Ok this one feels like cheating. I’ve known Jemma more than half her life, so I’ve watched her come up and develop for years already. She’s turning into quite the elite volleyball player over the past couple years of development. She plays like the style of DS that is more just solid, consistent play without making mistakes, always in the right spot, always getting a good pass down. Part of that is high IQ and reading the play before it happens, and part of it is just solid fundamentals and work ethic. She’s got good size for a DS, which probably contributes to that solid no-mistake style of hers, versus some of the smaller, faster DS that make the flashy plays but can have some missteps along the way. Jemma has a great shot at making Varsity as a Freshman and could be a contributor right away for a Crofton team that is just on the cusp of county contention. I’ll get to see her close up soon and we’ll see how things go, but as a contributor on a team that’s been to Nationals twice by 15s, I’ve got high hopes for this one.

Jemma has been playing up for BAVA the past two years. As a libero she moves her feet well, creates a great platform and reads the hitters like a book. She also communicates well when on the court. Her play carried so much consistency she won the Avoli MVP award. This was the first time it was given to a libero. At the next session her BAVA teammate Gianna Bonnett Gianna Bonnett 5'5" | DS/L Annapolis Area Christian | 2029 State VA earned the Avoli MVP award at the Stock Up Showcase.

Jemma will attend Crofton this season. No question she will make the varsity and likely start as the libero. All this year she played with high schoolers and shined. She made the Prep Dig 15 U junior national all tournament team as the libero with Jaylin Park Jaylin Park 5'6" | DS/L Reservoir | 2028 State VA of Metro. Even at her still young age she stands out as one of the top liberos in the DMV area. Sometimes she shows a consistency that is boring to watch. An occasional shank would spice things up a bit.

It appears all the talented liberos play up a year. Add Jemma to that group. While the class of 2030 is not ranked yet Jemma would stand out as one of the top liberos in the class of 2029, mush less the class of 2030. She has that consistency with her passing, a hustle to her defense and that aggressiveness that the ball is her. That is an attitude all liberos should own.

It would not surprise me to see Jemma make the varsity team for Crofton her frosh season.

Jemma has always played a year up for BAVA. This year she played libero for the 15 team that will play in the USA Division in Junior Nationals. With her accurate passing and tenacious defense she should not have a problem suiting up for the Crofton varsity team.

The Cardinals will have three defensive specialists returning. Last year Crofton lost in the semi-finals of the Regionals after getting to the state championship the previous year. Jemma will provide improvement in the back row for almost any high school team. At least for this coming season Crofton appears to shake out as that school.

Jemma is one of the next big things for me. She’s only in 8th grade, but is playing up on a talented 15s team for BAVA that went to nationals last year. Her defense is top notch, shes got great lateral speed, and her platform is great. A good accurate passer is a big reason for the success on that 15s team, and as she goes into HS next year, things and opportunities are only going to be more plentiful for her. She’s going to be one of the top ranked players in her class right out of the gate this summer.