I first watched Zeynep set last year when she played for Go Volley. She now sets for Virginia Juniors. I’m impressed with those setters who can get to the ball and jump set almost every ball. Especially for the middle, it makes the ball so much easier to hit while also being a faster pace for the offense. Zeynep looks pretty smooth with her setting ability.

Last year she set for Marshall getting them to the State bracket playoffs for the first time in school history. They eventually lost to Grassfield in the first round.

From what I have been told next year Zeynep will be going to Madison, while her younger sister, who also played for Marshall will go to Flint Hill. As good a connection as Zeynep has with Mandela Masimini Mandela Masimini 6'4" | MB Flint Hill School | 2028 State VA in the middle I’m sure Mandela would like to see Zeynep at Flint Hill. Mike Carroll, who has been coaching for Marshall for the longest time has decided to focus on teaching this year.

Virginia Juniors had a rough time at the Chesapeake Regional Bid championships while also failing to earn a bid in the Qualifiers. They are scheduled to play in AAUs in Orlando in Wave 3.

As a frosh Zeynep was a pretty potent hitter for Marshall but she did not see a lot of playing time because there were two hitters ahead of her. The following club season she set for Go Volley. As a sophomore she shared setting duties with Ellie Nguyen Ellie Nguyen 5'5" | S/DS/L George C Marshall | 2027 State VA , who sets for Loudoun Elite . The one time I went to see Marshall play Zeynep was injured.

After a slow start in which Marshall only won one of their first nine matches the Statesmen bounced back to win 17 of their next 22. They got to the quarter finals of the Virginia Class 6 state championship before losing to Grassfield. You never would have expected that after the start to their season. After the season Zeynap won a top performer award for her setting at the Prep Dig Exposure tour.

This year Zeynep will set for Virginia Juniors. The one tournament they played in was the City of Oaks Challenge where they finished a respectable 9th out of 48 teams. They were supposed to play in MAPL this weekend but that got snowed out.

Last year Zeynep impressed me with her ability to hit outside. Unfortunately, as a frosh she yielded time to the more experienced players, especially as the season winded down. Her 5’9″ height might have influenced her to change positions.

I saw her set this past season at Go Volley and she did a good job. As a hitter you can see that she has a high volleyball IQ to know the open spots on the court. It does not take a lot to transfer that volleyball IQ to knowing who to set and when to set them. As a former hitter she can also get a feel about which player she can trust to put the ball away during those clutch moments when you need the point. She seemed to have picked up the jump setting rather quickly.

During her first year as the Marshall setter the team qualified to play in the state bracket. One more win and they would have been in the final four for the first time in school history. Unfortunately, Grassfield swept them in three.

Zeynep will try to improve her craft setting for Virginia Juniors this year. After that who knows what is in store next high school season.

Zeynep is another solid six rotation player, who despite her 5’8″ height can put the ball away. Marshall has three solid pins with Julie Schumer and Ayla Sayd Ayla Sayd 6'0" | OH Marshall-Falls Church | 2027 State VA . Both Julie and Zeynep saw the most time on the left side in the match that I watched. Zeynep plays all six rotations when in the lineup.

In their most recent game against Yorktown Zeynep finished with 10 kills. Zeynep played for a talented Paramount 14 team this past club season.

Zeynep debuts at number 11 in our 2028 rankings.