Local DMV Players in the Big Ten and ACC

<p>The college volleyball season is coming upon us. This area is fortunate to have Maryland in the Big Ten, though it would be better if they were more competitive. However, it does give fans an opportunity to see some of the top volleyball teams in the country. Many of those teams carry some of the top local players. </p>   <p>Further south you have the Atlantic Coast Conference. Virginia and Virginia Tech play in that conference. Out of 18 teams Virginia finished in 13th place while Virginia Tech placed 18th. Like Maryland it would be nice if one or both of those colleges could attract some of the top players in the area to allow them to be more competitive. It is what it is. But you can view some of those top players when other teams come to town.</p>   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Big Ten</h1>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Maryland </h2>   <p><strong>Sydney Bryant</strong> (Metro/Flint Hill) - Maryland did snag the 5th ranked prospect in the class of 2023 from the DMV. She led Flint Hill to a number of state championships. At 5'11" she would be considered a bit undersized for the Big Ten. As a junior last year she finished fourth on the team in kills.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Michigan</h2>   <p><strong>Leni Stanton-Parker</strong> (Metro/Langley) - She led Langley to a state championship in 2023 but then moved to Florida her senior season to play at the IMG Academy in Florida. Prior to leaving she was one of the top ten prospects in the DMV area. She started her career as a middle but moved to outside her junior season. Only 5'10" but carries an approach jump that reaches 10'4". The girl can fly.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Minnesota</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">She is the top prospect in the class of 2028. Max Prep recently identified her as the top prospect in the state of Maryland. She has led Richard Montgomery to a Maryland state championship as a frosh. She also led Metro to a 2025 championship in the National Division at Junior Nationals, winning the MVP in the process.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Last year Richard Montgomer fell short of the state championship. Katherine hopes to return that championship to the Rockets. She led the team in kills the past season averaging 5.5 kills per set. A solid six rotation player.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">You will not see her at Minnesota until the 2028 college season. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Penn State</h2>   <p><strong>Emmerson Sellman</strong> OH (Metro/Holy Cross) - She was the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Prep Dig Virginia ranked her number one in the class of 2023. She led Holy Cross to one WCAC championship. Her first commitment was to Ohio State but after one season she transferred to Penn State. She did make the Big Ten All Frosh team. For Penn State she started her sophomore season.</p>   <p><strong>Ryla Jones </strong>middle (Metro/Flint Hill) - Ryla led Flint Hill to a number of state championships. She also finished fourth in our final 2024 rankings. Her original commitment was to Pittsburgh where she started for them her frosh and sophomore seasons. Ryla transferred to Penn State this past season.</p>   <p><strong>Alexis Ewing</strong> OH (Metro/Bullis) - Her senior season she put it all together leading Bullis to an ISL championship. Until that time the championships were always won by Flint Hill, all the way back to 2011. Her father is Patrick Ewing hall of fame basketball player and her mother Cheryl Weaver a national team volleyball player. She finished ranked number 3 in the class of 2025. Her frosh season she was more of a back up for the pins.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Our number one prospect for the DMV area in the class of 2027. Prep Dig ranks her number 10 nationally. She earned a spot on the U.S. Junior National team earning a gold medal in 2025 at the NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup. No player in this area can put that accomplishment on their resume.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] leading them to a couple Open appearances in the Junior Nationals. She has also played in the Triple Crown events. </p>   <p class="text-gray-700">For high school she goes a bit under the radar playing for Wakefield. Don't be surprised if she can get them at least into the Regionals this year.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Purdue</h2>   <p><strong>Isabella Bardin</strong> (Metro/Flint Hill) - Isabella finished the 2025 season ranked as the number two prospect in the class of 2025. A 6'3" setter who could block and bury the ball on the right side. Led Flint Hill to a state championship. As a frosh she red shirted so this will be her first true season.</p>   <p><strong>Lameen Mambu</strong> (Metro/Chantilly) - Lameen was the number one rated prospect in the class of 2025. She won a silver medal playing for the U.S. Junior National team in 2025 competing in the Federation of International Volleyball tournament. After high school she committed to Georgia Tech. She started as a frosh averaging about three kills per set. After the season she transferred to Purdue where she is a favorite to start outside.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">UCLA</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Max Preps recently named her as the top player in Virginia. Last year she led Flint Hill to the VISAA state championship, earning the MVP honors in the process. For Flint Hill she spent much of her time hitting outside, though middle is her primary position. She led her team in kills averaging close to five kills per set.</p>   <p>For Metro she plays middle. She carries an approach jump that reaches 10'5". A difficult player to contain slapping 446 kills last season. This puts her about 200 kills short of 1,000 for her high school career.</p>    <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Atlantic Coast Conference</h1>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clemson</h2>   <p><strong>Bri Washington</strong> (Virginia Elite/Woodbridge) - Brianna ranked number 53 in our class of 2025 as a middle. She committed to Memphis and after finishing fourth on the team in kills transferred to Clemson. Her 5'11" height makes her a bit undersized for a middle. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Duke</h2>   <p><strong>Mailinh Godschal</strong> (Metro/Centennial) - Mailinh finished third in our class of 2024 rankings, but she was more than a libero. She hit outside for her high school Centennial and parlayed that into two championships. She has started for Duke both her frosh and sophomore years in college leading her team in digs.