Other Top Risers in the Class of 2027

The pins dominated the top risers with 14. Other positions also included top risers with liberos at 4, middles with 5 and setters at 1. Below are those players. [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] had 5 of the 23 players who climbed significantly in the 2027 rankings. This may be the result of them winning the East Coast championship in Pittsburgh.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Middles</h2>    Karinne continues to rise up the rankings as her game continues to improve. She bumped up from 83 to 69. Karinne has good athleticism, a quick arm swing while also running the quick tempo sets well. She put together a number of critical kills to allow [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy'] to win the East Coast championship.   While they were the number one team in the Old Dominion Region 17s they still have some work to do to bring that competitiveness on a national level. They did finish in 9th place out of 103 teams in the Liberty Division at the Northeast Qualifiers. A 31st place finish out of 48 teams in the National Division at Junior Nationals shows they still have some work to do.   Colonial Forge proved to be one of the stronger volleyball teams in Virginia. They did not lose a match until they lost in five to Colgan in the semi-finals of the Regional bracket. They lost the fifth set 15-12.   The loss of Jasmine Williams in the middle will now put Karinne in the spotlight. The smaller [player_tooltip player_id='778444' first='Zari' last='Northam'] could fill the second middle position as a sophomore, or she could take a pin position.     It was another bump up for [player_tooltip player_id='849619' first='Kiya' last='Boggan']. She moved from 82-70. A commitment to Coppin State helped the rise but her 6'4" height is a big game changer as well. She played a year up for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 18. Kiya has the versatility to hit middle or outside.   Kiya played for Montgomery Blair. She led the team in kills as well as blocks, with an impressive .564 hitting percentage. Blair was ultimately swept by Urbana in the Maryland Class 4 semi-finals. Boggan led the team with 5 blocks but it was a bad day for hitting with 0 kills in 7 attempts. As a team they hit at minus .102. The three top hitters return for next year. A better performance in the playoffs could lead to another rise in the rankings.     Meera jumped from 98 to 90 in the rankings. At 6'1" she has some height but her teammate at MVSA and Churchill [player_tooltip player_id='465322' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum'] lists at 6'5". Siyena has moved to right side while Meera remains at middle. For Churchill Siyena finished second on the team in kills while Meera finished sixth. This club season Meera seemed to improve her offense with her hitting approach appearing more in synch. Her blocking is still her strength, leading Churchill in blocks. Siyena still leads Churchill in solo blocks.   Last year Churchill lost to two time state champion Richard Montgomery twice during the regular season. When they faced each other in the quarterfinals of the state championship playoffs Churchill won in five. Unfortunately, they lost in the semi-finals to eventual champion Broadneck.   With the return of sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='762829' first='Angela' last='Zhang'] on the outside and Siyena hitting right side Churchill will again be a force. They also return [player_tooltip player_id='438053' first='Lucille' last='Deraleau'], who led the team in kills. Unfortunately, Churchill will need to find a new setter.     Sierra lacks the height of her middle counterpart [player_tooltip player_id='581553' first='Karinne' last='Goodrum'] at [program_tooltip program_id='489547' first='540' last='Volleyball Academy']. What she brings to the position is the quickness to move along all areas of the net to hit the ball. She shot up from 142 to 110 in the ranking.   At the East Coast championship she delivered the final spike to give 540 a 30-29 lead. A hitting error then gave them the win. In the third set she delivered a redirect kill and then ended a long rally with a bomb to give 540 a 17-16 lead. A 540 ace gave them the win and ultimately the championship when they swept in the finals.   Sierra lists middle and right side for her positions at Massaponax. Last year Massaponax lost in five to Potomac Falls in the semi-finals of the Class 5 Regionals. They have lost a number of seniors. It would not surprise me to see her hit left side. She does have the talented [player_tooltip player_id='587035' first='Maggie' last='Race'] returning to set her.     [player_tooltip player_id='806216' first='Kyla' last='Wilhelm'] is another smaller middle. She jumped from 196 to 173 in the rankings. However, she is not worried about playing indoor. A commitment to play beach at Mercer in Georgia is in her future. Kyla ranks number 76 in the nation for beach in the class of 2027, bringing an impressive 9'7" approach jump. She has the hops.   I did not see her on any club indoor rosters this year. She finished third for James Wood in kills and blocks, listing right side and middle as her positions. She also finished third in service aces. James Wood lost their dynamic duo of Kennedy Spaid and Brenna Corbin that led them to four straight state championships. Kyla will be one of those players taking the reins in seeking a fifth straight championship.