Gianna is far from under the radar, she’s one of my normal follows through the year and part of that fantastic AACS team that won their title last year, but sometimes we talk about a player making a jump developmentally, and I think it deserves being put on record that she in fact has done that. She got our MVP award for the Stock Up Showcase, which is very rarely doled out to DS, but she was everywhere, and multiple coaches commented on how different she looked from last year to this year. Confidence and just growing will account for a lot of that, but she was playing fantastic all day, showed good range on her feet, getting her platform sturdy and placing dimes. She also showed that little extra range you want to see from a Lib stretching to make dives and digs to keep the play going. She’s in a position sharing a TOUGH back court on her club team with a killer 2030 Lib, and sharing her school back court with another great 2029 Lib, but being the featured DS will get you the same time and play in most cases, so she won’t have trouble being seen. I’ve mentioned it a few times that I think with the Lib changes this year, the new meta is going to include playing two Setter/DS combos in the backcourt who are interchangeable on the first and second ball, and I’ve heard rumors that she’s been working on some setting as well, which would make her well prepared if my theory takes off.

Gianna won a top performer award at our frosh showcase last year. A great player to have in the back row. Unfortunately, she plays for two teams that have excellent liberos. Her club teammate Jemma Peterson Jemma Peterson 5'6" | DS/L Croftonshool | 2030 VA plays up for BAVA 15. She won our MVP award at the frosh showcase earlier in the day. Jemma plays libero over Gianna. Her high school teammate Harper Walker Harper Walker 5'7" | DS/L/OH Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA also won a top performer award. Harper is the libero for Annapolis Area Christian. She ranks at number 24 in our class of 2029, just ahead of Gianna.

While Gianna could not win a second top performer award, this did not prevent her from winning the MVP award for the Stock Up showcase. With Jemma Peterson Jemma Peterson 5'6" | DS/L Croftonshool | 2030 VA winning the MVP for the frosh that gave the BAVA 15 team both MVPs at the frosh and stock up showcases.

Gianna was having a killer stock up showcase, delivering perfectly passes, hitting the floor while going after tips and showing the kind of enthusiasm you like to see with liberos. She also has the ability to provide some power in a back row attack, something she did in the Junior Nationals. BAVA finished in 21st place in the American Division, but they lost one of their top outsides to injury during the playoffs.

Gianna ranks at 29 in our class of 2029. Pretty high for someone who plays primarily as a defensive specialist. However, she could play libero for most of the high schools or clubs in the area. She gives a reason why scouts should not ignore defensive specialists.

Gianna is also a second time top performer winner. She took a frosh top performer award this past summer. I love her quiet intensity on the court. She means business when she plays.

Unfortunately, the teams she plays for, Annapolis Area Christian and Bay Area Volleyball Academy carry great liberos. So for the most part you may only see her as a defensive specialist.

At the Maryland Juniors tournament she showed off some great hands when making an out of system set. Perhaps a change in position is necessary. If nothing else it shows the versatility to her game.