New Additions to the 2026 Rankings
In this article:
Below is a summary of some of the new players in our rankings. If you look at the bio of one of the professional players for the Orlando Valkyries, M’Kaela White, in the Pro Volleyball Federation you will learn she…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBelow is a summary of some of the new players in our rankings. If you look at the bio of one of the professional players for the Orlando Valkyries, M’Kaela White, in the Pro Volleyball Federation you will learn she did not touch a volleyball until she was 16 years old. Metro saw her 6’4″ height and gave her an opportunity to play. After two years of club she went on to play for James Madison University, followed by some professional play in Italy. Her 6’4″ height helped. But it is never too late, especially at this age to improve your game.
I can also remember a couple years ago when Macaria Spears ranked number one on this list when the 2025’s were finishing their frosh high school season. Not many were familiar with her from a national perspective until she broke out for Metro 16. Macaria eventually moved to Texas just after the club season ended. Now, many publications this year have voted her player of the year in Texas and perhaps top ten nationally for the class of 2025. Work hard and good results follow.
Bryah Breaux Bryah Breaux 6'4" | OH Garrison Forest | 2026 State VA outside (Garrison Forrest/Masters Academy) 16 – The U.S. National team invited her to their National Team Development Program (NTDP). Her 6’4″ height and long wing spans certainly enhance her potential. Still a lot of rawness in her game. Once she gets her long levers working in synch with her growth spurts, she will be a handful to stop. Bryah plays in the Towson area so my only exposure to her to date has been video. Reminds me a lot of Alexis Ewing Alexis Ewing 6'3" | OH Bullis | 2025 State VA .
Highlights
Tessa Fergusson Tessa Fergusson 6'1" | MB Georgetown Day School | 2026 State VA middle (Georgetown Day/MOCO) 51 -Her play at the DMV Expo 250 got my attention. She hits the quicks well with her long reach and 6’1″ height. This allows her to hit the higher sets other middles fail to reach. For Georgetown Day her .342 hitting percentage ranked first on the team. She also finished third in blocks but as she gains more experience that production should improve.
Highlights
Sophie Taylor Sophie Taylor 6'1" | OH Giles | 2026 State VA outside (Giles) 53 – Her outside play got Giles to the semifinals of the Class 1 Virginia State playoffs where they lost to the eventual champion Auburn. That loss did not prevent her from earning the state player of the year honors for Class 1. She also earned player of the year honors from the Mountain Empire District and the Regional 1C. Pretty high honors for a sophomore. In her first two years she has accumulated over 1,000 kills, 37 of those coming against Auburn in the semi-final loss.
Highlights
Emily Kolas Emily Kolas 5'3" | DS/L Heritage | 2026 State VA libero (Heritage/Virginia Elite) 55 – Heritage finished over .500 this year. That rates much better than their previous two seasons when their combined win total equaled their 2023 season. Much of their success can be attributed to the libero play of Emily Kolas Emily Kolas 5'3" | DS/L Heritage | 2026 State VA . She shows good movement on the court which allows her to cover a lot of ground. She also creates a quiet platform for passing.
Highlights
Adyson Seymour Adyson Seymour 5'8" | S Boonsboro | 2026 State VA setter (Boonsboro) 61 – Adyson has the soft hands that can lay a ball up nicely to all areas of the court. She also brings the quickness to get to the ball. Lastly, her 5’8″ height does not prevent her from producing kills at the net when playing the front row. It will be interesting to see how she develops. For many setters it takes some time to learn the court. At her current pace she appears to be ahead of the curve.
Ela Shepherd Ela Shepherd 5'10" | S Christiansburg | 2026 State VA setter (Christiansburg) 67 – Her play earned her a spot on the class 3 all-state team. They lost only six matches all season, but five of those were against Hidden Valley. At 5’10” she set and hit the Blue Demons to the semifinals of the Class 3 state championship, where they were eliminated after their fifth loss to Hidden Valley, the eventual state champions. Ela finished the season with over 200 kills and close to 400 assists. You have to like the tools she brings to the court.