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Liberos</h2>    Ryann bumped up from 24 to 18 in the rankings. She is the only player from the DMV that has attended the Under Armor camps this year and won an MVP award. She has committed to Ole Miss.   An excellent libero who fills the floor with enthusiasm. Whether that leads to an All American invite is unclear. Nadiya Johnson was the only representative from the DMV last year.   Ryann is the libero for Grassfield. Last year they lost in the Virginia Class 6 state semi-finals to eventual champion West Springfield. Ryann earned the libero spot on the All State team for Class 6. The only libero ranked higher than her in the class of 2027 is the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'].     And speaking of West Springfield, she was the libero that won the Class 6 Virginia state championship. She earned a spot on the second team of the Class 6 Virginia all tournament team. That pushed her up from 49 to 40 in the rankings. She has committed to Mary Washington.   Audrey played for Virginia Juniors 16 this past club season. They played in AAU after failing to qualify for Junior Nationals. Virginia Juniors seemed to play well together towards the end of the season.   For West Springfield they return their libero Audrey, their setter [player_tooltip player_id='438046' first='Anna' last='Dierks'] and middle [player_tooltip player_id='720348' first='Milena' last='Kibret'] but they need to find new faces for the pins. Last year they won their last 16 matches to win the Class 6 Virginia state championship.     Sadie really shined at the East Coast championship, digging balls like they were pennies from a fountain. She dodged one spike and the ball sailed out for a 31-29 set two victory in the semi-finals of the East Coast championships. Most players would have played that hit. Sadie jumps from 52 to 45 in the rankings. Only seven liberos rank higher than her and six of them have committed.   Sadie will play for Forest Park this year in high school. You will know it is Sadie playing libero because she will be wearing different colored tennis shoes. Looks like a good shoe promotion is waiting in her future. Last year Sadie was second on Forest Park in digs but tied for first in digs per set.   Forest Park should battle Woodbridge and Colgan for the Cardinal District crown. Last year Forest Park finished third in the Cardinal District before losing to Patriot in the first round of the Class 6B Regionals. They have the twins, setter [player_tooltip player_id='627365' first='Alexa' last='Eggleton'] and left side [player_tooltip player_id='609590' first='Leah' last='Eggleton'] returning.     Madalyn impressed me with her play for Virginia Elite during the club season. She made one of the biggest jumps in the class of 2027 rankings, moving from 162 to 121. She shows good hustle chasing after balls on defense. Her feet also move well when she moves to pass. Her reads on hits look pretty solid as she appears well anchored on defense. She went from back up libero at 16s to starting libero at 17s for Virginia Elite,   For Gainesville High last year it appears she was used as a hitter. She finished second on the team in kills. Madalyn also finished second on the team in digs playing six rotations. At 5'7" libero is her ultimate future but her ability to hit outside in high school attests to her athleticism.   Gainesville lost in the first round to Colgan in the Class 6 B Regionals. They finished second in the Cedar Run District. Losing libero Riley Stever to graduation could perhaps lead to a position change for Madalyn. They do return their top hitter [player_tooltip player_id='496044' first='Cat' last='Batcheler']. They also have sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='762226' first='Makayla' last='Simms'], who hit right side, finishing third on the team in kills also returning. She could move to left side if they need to open the libero spot to Madalyn.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Setter</h2>    Caroline bumped from 166 to 152, the only setter in the class of 2027 to take a big rise in the rankings. She made an impression with one of our Prep Dig writers as a setter to watch. I added her to the rankings in 2025 at 162.   She is the top setter for Frank Cox. Last year she set a 5/1 finishing with an amazing 653 assists. That puts her just shy of 200 assists to hit the 1,000 assist mark. She also plays her position well defensively with 255 digs, second to the libero.   Last year Ocean Lakes swept Frank Cox in the semi-finals of the Class 5A Regionals. In addition to Caroline they have some talented players returning in left side [player_tooltip player_id='545710' first='Avery' last='Osler'], right side [player_tooltip player_id='617089' first='India' last='Starr'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='465307' first='June' last='Culicerto']. At 5'10" June stands out as one of our tallest liberos.

The pins dominated the top risers with 14. Other positions also included top risers with liberos at 4, middles with 5 and setters at 1. Below are those players. 540 Volleyball Academy had 5 of the 23 players who climbed significantly in the 2027 rankings. This may be the result of them winning the East Coast championship in Pittsburgh.