Huskies Fill the Number One Spot in Top Ten
In this article:
In college volleyball a Nebraska/Creighton game brought the largest attendance ever for a college volleyball match at over 14,000. This weekend Colorado State had their first sell out, attracting over 8,000 to their game, the second largest attendance for a…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn college volleyball a Nebraska/Creighton game brought the largest attendance ever for a college volleyball match at over 14,000. This weekend Colorado State had their first sell out, attracting over 8,000 to their game, the second largest attendance for a volleyball game. Wisconsin/Florida broke the record last weekend for attendance at a volleyball match with over 16,000. Go out and support your local volleyball team. It is a pretty cool sport.
At the high school gyms I’ve been impressed with the attendance. Flint Hill has an enthusiastic student section that gets pretty loud. Langley draws a good crowd. I was at a Justice game where there was a very lively student section with lots of cowgirls and cowboys rooting for their Wolves and crying out “boom” whenever Helen Frankovich Helen Frankovich 6'3" | RS Justice | 2023 State VA prepared to find the floor with one of her spikes. The Stonebridge Bulldogs like to do their bark and the Fairfax Lions bring in a good crowd despite their struggles.
It is against this back drop that we put together our second top ten high schools for the Northern Virginia area. The top four have not changed, just moved around position wise but they should remain fairly fluid. It would not surprise me to see Langley play Colgan in the Class 6 State championship for public schools and Flint Hill do battle with Bishop O’Connell for the private school state championship honors.
Flint Hill (4-0) – They had a big sweep against their ISL division rival Georgetown Day. You have to go all the way back to 2011 before you find a set loss by the Huskies in the ISL. They travel to Florida for a weekend tournament. They are led by the power hitting on the left side from Sydney Bryant Sydney Bryant 5'11" | OH Flint Hill | 2023 State #151 Nation VA and the middle attack of Ryla Jones Ryla Jones 6'4" | MB Flint Hill | 2024 State #80 Nation VA . They have yet to lose a set this year.
Colgan Sharks (7-0) – Another team that has failed to lose a set. They also won the Virginia showcase tournament down in Richmond and plan to compete in a tournament in Virginia Beach this weekend (Endless Summer). A sweep of Battlefield last week was impressive. Colgan is led by middle Brielle Kemavor Brielle Kemavor 6'5" | MB Charles J. Colgan | 2023 State #148 Nation VA , setter Alexis Scipione, libero Paula Sigurani Paula Sigurani 5'4" | DS/L Colgan | 2024 State VA and outside Aubrey Hatch Aubrey Hatch 6'1" | OH Colgan | 2024 State VA . The defending Class 6 champs seem to be on a mission to repeat their 2021 Class 6 State Championship..
Bishop O’Connell (7-0) – Last week the Knights outscored their opponents by an average score of 25-7.5. This does not include the forfeit win over Ryken, who had a CO-VID outbreak and could not field enough players to form a competitive team. The Knights have lost just one set all year. Grace Maria Grace Maria 6'2" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State #150 Nation VA leads the attack from the outside and Madison Bowser Madison Bowser 6'2" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State VA is a difference maker in the middle. Erin Debiec Erin Debiec 6'1" | S Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State #92 Nation VA sets and contributes offense when in the front row. Hannah Kotb has been showing some solid defensive prowess as the libero.
Langley High School (8-0) – It is tough to drop two places when you failed to lose a set since the last ranking, especially getting a sweep against top ten Stonebridge. But I consider these top four pretty fluid. Langley still has a young team, which should get stronger as the season progresses. Ana Toumazatos Ana Toumazatos 6'1" | OH Langley | 2025 State VA contributes to the offense from the left side, Leni Stanton-Parker Leni Stanton-Parker 6'0" | OH Langley | 2025 State #116 Nation VA rotates between the middle and left side and produces at both positions. Chloe Hokenson Chloe Hokenson 6'1" | S Langley | 2024 State VA sets and provides the offense on the right side along with Riley Buddie Riley Buddie 6'1" | OH Langley | 2024 State VA . Erica Maebius contributes veteran leadership with her libero play.
George Marshall (6-1) – Their only loss was to Langley, but they had opportunities to win the first two sets that turned into two point losses, eventually losing the match 3-1. They recently swept Oakton, who are also ranked in the top ten. Samia Sayd Samia Sayd 5'11" | OH Marshall | 2024 State VA leads this offense, but this scrappy cast of characters all seem to fill their roles to find victories.
