Capitol Hill Classic Award Winners

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One aspect of the Capitol Hill Classic I like is the awards they give out for Best Server, Best Receiver, Best Setter, Best Attacker, Best Blocker, Best Digger and MVP. They get taken into consideration when compiling rankings. Below are those award winners for the local Open teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">18 Open</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek']</strong> middle (Metro) - The big pin hitters have all left. For the most part this team differs vastly from the players who competed last summer. However, one familiar face returns in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek']</strong>. Her middle play this past high school season led Riverside to their second straight Class 5 state championship. This earned her a spot of the Class 5 first team All State. She has also been one of the more consistent offensive contributors for Metro 18. Gabriella ranks number 12 in our class of 2026. She has committed to American.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Server - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang']</strong> libero (Metro) - Evie missed all of last club season to a knee injury. It is good to see her back. A very steady passer as well as a strong defensive player. With this award she shows she also brings a strong serve. In her return to the libero position Flint Hill won the VISAA state championship, earning her a spot on the All State second team. Evie ranks number 34 in our class of 2026. She has committed to George Washington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Receiver - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484405' first='Brenna' last='Raymond'] </strong>libero (540 volleyball Academy) - One of the liberos who appeared very late on my radar. She wowed me at the East Coast championships last year. Brenna is just so consistent with her play, earning a second team Class 5 All State selection. Her ranking at number 84 should probably be much higher. Brenna has committed to Virginia Wesleyan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo']</strong> setter (Metro) - No questioning this selection. She is the top ranked setter in the class of 2026 and ranks number 5 overall. And to think, the one year I coached 12s she did not make my cut for the first team and played on the 12-2 team. Two high school state championships with Langley and a third place finish with Metro last year at Junior Nationals in the Open Division makes me wonder what I was thinking. Claire has committed to Columbia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Attacker - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='557033' first='Aniah' last='Bass']</strong> left side (Virginia Juniors) - This comes as a bit of a surprise when you consider she ranks at number 111 in our class of 2026 rankings. She did not debut in our rankings until 2026 when she played for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. Aniah has committed to North Carolina Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Digger - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493358' first='Kennedy' last='Cummins']</strong> libero (Metro) - I've always liked Kennedy as a libero. She did not get a lot of playing time when she played with [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. One of her big attributes is her quickness on the court. She also appears to anticipate well. With Metro she shares the libero duties with [player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang']. Kennedy ranks number 59 in our class of 2026. She is the only player from this list and the third highest ranked libero in the class of 2026 yet to commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17 Open</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589282,"width":"514px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.501502019107653","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/140_-Hunter-Ross.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589282" style="aspect-ratio:1.501502019107653;width:514px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> libero (Metro) - Last year Laila won the best digger and when playing in the 15 Open won best receiver. She won the MVP in the 14 Open, but she was an outside hitter then. In high school she earned Player of the year award for the Concord Division. The Virginia Gatorade Player of the year is the fourth ranked player in the class of 2027. Madison used her as an outside hitter, and she led the team in kills. Laila has committed to Oklahoma.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Attacker - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross']</strong> middle (Metro) - Hunter is our number two ranked player in the class of 2027. Last year Flint Hill used her as an outside. She led the team in hitting while leading Flint Hill to the VISAA state championship. She also earned the most valuable player award. Hunter has committed to UCLA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Digger -<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437443' first='Kaniyah' last='Ball']</strong> (Metro) - This is the third time she has won the best digger award. She won it in the 15 and 14 Open. Kaniyah plays a year up, belonging to the class of 2028. Last summer she made all tournament team in the Junior Nationals in the National Division as Metro finished second in the event. Kaniyah ranks number 5 in our class of 2028. While she plays defensive specialist for the current 17 team, Laila and Kaniyah are probably two of the top liberos in the 17 under class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">16 Open</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589189,"width":"509px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.501502019107653","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/35-Ana-Woods.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589189" style="aspect-ratio:1.501502019107653;width:509px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] </strong>left side (Metro) - This is her third MVP award at Capitol Hill Classic. She won it a couple years ago playing 14 Open and the previous year playing 13 Open. She also won the MVP award in Junior Nationals in the National Division for leading Metro to a first place finish. Katherine is ranked as the number 1 ranked player in our class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Server - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='948005' first='Niko' last='Diller']</strong> outside/libero ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - This is one player who came out of nowhere. She does not appear in our 2028 rankings. She played for Woodgrove and is listed as an outside. [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] identifies her as a libero. She now appears on the Prep Dig radar. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Attacker - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='787533' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha']</strong> left side (Metro) - This is the third consecutive season she has won the best attacker. Last year she won the MVP award, denying [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] the ability to win four straight MVP honors. Perhaps one of the hardest hitters in any age group. While she only stands 5'8" there appears to be some growth left. Her sister lists over 6 foot. Chika also earned a spot on the All tournament team with [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] at the Junior Nationals. Chika ranks number 4 in our class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Blocker - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'] </strong>right side (Metro) - As a right side she sometimes gets overlooked. At 6'1" she can put up a good block. For Holy Cross she earned WCAC second team honors. Ana ranks number 3 in our class of 2028. Of the top four in the class of 2028 only <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='511457' first='Breeze' last='Johnson'] </strong>at number two did not win an award, but her focus during club season is beach. She still plays indoor in high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 Open</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":882987,"width":"515px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/123-Scarlett-Netherton-crop-2327x1528-1756840312.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-882987" style="width:515px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755672' first='Jaylin' last='Park']</strong> libero (Metro) - The second libero to win MVP honors. Jaylin actually belongs to the class of 2028. From what I understand she hits outside for her Reservoir High team. She ranks number 77 in our class of 2028 but that should rise based on her overall performance for Metro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Receiver - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755672' first='Jaylin' last='Park']</strong> libero (Metro) - The previous two years Jaylin won the best digger award. This year it is for top passer. She can do it all, including hitting outside for her high school team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Attacker - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton']</strong> left side (Metro) - Scarlett won the MVP award two years ago when she played for Maryland Juniors. She can hit the ball hard, especially when she turns to go down the line. Last year for Maryland Juniors she hit right side as well as set. This year for Metro her focus is on the left side. Scarlett ranks number 2 in our class of 2029.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">14 Open </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753097' first='Nadia' last='Wooten']</strong> left side (Metro) - We have not yet ranked players from the class of 2030 yet. That will come after the Junior Nationals. It would not surprise me to see Nadia sit on or near the top of those rankings. She hits the ball hard, whether she is striking the ball in the front or back row. At 5'10" she already has an approach jump that reaches 10'4".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Server and Receiver - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941765' first='Aubrey' last='Astorino']</strong> libero ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - I witnessed her serve a number of aces. She also acts as the on court captain. She is another player who should be watched more closely when putting together the 2030 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Setter -<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='948217' first='Sophia' last='Roddefer']</strong> setter ([program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']) - A class of 2029. Last year she played for the James Wood junior varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Attacker - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941763' first='Sai' last='Herndon-Brown']</strong> (Metro) - The other left side for Metro hits the ball hard as well. In my opinion, Nadia and Sai could play at the 15 level and still impress.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Blocker - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='948024' first='Kaila' last='Banks'] </strong>outside (Metro) - She lists as a pin. The couple times I watched Metro 14 play she was not on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->