The Top Uncommitted Class of 2025 from Each Position

The class of 2025 in the DMV area has seen an exemplary recruiting year. The top ten have seen players commit to Penn State, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Kansas State and James Madison. Only two players in our top 25 have yet to commit. For those interested in still obtaining some talented players below are the top two (or three) uncommitted players at each position. All these players except one fall within the top 50 rankings for the DMV area. It is possible there may be a reason they have not committed, i.e. grades or no interest in pursuing college volleyball. In my opinion the talent exists to help a college program. Consider this my post Christmas present.   Left Sides    She recently earned the Washington Catholic Athletic Association (WCAC) player of the year honors. Normally, these awards are given to a player whose team won the conference. Not so with Racquel. St. Johns finished third in the WCAC, but the coaches felt that Racquel was the most impactful player in 2024.   A very strong hitter. She really puts some velocity on the ball whether she hits from the back or front row. Her back row play still remains a bit dicey, but it has improved exponentially since she was a frosh. Still a lot of growth left in her game.   This year she will play for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. You can watch her compete at the Triple Crown this year. Consistently playing against top competition will strengthen her game.    [player_tooltip player_id='183589' first='Angelique' last='Desamours'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - She will be the other outside hitter for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. Last year the 17 team finished fifth at the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas playing in the American Division. Angie earned a spot on the All tournament team. She followed that up by helping Bullis high school win the Independent School League (ISL) A championship for the first time in school history. She finished third on the team in kills and second in service aces. At 5'10" some may consider her undersized for a pin, but she does have some hops.   [player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold'] (Next Revolution) - While most of the accolades went to [player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'] for the two championships won by Hidden Vally, Sophie gets some credit for their success as well. She finished her career with 985 kills, with close to 400 coming her senior season. Her back row play can be a little rough but at 6'0" she provides an offensive component needed in a match. In the championship finals she finished with 15 kills. She brings an approach jump of 9'5". She earned a spot on the Class 3 first team All State. It does not appear that Next Revolution will have an 18 team so it may be tough to see her play.   Setters   [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] ([program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']) - She played one season for Bishop O'Connell. During that year the Knights won the VISAA state championship and the WCAC, the first time in school history they have won both titles. She earned a spot on the first team VISAA All state. In all the time I watched her play not once have I seen her attack a ball. She just calmly flicks a two handed back set to the "4" area or dumps it in the middle of the court for a kill. Her kill percentage for the season was .479. She also does an excellent job of contorting her body to jump set on balls passed tight to the net. She will be setting for the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 17 team this year, playing a year down. A quality setter worth a look. Finished the year with 920 assists. You don't win two championships without a quality setter.    A knee injury forced her to miss the first half of the season. When she returned she set Hidden Valley to their second consecutive championship. She ranks as the fourth top setter in the class of 2025. The other three setters have all commited.   I have not seen her play since her recovery from a knee injury. It does not appear that Next Revolution will not have an 18 team. Unclear if she plans on playing this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye'] (Virginia Elite) - Amy falls just outside my top 50 but she ranks as my number three setter in the class of 2025 yet to commit. She set Richard Montgomery to a second consecutive Maryland state championship. She also plays right side. While Amy led the team in assists she played opposite [player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic'] who led the team in kills. Amy ranked fourth on the team in blocking. Last year she set for Maryland Juniors 18, sometimes used in a 5/1 and other times used as a front row setter. This year she will set for Virginia Elite. Her block jump registers higher than [player_tooltip player_id='181242' first='Shylah' last='Swope'] who could be the primary setter. Virginia Elite will play in the Florida Fest, Boston and Northeast Qualifiers. They will also play in the Capital Hill Classic and the Puerto Rico championship in June. Lots of teams could find some use for a 6'0" setter.   Liberos   [player_tooltip player_id='235291' first='Sadee' last='Gedse'] (Virginia Elite) - When I watch her play libero she digs everything hit her way. She is also adept at making the quiet pass. She ranks number 14 in our class of 2025, the highest ranked player that lacks a commitment. However, last year when she played for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] [player_tooltip player_id='428533' first='Isabel' last='Morales'] was the starting libero so her opportunities to show off her skill were limited. She will now play back row for Virginia Elite, teaming with [player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon'] to create one of the top back row combos at the 18U level. Sadee creates noise on the court with her constat communication. She won first team All District, the second time she has won the libero of the year award as well as first team in the Class 6D Region. Some of her beach play may enhance her indoor game. She brings all the intangibles you want to the libero position.    [player_tooltip player_id='184604' first='Nia' last='Thomas'] was the libero for Bullis during their most successful season in school history. They were rated the number one team in the DMV area by the Washington Post and finished first in the Independent School League (ISL). Nia shows quickness with her back row play. She has the ability to get to many balls other liberos would let fall to the floor.   This year Nia will play for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. She will compete with two other talented libero possibilities in [player_tooltip player_id='346815' first='Isard' last='Bernades'] and [player_tooltip player_id='326533' first='Shiraz' last='Benyoucef']. That is a trio of talented back row players. Isard hit left side for Glenelg high school. All three lack a commitment and all three will compete at the Triple Crown. You want to find a libero watch this team play.    Right Side   [player_tooltip player_id='309032' first='Samantha' last='Stephens'] ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - There are a number of colleges that would love to have a 6'2" right side who swings lefthanded. She led her West Virginia high school Spring Mills team in kills. Her 6'2" younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='536736' first='Alexis' last='Stephens'] led the team in blocks playing middle. Early in her athletic career her main sport was swimming, so volleyball is till new to her. This will be her fourth season playing club volleyball. Still a lot of upside in her game. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] usually plays in the Orlando AAUs, but they will be playing in qualifiers in Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Also you can find them at the Capitol Hill Classic in DC and the Charm City tournament in Baltimore. (Edit: committed to Indiana University of Pennsylvania).    Skylar made the Class 5B Region first team as well as the first team All Cedar District. While she is listed with the right sides she hits either pin effectively. This year she appeared to play more left side for Battlefield. At 5'11" she carries decent height for a pin hitter.   The last couple years she has played for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. This year she will play for Virginia Juniors. When I have seen her play she was right side and was subbed out for the setter, so I have not seen any back row play from her.   Definitely a player who can generate offense from the pins. Juniors will play in qualifiers in Ohio, Boston and Philadelphia as well as the Capitol Hill Classic and the National Harbor tournament.    Middles    Riley has the versatility to play middle or right side. She finished second on the team in kills and second in blocks. For Madison she played mostly right side. She ranks as the third highest player in the class of 2025 yet to commit. All the middles and right sides ranked above her have committed.   In previous years Riley played for Virginia Jrs. This year she will play for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''], the fifth player from that club on my uncommitted watch list. She can hit the quick tempo sets as well as the higher sets. [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] lists her as a middle/right side. Her 6'2" height ranks her as the tallest on the team.   Paramount will be playing at the Windy City, Ohio Valley, Southeast, Northeast and Mideast Qualifiers. They will also play in the Under Armor national event in Louisville and the Triple Crown.     Aubrey primarily played middle for Madison. She carried the highest hitting percentage on the team while also finishing third in blocks. Aubrey only got started playing volleyball competitively as a frosh in high school. She certainly has some educational interests such as working as an intern at NASA and looking to major in STEM research.   Her height may have gotten her on the frosh volleyball team but her skill has kept her playing for VAVA. She hits the quick tempo sets in the middle well while also moving quickly to the pins. She made my ten under the radar prospects playing at the East Coast championships last year. Four of those players have now committed.   Virginia Volleyball Academy does not have an 18 team. Unclear where she will play this year. Based on her educational interests she may have already chosen a college for her education.    [player_tooltip player_id='608994' first='Emma' last='Sofis'] ([program_tooltip program_id='574146' first='108' last='Beach Volleyball Club']) - She plays both volleyball and lacrosse at her high school Colonial Forge. The one and only time I watched her play was at the Colgan Jamboree. She lists at 6'3" and puts up a good block in the middle. She still needs a little work on her transition movements in the middle so she can be in a better position to hit the quick temp sets more consistently. Based on what I saw she will jump into the top 50 in the January updated rankings. You can check the club out at the Shamrock Showdown in Virginia and the Queen City Classic in North Carolina. Not a heavy schedule so a limited opportunity to watch this diamond in the sand.

The class of 2025 in the DMV area has seen an exemplary recruiting year. The top ten have seen players commit to Penn State, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Kansas State and James Madison. Only two players in our top 25 have yet to commit. For those interested in still obtaining some talented players below are the top two (or three) uncommitted players at each position. All these players except one fall within the top 50 rankings for the DMV area. It is possible there may be a reason they have not committed, i.e. grades or no interest in pursuing college volleyball. In my opinion the talent exists to help a college program. Consider this my post Christmas present.