Top High Schools in Each District

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a look at a few of the top high schools in each district who hope to get past the regionals so they can play in the State championships. The standings and record are from Max Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Run </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Battlefield </strong>(11-1) won the Cedar Run after their win on Thursday over Patriot, the second five set victory over the Pioneers. The Bobcats only loss was to Freedom. Battlefield has some pop on offense with juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235275' first='Grace' last='Bianchi']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235276' first='Taelin' last='Connolley']</strong> from the left side and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181311' first='Skyler' last='Tennant']</strong> smashing lasers from the right. Junior middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='182776' first='Brianna' last='Clay']</strong> gives them length up the middle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233450' first='Jaelle' last='Hinkle']</strong> is a steady libero and the setters job is shared by juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235279' first='Melorra' last='Arthur'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235278' first='Aava' last='Shingler']. </strong> This team only loses two seniors so if it is not this year it could be next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Patriot </strong>(11-2) is just the opposite with the loss of their two senior left sides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231669' first='Dryden' last='Rancourt'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235272' first='Aria' last='White']</strong>, plus their middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235271' first='Makiya' last='Williams']</strong> for next year. This trio appeared to be the bulk of their offense, with Dryden their leader in kills. Her younger sister frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt'] </strong>hits from the right side and is second on the team in kills. It would not surprise me if she moves to the left side next year. The two setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181245' first='Anisa' last='Flowers'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235277' first='Lauren' last='Katz']</strong> are very talented with good tempo to their sets. Lauren is critical to the team offense as she hits from the right side and is third on the team in kills. They do have frosh <strong>Sydney Bennett</strong> to cover one of the middles. The libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181239' first='Lanie' last='Goff'] </strong>will return for another season. Their only two District losses were to Battlefield. They beat the defending champs Freedom twice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have yet to see <strong>Freedom</strong> (8-3) play, but last year they earned a spot in the State championship but eventually lost to Colgan in three. Some familiar names on the team include middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235284' first='Caitlin' last='Johnson']</strong>, outside hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181563' first='Emma' last='Kerwin'] </strong>and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233447' first='Payton' last='DeJean']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My pick at the start of the season - Battlefield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cardinal </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defending Class 6 State champion <strong>Colgan </strong>(10-0) have run away with this District. They have yet to lose a set this year from a team from Virginia. The Player of the Year from last year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181185' first='Brielle' last='Kemavor']</strong> again leads this team with her play up the middle. Senior setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231633' first='Alexis' last='Scipione'] </strong>runs the offense distributing her sets to an array of weapons. Outsides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209790' first='Aubrey' last='Hatch'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223582' first='Skylar' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224016' first='Kezia' last='Francis']</strong> share the load with Brielle to carry this offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207594' first='Paula' last='Sigurani'] </strong>provides the perfect passes and stout defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Forest Park</strong> (8-2) could almost match Colgan in height. Their only two district losses were against Colgan. That height is led by the 6'3" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209180' first='Jasmine' last='Okeoma']</strong>, who plays one of the middles and leads the team in blocks. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='235293' first='Destini' last='Pickett']</strong> is a 5'8" high flying outside with a big arm and better wrist snap who leads the team in kills as a sophomore. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231680' first='Natalie' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181237' first='Zoe' last='Strachan']</strong> share right side duties and are second and third in kills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235745' first='Kristina' last='Diaz']</strong> provides crisp passes in her libero role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My pick at the start of the season - Colgan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Patriot </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a two team race that has been won by the experience of the <strong>Robinson Rams </strong>(12-0), who have a roster filled with seniors. They shut down the two time defending champ <strong>Alexandria City </strong>twice. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181102' first='Rylah' last='Robinson']</strong> powers this offense from the left side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209177' first='Paige' last='Meins']</strong> controls the pace of the game with her setting. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235826' first='Bryton' last='Hill'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231667' first='Rosina' last='Parker']</strong> are two other senior outsides who contribute to the offense. The only non senior in the starting lineup is sophomore middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235824' first='Georgia' last='Simonsen']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only two losses on the year for Alexandria City (11-2) have been to Robinson. They have two departing seniors who are All State players in setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181179' first='Chloe' last='Wilmot'] </strong>and outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex']</strong>. Their other outside junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233012' first='Bridie' last='Wendling'] </strong>has been contributing to the offense, easing the work load for Milan, who averages close to 6 kills per set. The big blocker in the middle is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231672' first='Annalie' last='McCarthy']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235292' first='Zana' last='Royster'] </strong>is a top notch libero. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My pick at the start of the season - Alexandria City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Langley </strong>(11-0) is dominating this conference and will be one of the favorites to win the Class 6 States. They are led by setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson']</strong>, who can also hit right side and offers a mean serve. The outside tandem of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180292' first='Riley' last='Buddie']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181110' first='Sophia' last='Galova']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker']</strong> may be the deepest in Class 6. Leni also provides strength at the middle when she is not hitting outside. Frosh <strong>Claire Mo</strong> is a solid setter giving Chloe an opportunity to hit right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231676' first='Erica' last='Maebius']</strong> is a steady libero that makes all the plays. This team is stacked with talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marshall </strong>(6-3) gave the Saxons a good run but fell short. They have a dominant outside in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181234' first='Samia' last='Sayd']</strong>, who provides the bulk of their offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231679' first='Marie' last='Kah']</strong> is a strong middle who can put up a good block. The setting chores are shared by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233016' first='Brooke' last='Bundy']</strong> and <strong>Emmie Tran</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235326' first='Emily' last='Kim']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235328' first='Isabella' last='Tran']</strong> come in for them to provide offense on the right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233485' first='Madison' last='Curcio']</strong> is a smaller left side with a good vertical that teams can not overlook. This is a scrappy team that knows how to keep the ball alive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending champions <strong>Herndon</strong> (5-3) were still a force in the conference despite the loss of player of the year <strong>Akasha Anderson</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181104' first='Phoebe' last='Adams']</strong> takes most of the load from the left side. Sophomore setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181242' first='Shylah' last='Swope']</strong> could keep this team contending for the next couple years with her ability to mash from the right side and her sweet hands that consistently feed the hitters. Frosh <strong>Piper Xeller</strong> can fill the middle role or move outside. The 6'2" junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='234266' first='Gabriella' last='Majer']</strong> gives the Hornets some height on the right side but is still a bit raw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My pick at the start of the season - Langley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chesapeake Chirps: <strong>Bullis</strong> pulled off an upset in the Independent Schools League (ISL) last week by sweeping <strong>Georgetown Day</strong>. Next, they face Flint Hill this week....<strong>Rock Ridge </strong>appears to have won the Dulles District with a sweep over 10 time defending Class 4 State Champions <strong>Loudoun County.</strong> It was their second sweep over the Captains but this time it was in the Loudoun County gym....<strong>Oakton</strong> pulled off a critical win over <strong>James Madison</strong> to keep a share of the lead in the Concorde District. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->