Ellyson Miller outside (Bishop O’Connell/Virginia Elite) 71 – O’Connell started the season going 1-5 in a Florida tournament. Ellyson did not get a lot of playing time at that tournament. A decision was made to give her an opportunity to hit left side. After playing one match she earned a permanent spot in the lineup. She finished fifth on the team in kills, but third when you measure her kills per set. She still has some rawness hitting from the pins since middle had been her primary position, but with more repetitions and an improved arm swing she appears to have found another home.
Riley Erwin Riley Erwin 5'11" | S Kellam | 2026 State VA setter (Kellam) 77 – At 5’11” Riley teamed with Martha Boser Martha Boser 5'6" | S Catholic | 2024 State VA to run a 6/2 offense. She stayed in the front row for hitting where she finished fifth in kills. She also put up an effective block on the right side ranking second on the team in blocks. As a sophomore it would not surprise me to see her running a 5/1 for Kellam next year.
Sofia Barnes Sofia Barnes 6'0" | OH Kellam | 2026 State VA outside (Kellam/Beach Elite) 80 – Another Knight sophomore new to our rankings. Sofia finished fourth on the team in kills. She powered the ball mainly from the right side and at 6’0″ brings some length to the position.
Elizabeth Robinson Elizabeth Robinson 5'7" | S Colgan | 2026 State VA setter (Colgan) 82 – Elizabeth was one of two setters who took over for Alexis Scipione who had set the Sharks to two state championship finals, winning one and falling short in the other. While Elizabeth did not get the team to the finals Colgan still finished with a solid season. As she is only a sophomore Elizabeth could take over the Sharks setting responsibilities next year.
Brenna Raymond Brenna Raymond DS/L Massaponax | 2026 State VA libero (Massaponax) 87 – She earned a spot on the class 5d regional second team as well as the second team for the Commonwealth District.
Highlights
Eliza Lowe middle (Walt Whitman) 89 – At 6’1″ she presented some skills at the DMV Expo that shows she can impact the middle.
McKenna Calkins McKenna Calkins 6'1" | MB Kellam | 2026 State VA middle (Kellam) 91 – McKenna is the third sophomore for Kellam to appear on this list. Her 6’1″ height allowed her to finish third on the team in blocks. These offensive numbers come despite her limited playing time, seeing only half the games as the two players ranked ahead of her. Her kill percentage of .360 bodes well for the future.
Grace Davies-Hackenberg Grace Davies-Hackenberg OH First Colonial | 2026 State VA outside (First Colonial/Beach Elite) 93 – The Patriots won the Class 5 Virginia State Championship. Grace contributed to that quest hitting from the outside while taking over for an injured Teagan Emdadi Teagan Emdadi 5'8" | RS First Colonial | 2026 State VA halfway through the season.
Below are other players making their debut on the 2026 rankings. In addition, there is a large group of watch list players in the rankings. These are players I have yet to see play whose names were submitted for ranking.
Rebecca Thatch Rebecca Thatch RS Whitman | 2026 State VA right side (Whitman) 101
Briana Vo Briana Vo 5'4" | S James Madison | 2026 State VA setter (Madison) 109
Macy Forrester Macy Forrester MB John Champe | 2026 State VA middle (John Champe) 110
Payton Mandichak Payton Mandichak 5'10" | RS Loudoun Valley | 2026 VA right side (Loudoun Country) 112
Lilly McGee Lilly McGee 5'9" | RS Leonardtown | 2026 VA right side (Leonardtown) 116
Charlotte Thatch Charlotte Thatch 5'8" | S Whitman | 2026 VA setter (Whitman) 117
Ella Higday Ella Higday 5'5" | DS/L Georgetown Day | 2026 State VA Libero/DS (Georgetown DayMOCO) 134
Gabriela Cid Gabriela Cid DS/L Langley | 2026 VA libero/DS (Langley) 138
Imani Thomas Imani Thomas 5'11" | RS Elizabeth Seton | 2026 State VA right side (Elizabeth Seton/ Paramount ) 146