Top Climbers in the Class of 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are the players who climbed up in the last rankings for the class of 2024. Eight of the ten will play volleyball in college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232993' first='Alexis' last='Keeter'] </strong>left side (Grafton) - Alexis won the Gatorade player of the year award for Virginia. She also won player of the year for the Class 2 Region even though her high school Grafton took second place to Hidden Valley in the finals. As if all those accolades were not enough Alexis also won the All-Tidewater player of the year. A solid six rotation player on the indoor circuit Alexis will move her game to beach for Florida Gulf Coast University. Alexis jumped from 12 to 9 in our class of 2024 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235746' first='MacKenzie' last='Calhoun']</strong> setter (River Hill/Columbia Academy - The Lafayette commit set Columbia to the Chesapeake Regional championship. While she ranks fourth in this class of talented setters she may be one of the smoothest in the group. A high volleyball IQ for running an offense. At 5'10" she also has the ability to attack in the front row. For River Hill she could hit right side and accumulate her share of kills. MacKenzie jumped from 14 to 11 in our class of 2024 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["206739"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Kia perhaps took the biggest jump from 60 to 26 because of her ability to hit outside.  While the middle remains her primary position for Maryland Jrs, she was used outside at a couple of tournaments.  While there she was virtually unstoppable.  Her back row ability still needs some polish, but she made some impressive defensive plays in the back row to show that with enough repetition she could play there.  Kiara has recently committed to play volleyball at University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660c42c0ed78f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180298"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Mary Washington commit seems to enjoy hitting middle.  For Bishop O'Connell she hit mainly right side.  Her return to middle for Virginia Elite brought her back to her comfort zone.  An intelligent player who knows how to read blocks and anticipate where the sets will go.  With her controlling the middle Virginia Elite ranks as the top team in the Chesapeake Region, though that falls to number three at the national level.   Alice moved from 38 to 27.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660c42c0ed85c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='181239' first='Lanie' last='Goff'] Libero (Patriot/Virginia Jrs) - The Robert Morris commit made the first team in the Cedar District, as well as the second team Class 6 All Regional team. Where she really shined is with Virginia Juniors where her back row play earned Juniors an appearance in Baltimore for the Junior Nationals. They will play in the Freedom Division. A very consistent player who rarely makes mistakes on the court. Lanie climbed from 49 to 30 in the class of 2024 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["224123"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Towson commit battled some minor injuries during her high school season, which caused her rankings to slide a bit.  During the club season she was completely healthy and showed what she could do at the libero position.  Columbia won the Chesapeake Regionals and will compete in the National Division at Junior Nationals in Baltimore.  Natalia brings good instincts to the libero position and is always hustling for the ball.  Without her steady play at the libero position the offense would not run so smoothly.  Natalia jumped from 40 to 35 in our class of 2024 rankings.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660c42c0ed8f3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237239' first='Azavia' last='Thomas']</strong> left side (Archbishop Carroll/Virginia Elite) - At 6'5" when she gets set there are not many who can block her. Her arm swing has improved a lot from last year, which has created greater velocity on her hits. She plays minimal back row, which limits her offensive opportunities, but from a volleyball standpoint she is a bit of a late bloomer. When she was 16 she played for the third team at MVSA. Azavia has committed to UNC - Charlotte. With more experience against top level competition her potential has yet to be met. She jumped from 72 to 38 in our rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465308' first='Blakely' last='Barnes'] </strong>middle (Kellam/Beach Elite) - At 5'11" some may consider her height small for a middle. This did not stop her from earning best blocker award at the Capitol Hill Classic this year. The Berry commit earned a place on the All Tidewater first team for her play in high school. Blakely climbed from number 70 to 45 in our class of 2024 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180301"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"At 5'8u0022 the Mary Washington commit stands tall for a libero.  While her back row play is steady her serve accumulates aces with its movement once it comes out of her hand.  Virginia Elite had a successful season, finishing third in the Chesapeake Regionals to qualify them for an appearance in the Junior Nationals in Baltimore.  Elle climbed from number 109 to 50 in our class of 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660c42c0ed980"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["235276"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"At 5'7u0022 Taelin would be considered small for a left side hitter.  However, she accumulates kills every time she swings at the ball, either hitting high off the block or around it.  A solid six rotation player who passes well and plays a scrambling defense.  Best of all, her back row attacks are lethal, resulting in numerous kills because of the excellent velocity she can put on the ball with her attack.  Taelin is one of two players on this list who has yet to commit.  She jumped from 84 to 70 in our class of 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660c42c0eda04"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181230' first='Lydia' last='Darville']</strong> left side (Christ Chapel/Virginia Jrs) - Lydia took over the left side after Juniors top two hitters left for other clubs. The team remained strong as a result of her production. The Virginia State commit gets an excellent jump and stinging velocity when she makes contact with the ball. At 5'10 Lydia needs that jump to hit the ball high off the block. Lydia has risen from number 83 to 72.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='360562' first='Keleigh' last='Chrisman']</strong> left side (Musselman/[program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - Keleigh played left side for West Virginia power house Musselman. She started as a frosh and helped Musselman to a state championship her first year. This is the second time Keleigh has appeared in our stock climbers. The first time she rose from 112 to 97 in July of 2023. This time she rises from 131 to 93. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] is a short distance from Musselman High, which is why you have so many of their players on the roster. Keleigh is the second player on this list that has yet to commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->