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Florida State</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Chloe ranks at number 34 in our class of 2028. She probably should be ranked higher, but I don't get to see her play a lot. For Metro she is a back up right side to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='721145' first='Claire' last='Tepper']</strong>. While she may be a starter for Northern I have not seen them play yet. She did make the All Conference first team.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">What Chloe brings to the right side is her 6'4" height and a left handed swing. Her approach jump reaches near 10 feet. A couple years ago she won a top performer award at a Prep Dig showcase. What I have seen of her shows she can play the game and make an impact. Definitely a starter with any other club but Metro.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Louisville</h2>   <p><strong>Hannah Sherman</strong> (Metro/Holy Cross) - Hannah belongs to the class of 2022. At that time she was one of the better players in the DMV area, easily a top ten player. However, because she was considered a Maryland player Prep Dig did not rank her for the state of Virginia. She red shirted her first season while each proceeding season her playing time increased. Last year she played in every match. Hannah is a blocking machine, tying the school record for blocks in a match with 15. Overall, she led the team in service aces while also finishing second in blocks.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Carolina</h2>   <p><strong>Safi Hampton</strong> (Metro/Hammond) - Safi was the top prospect in 2023. She may have been the reason I began including Maryland players in the Virginia rankings. Now she is one of the top players in college, earning a spot in the All ACC first team and an AVCA Preseason Player of the Year watch list. She also appears on the AVCA watch list her senior season.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Chika recently committed to North Carolina. Even at 5'9" she is still one of the top hitters in the game. My prediction is that before she finishes high school she will reach at least 5'10", perhaps a little taller. Her older sister grew to 6'1" and was a middle blocker for Metro.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">Chika has a jump touch that reaches 10 feet. She also has a powerful arm that can put extreme velocity on the ball. Her ability to play six rotations makes her an offensive force in the back row.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">The rankings for 2028 will come out later this week. A spoiler alert - Chika has moved up in the rankings from number three.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">At 5'9" Riley brings some height to the libero position. This allows her to hit outside for her high school Reservoir. Another Metro player [player_tooltip player_id='755672' first='Jaylin' last='Park'] plays the libero position for Reservoir.</p>   <p>Riley is also a good beach player, ranked number 33 in the class of 2028 national beach rankings. Last year she teamed with [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] to win the Chesapeake Beach Regional 18U and 16U.</p>   <p>Riley was named to the all tournament team after Metro won the National Division in Junior Nationals in 2025.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notre Dame</h2>   <p><strong>Angie Desamours</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']/Bullis) - I don't have Angie committing to a college after her 2025 season. She ranked number 33 when the season ended. She played for Bullis when they won the ISL championship ending a streak held by Flint Hill since 2011. Bulis played Georgetown Day in the final. Angie originally committed to LSU based on her Notre Dame bio..</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Syracuse</h2>   <p><strong>Charis Burge</strong> (Metro/Urbana) - Charis ended the 2026 season ranked as the 10th ranked player in the class. She set Urbana to one state championship her frosh year in 2022. At 5'10" she was a setter who stayed in the front row to hit right side. A prime candidate to set a 5/1.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia</h2>   <p>Caroline Lang (Metro/St.Annes-Balfield) - A 6'3" middle who finished ranked number 28 in the class of 2025. She contributed her frosh season recording 68 kills and 45 blocks.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Last year she transferred to Paul VI. She led them to a second place finish in the VISAA states and a championship in the WCAC. Coco ranks fourth in the class of 2027 but is the top ranked outside hitter in the class.</p>   <p>This past season she led the Panthers in kills hitting at an electric .353 hitting percentage. A six rotation player who finished second in digs. At 6'2" she is a powerfully built hitter with great athleticism. She brings an approach jump of 10'1". </p>   <p>Last year she made the Prep Dig Virginia all tournament team as an outside hitter.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Camryn is our 19th ranked player in the class of 2027. She has been the libero for Riverside leading them to two straight state championships with her precision passing and excellent defense. Her enthusiasm is something you also like to see in a libero. Last year for Virginia Juniors she averaged 4.3 digs per set.</p>   <p class="text-gray-700">She plays with [player_tooltip player_id='941986' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] on the Virginia Juniors team. They played in the National Division in Junior Nationals this past season, finishing in 19th place out of 48 teams. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Tech</h2>   <p><strong>Santina Martcheva</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club']/Ocean Lakes) - She ranked at number 18 in our class of 2026. At 6'1" she brings excellent height for an outside hitter. She was named to the Class 5 all state first team. She participated in the Junior National team for Bulgaria. Many in her family are from Bulgaria.</p>   <p><strong>Frances Torres-Esperanza</strong> (Metro/Veritas Volleyball Academy) - She finished 2023 as the 10th ranked player in the class. Originally committed to Colgate. This year she will play for Virginia Tech. Frances played three years for Colgate starting her sophomore and junior years.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wake Forest</h2>   <p><strong>Laiya Ebo</strong> (Holton Arms) - Laiya finished ranked at #49 in our class of 2023. It appears she first committed to Butler. When playing for Holton Arms she earned a spot on the first team in the Independent School League.</p>   <p></p>   <p></p>   <p></p>

The college volleyball season is coming upon us. This area is fortunate to have Maryland in the Big Ten, though it would be better if they were more competitive. However, it does give fans an opportunity to see some of the top volleyball teams in the country. Many of those teams carry some of the top local players.