Top Ten Prospects of 2029

For the frosh class of 2029 there are no climbers in the rankings or new players added. With this post I chose to name the top ten players named for the class of 2029. A little history of our top ranked frosh players is detailed at the end of this post. Our next post I will identify many of the frosh who squeezed onto the varsity rosters. A number of players appear on the watch list because they made the varsity as frosh but I have yet to see them play. Finally, a future post of those teams, not including the Virginia Beach area teams that have a roster with at least four frosh who made the varsity.   However, first we take a look at our top ten in the class of 2029. Of this top ten our top eight have made their varsity teams. Rosters are not yet available for Walt Whitman and Riverside as of this writing.    A couple weeks ago Bishop O'Connell inducted one of their top volleyball players Claire Crutchfield into their Hall of Fame. In addition, Caroline is the younger sister of Grace Maria, who led the Knights to two WCAC championships and was awarded O'Connell athlete of the year in 2023.   While Carolyn is a different player than Claire and her older sister Grace, she could ultimately end up the better player. Even as a setter as her primary position her hitting as a frosh is more terminal than her older sister during her junior season. Her ability to block is exceptional and she is an excellent passer. However, despite all these skills she is a setter first.   Carolyn still needs some work on the consistency with her location, especially with the quick tempo sets. However, at 6'0' she makes some incredible one handed set saves on passes over the net. In the second scrimmage for Bishop O'Connell against Washington Liberty Carolyn finished with 12 kills in 19 swings with no hitting errors. That calculates to a .632 hitting percentage.   But as I told [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] after she received a number one ranking by Prep Dig - don't believe the hype. Just go out and play.     [player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas'] also has an older sister who plays volleyball at Bishop McNamara. That would be [player_tooltip player_id='828558' first='Imani' last='Thomas']. While [player_tooltip player_id='828558' first='Imani' last='Thomas'] does not appear to have played her frosh year (Edit: Imani play for Seton her frosh year) there is no doubt that Sierra will start for the Mustangs her frosh year.   She was on of the top hitters for Maryland Jurs 14, which qualified for Open at Junior Nationals. She also earned a top performer award at the Prep Dig frosh showcase and just missed winning the MVP of the event (won by [player_tooltip player_id='749642' first='Sophia' last='Groshek']).   A solid hitter who can extend over the block to generate her kills. Tremendous athleticism inherited from her father, who played professional basketball for a number of years with the Washington Wizards. Sierra still needs more consistency on her back row play but that should not stop her from being a six rotation player.     Scarlett's game is similar to [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']. She sets as well as hits right side. Except in Scarlett's case, she appears to be a hitter first. Even at 5'9" she can put the ball down harder than most.   Scarlett made the varsity team for Annapolis Area Christian. Six other frosh have also made the team including one talented setter [player_tooltip player_id='762823' first='Brie' last='Mouton']. The setter from the team last year graduated, but they also brought in junior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='749757' first='Dakota' last='Pentorn']. [player_tooltip player_id='749642' first='Sophia' last='Groshek'] is also listed as a setter.   No matter the roster spot Scarlett brings the skills that will earn her a spot in the starting six. Tryouts will determine where that position will be.    4. [player_tooltip player_id='750050' first='Raquel' last='Telly'] Outside (Georgetown Day/Metro) - Another younger sister making the top ten. Both her and her older sister [player_tooltip player_id='829156' first='Alexa' last='Telly'] transferred from Bullis to Georgetown Day. Alexa plays for Metro 16 which finished in second place in the Junior Nationals with Alexa winning a spot on the All Tournament team. Raquel played for Metro 14. She was teammates with [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']. At a listed 6'0" Raquel has now grown taller than her older sister. Raquel won the MVP award at the Capitol Hill Classic while leading Metro to a first place finish. Those younger sisters always seem to eventually outperform their older sisters.    Sophia is another talented frosh scooped up by Annapolis. Not surprising since a Jennifer Groshek also coaches there. While the Maryland Jrs 14 team carried a lot of talent Sophia played up with the Maryland Juniors 15 team.   At the Prep Dig frosh showcase she won the Avoli top player award. [player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas'] was also at that event. Sophia is a true six rotation player whose passing and defense could make her a libero if she did not hit so well.   She also lists setting as a position but I have yet to see her set. With her athleticism and devotion to hard work it would not surprise me to see her succeed at that position as well.    6. [player_tooltip player_id='768546' first='Eleanor' last='Jastrzemski'] outside (Central Virginia Home School/Momentum) - Eleanor is a 6'1" outside who played on a 17U team. Despite her youth she dominated when hitting outside. She also stayed in to play all six rotations. Like three of the other girls on this top ten Eleanor also has an older sister [player_tooltip player_id='768547' first='Nadia' last='Jastrzemski'] on the team. Their home school started the season 5-0 beating some traditionally strong schools like Collegiate. Their next match is tonight against the 11-0 Brunswick Academy (see below for results).    Brie set BAVA to an appearance in junior nationals. While she set a 5/1 and lists at 5'7" she shows the ability to get high over the net and redirect tight passes to the floor when she plays front row. She is the third Annapolis Area Christian School player to make the top ten.   