" | S/RS
James Madison | 2028
State
VA
(26), setter
Ariel Callwood
Ariel
Callwood
5'6" | S
Sherwood | 2028
State
VA
(27), libero
Brooklyn Rothwell
Brooklyn
Rothwell
5'7" | DS/L/OH
Colgan | 2028
State
VA
(59), libero
Annie Larrivee
Annie
Larrivee
DS/L
Grace Academy (MD) | 2028
State
VA
(152), left side
Allie Bowen
Allie
Bowen
OH
Briar Woods | 2028
State
VA
(197), Libero/DS
Audrey Busch
Audrey
Busch
5'5" | DS/L
West Springfield | 2027
State
VA
(2027, Mary Washington, 49), middle/right side
Reese Roberts
Reese
Roberts
5'9" | MB/RS
Patriot | 2027
State
VA
(2027, 57), left side
Kaelyn Wharton
Kaelyn
Wharton
5'8" | OH/DS/L
Independencesc | 2027
State
VA
(2027, 62), right side
Lora Totcheva
Lora
Totcheva
6'0" | RS
Millbrook | 2027
State
VA
(2027, Old Dominion, 84)
Premier 17
American Red
AES Ranking - 15th Locally and 790 Nationally
Team Summary - American fell short of qualifying for the Chesapeake Regional Bid Championship. In the Sunshine Classic Qualifier Liberty Division, they finished 37th out of 64 teams. For the most part American finished in the middle of the pack in the tournaments they competed in.
Top Prospect to Watch -
Kaitlin set a 5/1 for her home school team. She led her team in assists and aces while also tapping second place for digs. She also earned a Prep Dig top performer award at a recent showcase. Ranked at 136 she is the only ranked player in the class of 2027 listed on the American roster.
Kaitlin certainly has the mental acuity to run an offense whether setting a 6/2 or 5/1. Her 5'9" height is also decent for a setter if used in the front row. For American I have only seen her set a 6/2 where she was subbed out once she arrived in the front row
If you are looking for height in the middle take a peek at the 6'2" class of 2026 Sydney Brudwig. This past season she made first team in the Northwestern District for Brentsville High School. She sits at 154 in our class of 2026 rankings.
Highlights
Other Ranked Prospects - right side
Bella Pereyra
Bella
Pereyra
RS
Lightridgescho | 2029
State
VA
(2029, 89), left side
Devin Heholt
Devin
Heholt
5'8" | OH/DS/L
Colonial Forge | 2029
State
VA
(2029, WL), middle Sydney Brudwig (2026, 154)
Liberty Elite
AES Ranking - 36th Locally and 1,203 Nationally
Team Summary - They finished 9th in the Chesapeake Regional Bid Championships, falling short of earning a bid. In the Sunshine Classic Qualifier they played in the Liberty Division finishing 21st out of 64 teams. At the Northeast Qualifier they played in Open slipping to 40th out of 48 teams.
Top Prospect to Watch -
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Other Ranked Prospects - middle/right side Aryanna Walters Aryanna Walters 5'8" | MB/RS Hedgesville | 2027 VA (189)
AES Ranking - 38th Locally and 2,188 Nationally
Team Summary - They played in the Open Division in their two Qualifiers, finishing near the bottom in both the Northeast and Show Me. They do carry two Libero/DS on their roster who are ranked in the class of 2027 (
Jaeda Diaz
Jaeda
Diaz
4'10" | DS/L
McDonogh | 2027
State
VA
and
Amirah Jackson
Amirah
Jackson
5'4" | DS/L
Episcopal | 2027
State
VA
) but they are not listed on the AAU roster. Middle Aklewis Akwara ranks at number 182 in the class of 2026 but she has committed to Albright.
Maryland Juniors Elite Black
AES Ranking - 24th Locally and 565 Nationally
Team Summary - They will play in the Freedom Division in Junior Nationals. Below is a link to that post.
Top Prospect to Watch -
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Highlights
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