James Wood (6 – 0) – They have only lost one set. Two talented frosh, Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State VA and Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA are the top two players in kills. They also have juniors Paige Ahakuelo Paige Ahakuelo 5'8" | S James Wood | 2024 State VA and Hannah McCullough Hannah McCullough 5'2" | S James Wood | 2024 State VA share setting duties. They lack height at the net but they battle for every point, with excellent ball control. That starts with 5’4″ libero Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA hitting outside and playing six rotations, allowing Carsyn Vincent to play libero. The 5’8″ middle Ella Kelchner leads the team in blocks.
Oakton (4-1) – They were swept by Marshall last week for their first loss of the season. They are led by two outsides in juniors Jocelyn Shortle Jocelyn Shortle 5'9" | OH Oakton | 2024 State VA and Seliz Aktuglu Seliz Aktuglu 5'9" | OH Oakton | 2024 State VA to lead their offense. Jade Brooks Jade Brooks 6'0" | MB Oakton | 2023 State VA runs the quicks in the middle and libero Sydney Hess and defensive specialist Sadee Nicole Gedse control the defense.
Millbrook (7-0) – Another Winchester team rolling through their competition. Setter Madison Koeller Madison Koeller 6'0" | S Millbrook | 2023 State VA directs the offense. Sophomore left side Berkeley Konrady and frosh libero Giselle Norris Giselle Norris 5'6" | DS/L Millbrook | 2026 State VA provide some hope for the future. An end of September match against James Wood could decide the favorite for the Northwestern District. Millbrook has some length with six players listed at 5’10” or greater. James Woods only has one player listed at 5’10” or greater.
Alexandria City (6-1) – They continue to keep on winning with the duo of Chloe Wilmot Chloe Wilmot 5'9" | S Alexandria City | 2023 State VA and Milan Rex Milan Rex 5'11" | S Alexandria City | 2023 State #147 Nation VA . Don’t know how long that will last. After losing to Robinson in five they went on to win their next three games, two of them by sweeps. Of their six wins, four of them have been by sweeps. Last week they beat St Johns in four, giving the Cadets their first loss of the season.
Stone Bridge (10-3) – They were undefeated until they lost their setter Trisha Guevara Trisha Guevara 5'3" | S Stone Bridge | 2023 State VA to concussion protocol prior to a game against Langley. The Saxons swept them and two more losses in tournament play, one to Briar Woods leaves them with three losses. Lilah Stevens Lilah Stevens 5'9" | OH Stone Bridge | 2024 State VA continues to be their big hitter from the left side. Junior Gabriella Flamish is a strong presence on the right side at 6’1″.
Others given consideration:
James Madison (7-3) – Two of their three losses have come against top ten opponents Langley and Marshall. Setter Natalie Lauer Natalie Lauer 5'5" | S James Madison | 2023 State VA runs the offense and libero Sydney Pham Sydney Pham 5'3" | DS/L Madison | 2024 State VA stitches together consistent passing while playing a solid defense.
Battlefield (8-3) – They were being considered for the top ten then lost in five to Freedom. Two of their other losses have been to top ten teams Colgan and Oakton. Sophomore hitter Skyler Tennant Skyler Tennant 5'11" | RS Battlefield | 2025 State VA sparks this offense.
Rock Ridge (8-3) – One of their three losses was to top ten Stone Bridge in five. Setter Ankita Kamath and left side Grace Tucker Grace Tucker 5'9" | OH Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA contribute to their success.
Justice (4-0) – They are undefeated in their first four games. The offense consists of setting Helen Frankovich Helen Frankovich 6'3" | RS Justice | 2023 State VA outside and back row and hope for the best. They were to host a tournament this weekend.
Chesapeake Chirps; Just returned from the Endless Summer tournament. We’ll write more about it later this week. The winners were Musselman in the Champion division. Timberlake Christian won II-a. Bishop O’Connell won II-b. York was the winner of III-a and Denbigh Baptist III-b. Hidden Valley won Division I, defeating a strong Grafton team 25-23, 25-23 in the semi-finals with Caleigh Ponn Caleigh Ponn 5'6" | DS/L Hidden Valley | 2025 State #83 Nation VA finishing with 23 kills. Two of those kills came with the score 24-23 to win set and match point. This is from a sophomore who plays libero in club. They also beat Marshall in the finals 25-18, 25-19. More about that tournament later this week