Nationals Preview - Unsigned 2027 DMV Setters Ready To Dish

This is the final stretch for club season. Teams are playing a few last tournaments and getting things together and in place for Nationals competition in June and July. You've got AAU Nationals in Orlando that runs from mid June through mid July in 6 different waves, plus a boys schedule. Then you've got GJNC which has technically already started with 18s playing early May to not interfere with their senior year events as much as possible. Then you've got two waves of 12-17s playing mid June through early July that you have to win/earn a bid to play in, which is what all that qualifier craze is about the past couple months. New this year you've also got the Club National Championships in early June, that one anyone can sign up for.     This is all important in our world because this is one of the most, if not THE most important stretch of recruiting for the entire year. 2026 players are finding spots hard to come by as teams have been spending the season closing those gaps, and with this last look at them at their Nationals have had a big last push to close that out. Not that there won't be a few openings out there here and there still but you've really got to work to find them. 2027s are really feeling the crunch now from their most important recruiting year, and this is the stretch a lot of D3s go crazy and make their signings as well, as they were focused on 26 and just wrapped those up, now they shift and are actively hunting and trying to beat each other out for 2027s. Most qualifiers you will see anywhere from 50 coaches to 200 coaches, various levels, but a lot of the D1s were out closing 2027s in this club stretch since they were free to talk last Nationals Season in June. Just at AAU Nationals last year there were over 430 coaches there, if that tells you what the stakes are like at all levels. 2028s are going to open for talking to D1s, I've seen them all over the courts for the 16's and 15's all club season in prep, and that June 15 date is right at the launch of Nationals season.     All that being said, I'm going to start trying to help some of my local 2027s lock in and get signed. If you're an unsigned '27 and want some help or just some advice, DM me. If you're a coach and looking for some targets that may be a good fit for your system and style, reach out, I'll have a good idea of a few and know who is where in the process. Also, keep in mind, players will often have offers, and sometimes have verbally accepted and just not put it out there publicly, so some info could be a little outdated. Just for full disclosure.     2027 Setters:   This position and year happens to be one of the deepest in the DMV. Weird how it changes year to year, some years it's a bunch of middles, some years a bunch of DS, this year there are a ton of really good setters. The old myth about what height needed for each level is slowly being eroded as in the 2026 and 2027 classes there are a large number of setters in the 5'7-5'9 range signing with D1 schools. And keep in mind that's "roster height", IYKYK.   The two big time Metro 17 Travel setters, [player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter'] are at the top of this list. Unless they've quietly signed very recently, they've both got big time talent, and I'm sure are talking to schools, but looking for something specific. Not going to spend too much time here because everyone knows they are both fantastic and front line players, them being unsigned is not from lack of anything. [player_tooltip player_id='448705' first='Danika' last='Swanson'] recently committed to Virginia Wesleyan. [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] and [player_tooltip player_id='298857' first='Ingrid' last='Smith'] who split time for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] are still out there. Both are quality setters and probably round out the top tier here in our area. Jess recently won states and both looked great early in the season when I got to see them play a bunch, that is a very deep and talented team at [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''], one could argue if there is any weakness there it's having TOO much talent and not being able to get them all enough time. A problem that plagued Metro Travel last year and Virginia Juniors came out ahead by signing [player_tooltip player_id='290176' first='Kieran' last='Rhoton'] from them who has broken out and committed recently this year.    This is one I've meant to catch up with for a while now. I had a chance after KC and completely forgot, so I'm not sure where she is in her process, but she's going to go somewhere. Her older sister had similar game, aside from she could hit front row more, and signed D1, but Dakota has the hands and IQ to earn a spot at a variety of levels. Going into HS season, she's going to have another big year for AACS with tons of offensive weapons. If a school were to let her get into the season where she puts up those kinds of numbers again, she may slip through their hands, so I expect someone to try to get her signed between Nationals and HS season.    