Top Thirteen Newbies Added to the Class of 2028

There were actually more than 13 players added to the class of 2028. A total of 38 players were added to the class of 2028 rankings, including 16 players from the watch list. This makes the total number of players from the 2028 rankings greater than the number of players in the 2027 rankings. Normally, to get added to a ranking a player has to do something on the court that impressed. Where you go from there is unknown.   Below are the top 13 players who were added to the rankings during this period. Two of those players were twins, however after watching them play I still have not figured out who should be ranked higher. If you think your ranking is too low do something during the high school season to make it rise. This first ranking only puts you on the radar. It is rare for any player to debut in the top 50 for their debut in the rankings.    I have not actually seen Michelle play but she included a couple videos in her profile that shows an impressive game. She makes the highest debut for the class of 2028 to 75. Her video shows an extremely fast arm swing and good hops to make up for her undersized 5'9" frame.   Definitely a player to watch. Phoebus finished third in the Peninsula District. Michelle led the team in kills with a .342 hitting percentage. Phoebus made it to the Virgina Class 4 Regional semi-finals but then got swept by Jamestown.     Ava really impressed this club season for Virginia Juniors. This led to a jump from the watch list to number 80 in the rankings. She brings a combination of athleticism and jump to put balls away from the middle. It wouldn't surprise me if she could play at the pins as well.   This year she could make an impact on the Riverside roster. They lost a couple middles to graduation last year meaning Ava could play for the varsity this year. Last year she played on the junior varsity.   Ava has committed to William and Mary.     Johanne participated in a national Prep Dig showcase at Junior Nationals, winning a top performer award. She went out to prove that reward was deserved playing a solid middle for Metro 16 National at the Junior Nationals. Her timing is good with the quick tempo sets, bringing a decent 9'8" approach jump to her game.   Johanne plays for Sherwood, which reached the finals of the Maryland Regionals in the class 3 playoffs. They lost to Reservoir in five.     She brings a strong left handed swing to the right side. At 5'7" she is bit undersized. This did not prevent her from earning a spot on the Class 1 Virginia all state second team.   Middlesex only lost three matches last year but one of those was a five set loss to Giles in the semi-finals of the Virginia Class 1 state playoffs.   Kinsley debuts at number 158 in our class of 2028 rankings.     Cameron moved from the watch list to 161 in the class of 2028 rankings. She impressed playing for MVSA Charge in the East Coast championship. Playing the right side Cameron strung together a critical block as well as a tip kill to lead them to a victory over [program_tooltip program_id='498495' first='Richmond' last='Volleyball Club']. Cameron also shined at Volley by the James. That tournament combo excellence placed her in the rankings.   She has a strong arm that can put good velocity on the ball. Cameron also brings the versatility to play middle or either pin. Last year she fell short of making the varsity team for Holy Cross. It would not surprise me to see her on the roster this year.     I put Laura and Isabel back to back in the rankings. At this point I don't know which one should be ranked higher. The twins bring their volleyball skill from Brazil.   I believe Laura played left side for [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Morales 15 at the Junior Nationals. Not surprisingly, she shows an intensity that is not uncommon with Brazilian play. She was one of the key offensive players for [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] Morales.   Laura plays beach as well. She paired up with her sister Isabel to finish in second place in the Chesapeake Beach Regionals to qualify for Nationals.   Not clear which high school Laura will attend.     Isabel is the twin of Laura, who both come from Brazil. In the set I watched at Junior Nationals it was Isabel playing right side. Like her sister Laura both are very intense players on the volleyball court.   Isabel plays beach with her twin sister Laura. They finished second in the Chesapeake Beach Regionals to qualify for Nationals.   Not clear which high school Isabel will attend.     Sydney debuted at 169 in our 2028 rankings moving off the watch list. Sydney caught my eye at the Prep Dig showcase this summer. She was passing nails at the libero station but was listed as an outside on the handout. Her reasoning for playing both is to make her an ideal six rotation outside. At 5'8" she is a bit undersized for a pin position so hanging out with the liberos is not a bad plan.   She also earned a top performer award as an outside at the Salt Lake City Qualifiers. Last year she played junior varsity for Atholton. This year she is poised to make the varsity.     Kella debuted at 173 in our class of 2028 rankings. She played a year up for Charlottesville Area Volleyball Club ([program_tooltip program_id='504434' first='CAVC' last='']). [program_tooltip program_id='504434' first='CAVC' last=''] won the Atlantic Coast Power League (ACPL) led by the left side hitting of [player_tooltip player_id='986878' first='Kella' last='Lemcke']. She also made a couple of key blocks in their journey to the championship.   Kella plays for The Covenant School where she led the team in kills. She shows good athleticism on the court, which is not a surprise since she also plays basketball for The Covenant School.   Last year The Covenant School lost in five in the semi-finals to Fredericksburg Christian in the VISAA Division II state playoffs. Kella made the second team all-state for VISAA. She contributed a team leading 19 kills in that semi-final match with 29 digs.     Isabella debuts at 175 in our class of 2028 rankings. Despite standing only 5'9" she plays a very strong middle. Normally, the shorter middles appear better with their timing while also doing a better job of hitting the quick tempo sets. Love her intensity on the court.   For her high school Catholic she plays left side, leading her team in kills. She also shows her athleticism playing both basketball and volleyball for Catholic. For basketball she plays guard.   Catholic lost in the first round to Collegiate in the Division I VISAA. Isabella finished with seven kills and seven blocks in that match. Overall, she was second for Catholic in kills while also finishing second in blocks.     Tranise won a top performer award at our Prep Dig showcase this past July. A little undersized at 5'8" but she brings an impressive approach jump at 9'8". Last year she started the season for Flint Hill but an injury ended her season early.   At the showcase she did a good job of putting the ball to the floor. Last year Flint Hill was short on pins. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] did a lot of her attacking from the outside. Hunter and middle [player_tooltip player_id='728971' first='Mandela' last='Masimini'] accounted for more than 50 percent of the Huskies kills.   With Tranise coming back healthy and [player_tooltip player_id='893943' first='Mila' last='Smith'] gaining one more year of experience their pins should be much improved this coming high school season.     Shekinah debuts at number 186 in our rankings. Her 5'6" height is a bit of a concern, but she was the top offensive player from the outside for 757 Volleyball Club. She also showed the ability to play six rotations. If her size impacts her ability to play front row a libero or defensive specialist position should not be a problem.   She shows her value when playing for Norfolk Christian, finishing second on the team in kills and first in digs. She again becomes a solid six rotation player for Norfolk Christian. Ultimately, her future may lie in the libero position.     Lily debuts at number 187 in our rankings. She impressed with her play at the East Coast championships. Since St. James was not playing in the Beast of the East I may not have watched them play however, a coach contacted me saying they had a couple kids I should watch. Their statement was accurate.   Lily passed well but she also served the ball short with her jump serve with no change in technique. Most players cannot do that. They have to slow down their approach when trying to serve short.   Last year Marshall competed in the state playoffs for the first time in school history. Lily played the DS/Libero role finishing the season as the starting libero. This year she appears to have won the starting libero role.

There were actually more than 13 players added to the class of 2028. A total of 38 players were added to the class of 2028 rankings, including 16 players from the watch list. This makes the total number of players from the 2028 rankings greater than the number of players in the 2027 rankings. Normally, to get added to a ranking a player has to do something on the court that impressed. Where you go from there is unknown.