Frosh Showcase Prospects Who Made an Impression

Not every player can earn a top performer award. If that were the case the award would carry less significance. However, there have been a number of now highly ranked players who competed at a showcase but failed to win a top performer award. The biggest name is probably [player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe'], who has committed to Houston and ranks at number 6 in our class of 2028. She returned and later earned a top performer award. Others who fell short include [player_tooltip player_id='581553' first='Karinne' last='Goodrum'], [player_tooltip player_id='587035' first='Maggie' last='Race'], [player_tooltip player_id='778444' first='Zari' last='Northam'], [player_tooltip player_id='730963' first='Maya' last='Berkowitz'], [player_tooltip player_id='359401' first='Chloe' last='Barth'], [player_tooltip player_id='472384' first='Kate' last='Bickel'], [player_tooltip player_id='455102' first='Erin' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='562335' first='Zeynep' last='Anaz']. You could create a pretty good volleyball team with this group of players.   With high school tryouts on the horizon all future posts will include a high school theme. Even in early August when the updated rankings come out. Now that the club season has ended it is time to focus on the high school season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Setters/Liberos</h2>    She made a nice defensive play in the setter position. Her 5'9" height gives her length. She also seemed comfortable working an offense with players who she had not played with before. Definitely a player to watch to see how she develops.   Sarah will play for King George this season. Her older sister played on the team last year but graduated. King George finished third in their District at 9-5. They made the Regional playoffs but were swept in the first round by Courtland, which finished first in their district. It was the third time they had lost to them last year, all in sweeps.   Courtland eventually won the Regional, losing to class 4 state champion James Wood in the semi-finals. The roster for King George from last year lacks positions. Sarah's club experience could make an impact on her varsity contribution.     Sophia showed some good passing in the libero breakout. She struggled a little bit with the short serves, reacting a bit late to the ball. After that I lost track of her. She showed good hustle during the passing drills. After the showcase was done I watched some of her videos she included in her profile. She shows a nice quiet platform when making a dig. Definitely a player I should have paid more attention to at the showcase.   She will play for Chantilly this season. From what I understand they will have a new coach. While they are returning two of their back row players from last year a new coach brings fresh eyes to the team. After watching her video she could contribute.   Last year was a disappointing season for Chantilly. They finished below .500 in their District putting them in fourth place. This meant playing Langley in the first round of the Regional playoffs. Langley swept them for the second time during the season, eliminating them from a state playoff appearance.   In 2024 the two teams played in the finals of the state playoffs with Langley winning in five. Langley took the fifth set 15-13.     It appears Kayla brings the versatility to play both setter and libero. During the showcase Kayla showed some quick reactions while playing defense. That was the last I tracked her during the showcase.   Kayla will play for Urbana, which reached the finals of the class 4 playoffs last season. Looking at the Urbana playoff roster they carried a frosh DS/L Grace Lee who does not appear in our rankings.     Julia is another player who appears to have the versatility to play both the setting position as well as libero. Give her a chance and she might be able to hit the pins as well. At the showcase she powered a very impressive right side kill, an eye opener considering her 5'5" length.   Julia will attend Madison this coming season. They consistently appear in the state playoffs, losing in the semi-finals in 2025 and 2023. They return Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']. While Laila plays libero for Metro she hits outside for Madison. Their stating setter Briana Vo has graduated but they return [player_tooltip player_id='893325' first='Bella' last='Pham']. Their starting libero Jenna Swale has also graduated.   Unless they have someone coming up from the junior varsity it would not surprise me to see a 6/2 with Julia and Bella. [player_tooltip player_id='635111' first='Alysa' last='Smith'] is another player to keep an eye on for the setting position.     One skill I noted about Kylie is that she possesses a fiery bullet jump serve. Those balls were dancing through the air as they crossed the net. The liberos had trouble passing her serve. She also impressed me with her serve at the Shamrock Showdown, depositing a couple aces. She was playing for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] Orange 14, which is their second team. Jeremy also came away impressed with her setting.   Last year Centreville struggled in the Concorde District finishing 1-9. Outside their District they were 9-2. One of their two setters graduated. [player_tooltip player_id='541351' first='Charity' last='Morris'] is listed as a setter but her primary position is as a libero/defensive specialist. [player_tooltip player_id='887998' first='Jenevieve' last='Crowder'] is one of the top liberos in the class of 2029. This could provide an opportunity for Charity to set. Kylie could have them rethink that strategy.     Another setter who can play libero/defensive specialist. Jaleesa impressed me with her ability to jump set on a consistent basis. The balls come out of her hands with a nice arc. Jaleesa also impressed me with her hands at the East Coast championship where she set for [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']. They lost in the finals to Viriginia Juniors. Another player I lost track of after she left the setting group.   Hartwood is a new school in Stafford. The 2026 season will be their first. This bodes well for Jaleesa to start as a setter her frosh season.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Middles</h2>    Lily is listed as a middle but what impressed me at the showcase is that she passed well. At 5'7" she would be under sized for a middle so perhaps outside is another possibility.   Lily plays on the BAVA second team. She lists Annapolis as her high school. The public school struggled with a 2-11 record. They graduate one of their middles as well as an outside. Lily could fill either position if she can put the ball away. I only saw her play at the showcase when she was slotted in the back row.     Autumn is another BAVA player. She played for the first team. What impressed me about her at the showcase was her one handed reject of a tip by the middle. She dunked it back to the opponent's floor. Autumn and middle [player_tooltip player_id='1001185' first='Bella' last='Fisher'] were the two primary sources of offense for BAVA 14 at the Junior Nationals.   She lists "Seaton" as her school. If it is Elizabeth Seton in the WCAC she has a good opportunity to start. Last year Seton finished 7th in the WCAC. Her skill level as it is now would top the Seton offense.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Right Sides</h2>    Sascha buried a right side kill at the Showcase. My notes indicate she looks taller than her listed 5'8" height. She plays up for Metro 15 East. Seeing a second kill may have put her on the top performer list but that never happened. A water break intervened.   She will play for Westlake. They struggled last year at 3-11. They have no rosters available but with no ranked players it would not surprise me to see Sascha start for the varsity as a frosh.

Not every player can earn a top performer award. If that were the case the award would carry less significance. However, there have been a number of now highly ranked players who competed at a showcase but failed to win a top performer award. The biggest name is probably Emerson Wolfe Emerson Wolfe 6'0" | OH/RS Academy of the Holy Cross | 2028 State VA , who has committed to Houston and ranks at number 6 in our class of 2028. She returned and later earned a top performer award. Others who fell short include Karinne Goodrum Karinne Goodrum 6'0" | MB Colonial Forge | 2027 State VA , Maggie Race Maggie Race 5'7" | S/RS Massaponax | 2028 State VA , Zari Northam Zari Northam 5'8" | OH/MB Colonial Forge | 2029 State VA , Maya Berkowitz Maya Berkowitz 6'1" | S/RS St. Andrews Episcopal | 2027 State VA , Chloe Barth Chloe Barth 5'9" | RS/DS/L James Madison | 2027 State VA , Kate Bickel Kate Bickel 5'7" | DS/L Holy Cross | 2027 State VA , Erin Green Erin Green 5'11" | RS Chantilly | 2027 State VA and Zeynep Anaz Zeynep Anaz 5'9" | S/RS Marshall-Falls Church | 2028 State VA . You could create a pretty good volleyball team with this group of players.