This tier of setters is very close together skill wise, most are best suited (personal opinion) to a 6-2 system, but many of them have experience running a 5-1, especially at HS where more shallow roster depth breeds necessity sometimes. Loudon Elite has a pair of setters that are very good in [player_tooltip player_id='444617' first='Kamilla' last='Hendrix'] and [player_tooltip player_id='778213' first='Ellie' last='Nguyen'] that are 2027s. I don't get to talk to them enough to know where they are in their process like I do some others, but both are absolutely in that group that are good enough to play in college, so I'll be interested where they end up.    Meg is knee deep in the process and for good reason. She's a smidge taller than the large number of setters in this group, and because of that has a slightly easier time running a 5-1 as well as looking good when she splits time on her [program_tooltip program_id='484770' first='VA' last='Juniors'] team. She's got a few schools in on her at various levels and I'm expecting her to sign at any time. She's a great kid and is going to be a good get for any program, but especially is one with a lot of flexibility for a setter and will fit just about any school and system.     Another in this crowded tier of setters, she's also in the process with a couple schools and looking forward to a good showing at both AAU Nationals and then straight to GNJC the following week. She's had strong showings in Kansas City and Salt Lake City and has drifted towards the top of this group with strong serving runs. Like a couple of the MVSA and Loudon setters, I think her height gets held against her, but I'd take her over a large number of other players when you factor in hands, IQ, serving, and defense. Could easily play DS at the next level as well.     Another very good setter clumped together in this group is Chloe from MVSA. She runs with another shorter setter in [player_tooltip player_id='438058' first='Vivian' last='Ngan'], who is also in this clump of players. It's very odd to see such a bunch of talent all so similar skill wise in the same area. There must have been a run a couple years ago where no one thought they had setters and went on a tear of converting DS/L to S, because all of them are in that same boat now. One of the things that stands out with these two, as well as the group as a whole is that you don't see very many mistakes. It's always a hard fought game against MVSA, largely because these two will keep them in games and will make you earn every inch.    There are a few others scattered in the area I could throw in this group, and I have no trouble saying that any of them could play at the D3 level for sure, and maybe even higher for some others. Looking at players I've highlighted this season even I'm surprised at how many have ended up signing D1, but these guys all belong in college somewhere. I'd say [player_tooltip player_id='728459' first='Ali' last='Joyce'] and [player_tooltip player_id='735315' first='Zaire' last='Hewlett'] from Paramount are in that range, [player_tooltip player_id='955216' first='Milla' last='Danek'] at Maryland Juniors, and [player_tooltip player_id='861538' first='Lynnea' last='Schaar'] from [program_tooltip program_id='549544' first='Club' last='757'].    My last highlight from this tight group of setters is going to be [player_tooltip player_id='849600' first='Jennifer' last='Hong'] from CVA. She's a setter generally in club, but during HS season she was moved to Lib in a move that filled a need, and she responded with a fantastic year. A nod to my point before that almost all of these players could also play DS at the next level, many of them were Liberos at some point before switching to Setter. The problem is when colleges are looking at them and they aren't actively trying out or working as a DS/L, and being evaluated as a S, schools could be missing out on some legit DS options. I might mention how important it is to have DS that can set the 2nd ball from teams attacking the S with the first ball, and by that same token having S that can serve receive that first ball.    The trend has been to find tall setters that you can use at the net on offense as attackers, and rather unfairly it knocks some very valuable players off the table for those schools. I would say an evolving trend in the sport is that you are going to see back rows full of shorter DS/S combos where it doesn't matter as much who takes the first or second ball, and would let you attack symmetrically from either side and could also start to lead to whether teams are taking RHH or LHH Middles as well. This would make it harder for teams to target specific spots on the serve if either side can play or set the ball just as well and you could go with the flow of the play more vs trying to get the ball to a certain spot on the court for the set. Time will tell...

This is the final stretch for club season. Teams are playing a few last tournaments and getting things together and in place for Nationals competition in June and July. You've got AAU Nationals in Orlando that runs from mid June through mid July in 6 different waves, plus a boys schedule. Then you've got GJNC which has technically already started with 18s playing early May to not interfere with their senior year events as much as possible. Then you've got two waves of 12-17s playing mid June through early July that you have to win/earn a bid to play in, which is what all that qualifier craze is about the past couple months. New this year you've also got the Club National Championships in early June, that one anyone can sign up for.