Sophia Groshek Sophia Groshek 6'0" | RS/OH Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA has already been highlighted for her right side play as one of the keys for the success of Metro National. Avery is one of a number of talented left sides that Metro has at its disposal. The advantage that Avery has over Angela Zhang Angela Zhang 5'11" | OH Churchill | 2029 State VA and Avery Nierenberg Avery Nierenberg 6'0" | OH The Potomac School | 2029 State VA is her libero like qualities when playing the back row. She is a true six rotation player.

Last year, when she was still recovery from a knee injury Maryland Juniors used her as a libero in the Junior Nationals Open Division. Her current approach jump is 9’6″ but that should improve as her knee gets stronger.

Of the three newly created National teams the 15s have the most potential talent. This will be their opportunity to showcase their talent.

When she played for Maryland Jrs she competed with Sierra Thomas Sierra Thomas 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2029 State VA and Emerson Wolfe Emerson Wolfe 5'11" | OH/RS Academy of the Holy Cross | 2028 State VA for outside hitter. Those two are rated in our top ten rankings for 2028 and 2029. A knee injury prevented her from competing for much of the club season however she did suit up for the Junior Nationals where she shared the libero position with Harper Walker Harper Walker 5'7" | DS/L/OH Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA .

Fully healthy for the high school season she played left side for Annapolis Area Christian. She rocked. Another top ten player from the class of 2029 Scarlett Netherton Scarlett Netherton 5'11" | OH/RS Annapolis Area Christian School | 2029 State VA led the team in kills but Avery finished second. She also finished third in digs and was one of the main players in serve receive.

At the exposure tour the pin hitters were a talented group. Despite all that talent Avery was still able to stand out to earn a top performer award.

It seems she is always the underdog. Now Avery will be taking her talents to a newly formed Metro National team. Again, she will compete with a number of talented pins in Sophia Groshek Sophia Groshek 6'0" | RS/OH Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA , Angela Zhang Angela Zhang 5'11" | OH Churchill | 2029 State VA and Avery Nierenberg Avery Nierenberg 6'0" | OH The Potomac School | 2029 State VA for playing time. It won’t be a surprise to see her persevere. Competition brings out the best in her.

When Avery played for Maryland Juniors 14 she was the third outside to Emerson Wolfe Emerson Wolfe 5'11" | OH/RS Academy of the Holy Cross | 2028 State VA and Sierra Thomas Sierra Thomas 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2029 State VA . She fell to an injury during the season but for junior nationals her health allowed her to play back row. From what people tell me she is one of the best passers on the team and Avery shared the libero role with Harper Walker Harper Walker 5'7" | DS/L/OH Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA .

When high school season started Avery was healthy enough to hit outside. During the Endless Summer tournament she played with a knee brace. She finished second in kills to Scarlett Netherton Scarlett Netherton 5'11" | OH/RS Annapolis Area Christian School | 2029 State VA , leading Annapolis to the Bracket A IAAM championship. With libero like passing abilities she played six rotations.

Avery moved up from 51 to 25. She appears to be moving to Metro National, but no official rosters are available for Maryland Jrs. or Metro yet. Like with Annapolis, she just needs an opportunity to play to show off her abilities.

Avery is already highly rated in the area, but I’m expecting big things for her this upcoming club season. I think she takes the next step into super stardom. She’s got the full range of skill, back row defense, hitting at the net, a good serve. She’s got some good height, and as a freshman may even have another inch or two in there. She’s already and advanced all-around 6, and I’m expecting her to get more playing time this year and really claim her space higher up the rankings. She’s next in line, and she’s ready.

Avery is about to fly up some lists in our area. She’s the next big prospect for MDJRS to churn out. She currently plays on a monster-stacked team that has finished top-5 in the country, and she’s just a freshman. She had a mid-season injury that stole some time from her, but looks to be fully recovered, and has been lauded as the best defensive player of the hitters they have, to the extent she sometimes gets put in the DS/Lib rotation to help stabilize serve receive. That’s a pretty major compliment when you’ve got Harper Walker on your team. I’ve decided I’m going to refer to all-around 6 position players as A6’s from now on, because OH/DS/L looks messy and needs an upgrade. Write this one down because she’s about to level up into the elite tier with Scarlett Netherton Scarlett Netherton 5'11" | OH/RS Annapolis Area Christian School | 2029 State VA and Emme Wolfe.

During the club season Avery Lettinga Avery Lettinga 5'11" | OH/DS/L Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA may have been out of the spotlight. She played for Maryland Juniors 14, sharing an outside position with Emerson Wolfe Emerson Wolfe 5'11" | OH/RS Academy of the Holy Cross | 2028 State VA and Sierra Thomas Sierra Thomas 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2029 State VA . That created shortened playing time. I was fortunate to see her hit left side when Emerson Wolfe Emerson Wolfe 5'11" | OH/RS Academy of the Holy Cross | 2028 State VA was under the weather during the National Harbor tournament. She sprayed some high velocity hits all over the court. Unfortunately, a knee injury limited her season after that tournament.

She did get to play at the Junior Nationals sharing the libero position with Harper Walker. Her coach felt she had the best passing platform on the team. With her knee still restricting her from jumping he used her as a libero at Junior Nationals in Dallas in the Open Division.

Now that the high school season has started Avery is the starting left side as a frosh on an Annapolis Area Christion team ranked 15th in the DMV. She wears a knee brace but still finished the tournament with 22 kills and 21 digs. As she gets stronger her game should improve immensly.