In the Zone: Xzone’s Club Season Preview and Seniors
Xzone Volleyball Club started in 2015 with one team and two dedicated coaches. The mission of Xzone Volleyball Club is to create great opportunities for players to develop in a positive environment to improve their skills in sports while teaching…
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Continue ReadingXzone Volleyball Club started in 2015 with one team and two dedicated coaches. The mission of Xzone Volleyball Club is to create great opportunities for players to develop in a positive environment to improve their skills in sports while teaching lessons in life as well. The club has grown significantly over the five years and is looking for additional expansion with developmental leagues and outdoor programs starting in the coming months. The club blossomed in 2019, had 10 girls and 3 boys teams before the pandemic shut down club season. Despite the pandemic in 2020, the club has eight teams with Red designations being to their upper teams and White to their local teams, consisting of 84 athletes. They are also offering a boys development program for local athletes to get ready for high school season.
The club is based in Chesterfield, Virginia at the Guardian Sports Complex, which also is the home of the Royal Knights of the Guardian Christian Academy of the VISAA Division III. Teams consist of athletes from a variety of schools including Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, Fluvanna, Albemarle and Amelia counties. There are also many athletes who compete in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association and Home school programs.
Several of the graduating ladies on the 18 Red Elite Team will be continuing their volleyball careers at the next level, having signed with college programs. There are several others still hoping to find a school to match with them to continue playing. Here are some of the top players from this year’s graduating class.
Emily Lewis is a home-schooled athlete with a 4.0 GPA. The 6 foot Middle Hitter will be continuing her playing career for the Mount Vernon Nazareth University in Ohio. Emily is a force as a blocker with great footwork and uses her hands well to take away angles. She is strong offensively and is increasing her hitting range and toolbox offensively.
M Maddie Johnson Maddie Johnson 5'10" | RS King William | 2021 State VA is Setter and Right Side Attacker for the 18 Red Elite. The (height) senior who will graduate thru Liberty University’s Online Academy and continue her playing career as a walk-on to the Liberty Flames Volleyball Program in Lynchburg. Maddie is a lean and dynamic setter who is an intelligent attacker and can score from the service line as well. She has a strong jump float serve and can play a variety of positions. At Liberty, she projects to compete as a setter and defensive specialist but with added strength, could work in the outside hitter rotation as an OH2.
Lara Santana is a senior from VISAA’s Grove Christian School in Richmond. The senior libero has Division 1 potential but remains unsigned and is looking for an opportunity to play at the next level. Lara is an exceptional defender with great reading skills and relentless attitude. She is fearless from any level of attacker and handles serve reception with great footwork and platform awareness. She continues to work on improvement in her skills and reading and is a high energy and supportive teammate. She has great accountability and a tremendous work ethic.
Sara Heath is an outstanding utility hitter who plays scholastically for the James River Home School League. At 5’11, Sara has good size to be able to play multiple positions along the net and is excelling for the team this season as the OH1 for the Red Elite Team. She has a great arm swing and hits with good range and power. Not an elite power swing, but uses good vision and strong volleyball IQ to terminate plays, including out of system situations. She has a good platform and reactions on defense and in serve receive. She is a strong blocker and can help and close from any of the front row positions. She is also a strong server. She has Division 1 potential and would fit most programs. She is specifically looking for a school where she can become a Vet Technician.
XZone has several unsigned seniors as well including:
Andi Davis (OH/DS) athletic outside but probably better as a DS in college. Needs some work on arm swing but solid in ball control. D3 level prospect. (Pictured left)
Kassidy Reed (OP/OH) Solid fundamentally. Decent size (5’10). Good athlete and arm swing. Could play for a solid D3 or NAIA program and many D2 programs. Versatile player.
Mackenzie Goacher (S) Very solid and hittable balls. Solid NCAA D3 level setter. Could play at some D2 schools with some more seasoning. Needs to improve consistency with faster tempos to play at higher levels.
Nina Marsho (Pin) Extremely athletic with a fast arm and explosive vertical. Needs to improve arm swing and ball control to move to OH full time. Possibly D2 project player.
Joanne Paige (OH) Athletic and high effort player. Solid fundamentally. Good ball control. Can play higher levels if Defensive Specialist. Projects as a mid level D3 player. Can hold her own in NAIA as well.
Brooke Farrey (OH/DS) Good athlete. Needs to improve strength to be a starting college OH. Good ball control. Great culture kid. D3 level.(#17)
Samantha Hertless (MH) Tall and raw middle. Could develop into a solid Middle Blocker at the D3 level. Great work ethic.
Kyla Taylor (OH) Very athletic and good arm swing. Very solid arm swing and ball control. Defense is solid as well. VMAC First Team All Conference. Solid D3 prospect.