For her age Brie has an excellent sense of how to run an offense. Her quick tempo sets are on target and she brings consistent location to her outside sets. It would not surprise me that some of the better clubs in the area try to convince her to play for them this coming club season.     At 6'0" she brings good height to the pin position. For [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] she played right side. It appears she may play left side for Woodbridge. Elliot is one of four frosh to make the varsity roster.   Elliot plays multiple sports, including basketball and lacrosse. All those sports enhance her volleyball skills. She shows fluid motions that make her swing seem effortless as the ball rockets to the floor. Her quickness on the floor is something you would expect to see from a smaller libero.   It will be interesting to see how her volleyball skills develop once she focuses on the sport.     Sydney won a top performer award at our Prep Dig frosh showcase. She was there with [player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='749642' first='Sophia' last='Groshek'] and [player_tooltip player_id='762823' first='Brie' last='Mouton'] along with a number of other frosh who shined at the event. While her offensive game is still a work in progress, she brings the ability to put up a good block at the net with her long reach.   Riverside lost a very good middle to graduation. An opening exists for her to take. At 6'0" with further growth in her future Sydney brings the height for the position.    10. [player_tooltip player_id='750047' first='Caroline' last='Conroy'] MB (Walt Whitman/Metro) - Another player on that Metro 14 team. At 6'3" she stands tall at the net. One of the toughest skills for middles to learn at this age is the transition game. They often find themselves stuck in the middle and going around in circles as they watch the ball from the net. Caroline transitions well which allows her to be in a position to hit the quick tempo sets. Walt Whitman does not yet have rosters out so it is unclear whether Caroline made varsity.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">History of Frosh Number Ones</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/09/DSC05405-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-224469" style="width:444px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Emerson Sellman </figcaption></figure>   My history with Prep Dig came when the class of 2024 were frosh. So my historical knowledge base begins there.   2021 - Elayna Duprey she played for Flint Hill and Metro. Started at Virginia Tech and transferred to Virginia.   2022 - Akasha Anderson - Virginia Gatorade player of the year. Started at Auburn and later transferred to Michigan State and now Purdue. Played for Herndon and Virginia Elite.   2023 - Safi Hampton - she played for Hammond and Metro. Currently plays at North Carolina.   2024 - Emerson Sellman - Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year for 2023 and 2024. She played for Holy Cross and Metro. Started her college career at Ohio State but currently plays for Penn State.   2025 - Macari Spears - She moved to Texas and the number one spot was taken by Lameen Mambu. Spears won Gatorade Player of the for Texas. She will play for University of Texas. Macari played for Flint Hill and Metro. Lameen played for Chantilly and Metro. She will play for Georgia Tech.   2026 - [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] - It was eventually taken over by [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] once she made the USA junior national team roster. Kennedy currently plays for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] and James Wood. She has committed to play beach at Arizona State. Nadiya plays at Riverside and Metro. She has committed to Baylor University. I think at one point [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] slotted number one. Caydence has committed to Marquette. She played for North Hagerstown and Metro.   2027 - [player_tooltip player_id='296486' first='Taylor' last='Harrington'] - She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] and Wakefield. Could be the first number one not to play for Metro. Taylor has commited to Penn State.   2028 - [player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] - She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] and John Handley. Her focus for the club season is on beach. This allowed [player_tooltip player_id='833815' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] to take over the number one position this year. Katherine plays for Richard Montgomery and Metro. Since I have been at Prep Dig Katherine was the first Chesapeake player to win an MVP award at Junior Nationals.   2029 - [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'] - She plays for Metro and Bishop O'Connell.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game of the Week - Battle of the Undefeated</h2>   It is still early in the high school season but some of the smaller schools have already gotten started. The Central Virginia Home School Athletic Association took their 7-0 record against Brunswick who was 11-0. Coming into the match Brunswick had only lost one set. The Central Virginia Homeschool team had previously won a five set match against Collegiate.   The Central Home School proved a bit too much for Brunswick, sweeping them in three, 25-22, 25-22, 25-20. They were led by [player_tooltip player_id='768545' first='Autumn' last='Schwartz'] 13 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='768547' first='Nadia' last='Jastrzemski']'s 12 kills. Frosh [player_tooltip player_id='768546' first='Eleanor' last='Jastrzemski'] finished with five kills. Nadia also led the team with seven blocks. Sophomore Samantha Gits led the team with 12 digs. All stats provided by Maxpreps.

For the frosh class of 2029 there are no climbers in the rankings or new players added. With this post I chose to name the top ten players named for the class of 2029. A little history of our top ranked frosh players is detailed at the end of this post. Our next post I will identify many of the frosh who squeezed onto the varsity rosters. A number of players appear on the watch list because they made the varsity as frosh but I have yet to see them play. Finally, a future post of those teams, not including the Virginia Beach area teams that have a roster with at least four frosh who made the varsity.