Top High Schools in the Other District Races (Part two)
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This is part two of the top high schools reviewed in each of the District races. Sunday I took a look at the Liberty, Patriot, Cedar Run and Cardinal Districts. Next week I will review the status of the Northwestern,…
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Continue ReadingThis is part two of the top high schools reviewed in each of the District races. Sunday I took a look at the Liberty, Patriot, Cedar Run and Cardinal Districts. Next week I will review the status of the Northwestern, WCAC and ISL, The Division races were based on what was reported to Max Preps.
Concorde
Oakton (8-2) battled Chantilly last night for the Concorde District crown and won in four. Their big hitter who they count on the most is Seliz Aktuglu Seliz Aktuglu 5'9" | OH Oakton | 2024 State VA . She is relied on to get the kills when the games get tight. They also have Jocelyn Shortle Jocelyn Shortle 5'9" | OH Oakton | 2024 State VA to hit from the left side and a solid middle in Jade Brooks Jade Brooks 6'0" | MB Oakton | 2023 State VA , who runs the quicks well. Sydney Hess Sydney Hess 5'9" | DS/L Oakton | 2023 State VA is a libero you can count on to play good defense and give you a pass, but Sadee Gedse Sadee Gedse 5'6" | DS/L Oakton | 2025 State VA is also quite capable in that role.
Chantilly (7-3) lost in four to Oakton Thursday night. Chantilly had swept their last three matches but Oakton proved to be a tougher opponent. The team is dependent on the success of Lameen Mambu Lameen Mambu 6'0" | OH Chantilly | 2025 State #64 Nation VA putting the ball down if they hope to see wins. She is one of the top ranked players in the class of 2025. Her setter is Jaylin Price, who at 5’1″can be a handicap in the front row, but her steadiness with her hands allows her to set a 5/1. They have two good back row players in libero Angelina Barrera Angelina Barrera 5'2" | DS/L Chantilly | 2023 State VA and Nola Murphy Nola Murphy 5'6" | DS/L Chantilly | 2025 State VA . Chantilly had beaten Oakton in five the last time these two teams played.
James Madison (6-3 )lurked close in this division. The two losses to Oakton knocked them out of the race. They have two strong middles in Camille Pomeroy and Riley Lynch Riley Lynch 6'0" | MB James Madison | 2025 State VA who can cover a lot of territory with their big blocks. Libero Sydney Pham Sydney Pham 5'3" | DS/L Madison | 2024 State VA may be their most important player because her passing and defense set up this offense. Sydney also leads the team in aces. Senior setter Natalie Lauer Natalie Lauer 5'5" | S James Madison | 2023 State VA provides a veteran presence to this offense but the future may lie with frosh Anasofia Zanellato, who has the height and ability to play right side. Lauren Brown Lauren Brown 5'11" | OH James Madison | 2023 State VA and Michelle Jargalan share the left side duties. Jargalan leads the team in kills but Brown is not that far behind.
My preseason pick was Oakton.
National
Hayfield (12-1) took the National District trophy by sweeping Edison on Monday night. They did it with a nice blocking combination of Elizabeth Stackpole Elizabeth Stackpole 6'2" | MB Hayfield | 2023 State VA , who seemed to switch off between middle and left side and Princess Boakye who played both middle and right side. Left side Emily Weber had a devasting serve that forced the coach to call three time outs during her service rotations. She must have recorded a dozen aces in the match. Kaia Lyons is a smooth libero. She played defense well and moved her feet to get to the serve. Diana Cseke set a 5/1 and showed good hustle for the ball. Taylor Hodge was the other middle that was prominent in the blocking scheme. She also contributed the game winning kill that completed the sweep for Hayfield. Mary Dinegar Mary Dinegar 5'8" | OH Hayfield | 2024 State VA was the other left side the Hawks counted on to put the ball away.
Edison (12-4) took the second place trophy. Elizabeth Hulett Elizabeth Hulett 5'10" | OH Edison | 2023 State VA put some balls down from the left side using her left handed swing. She also incorporates a jump spin serve that kept Hayfield off balance. Isabella Pared is the other left side. Isabel Rios is a right side that has some length and reach in her swing but needs to develop a little more consistency in where she hits the ball. Jacqueline Walker shared the setting job with Amanda Shelton in the first game, then was used in the 5/1 for the last two sets. Taylor Erickson Taylor Erickson 6'1" | MB Thomas Edison | 2025 State VA can run some quick middles. The libero is Mia Shirley Jimenez.
My pick for the National was Justice.
Dulles
Rock Ridge (14-1) lost only to second place Dominion to run away with the Dulles District championship. We have not seen this team play yet, but Grace Tucker Grace Tucker 5'9" | OH Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA is a solid left side while Ankita Kamath Ankita Kamath 5'6" | S Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA and Michelle Kim sling up the sets. Annika Engen Annika Engen 5'10" | OH Rock Ridge | 2023 State VA at 5’10” appears to hit one of the middles.
Dominion (11-4) is the only team to have taken Rock Ridge down. They rely on their three big hitters in left sides Kennedy Seekford Kennedy Seekford 5'5" | DS/L Dominion | 2023 State VA and Alena Smith, plus right side Kaitlyn Demitz. The setting duties are shared by Emma Adiaconitei and Juliet Correll. Kennedy is the only senior of that group while the other four are sophomores. Haley Gill Haley Gill 5'7" | DS/L Dominion | 2023 State #197 Nation VA is one of the top liberos in the area. You can count on her for consistent passing and scrambling defense. Maya Van Wyngaardt leads the team in blocking playing one of the middles.
Loudoun County (11-4) lost their first four games of the season. They recovered to win 10 of their next 11 but stumbled again to lose their last three to Dominion, Rock Ridge and Loudoun Valley. Not the kind of season a ten time defending State champion would like to see in their season. The two left sides Corinne Bonamassa Corinne Bonamassa 5'10" | OH Loudoun County | 2023 State VA and Madison LaRue Madison LaRue 5'9" | OH Loudoun County | 2024 State VA were the top two offensive players, finishing first and second in kills. Alayna Johnson played a solid libero. The two middles Gabriella Morriss and Sydney Howard finished first and second in blocking.
For the Dulles District we had picked Broad Run
Potomac
Riverside (8-1) won back to back matches against Briar Woods to take this District. Left side Adriana Perodin is the big gun on the team. She hits the ball hard but can be a bit wild. Middle Simone Schaefer Simone Schaefer 5'11" | OH Riverside | 2025 State VA is only a sophomore but plays like a veteran. She has good length at 5’10”, putting balls away with grace and power. Right side Brianna Holladay Brianna Holladay 6'2" | MB Riverside | 2025 State VA is another sophomore who also contributes to the offense. Seniors Ava Ray Ava Ray 5'7" | S Riverside | 2023 State VA and Sage Duggal Sage Duggal 5'5" | S Riverside | 2023 State VA provide a veteran presence to the setting position. Samantha Ferguson Samantha Ferguson 5'10" | MB Riverside | 2024 State VA is a solid contributor at the other middle. Natalie Carlin Natalie Carlin 5'4" | DS/L Riverside | 2024 State VA covers a lot of ground with her quick feet in her libero role.
Briar Woods (8-3) lost back to back to Riverside to finish in second place. Skyler Riggio Skyler Riggio 6'1" | RS Briar Woods | 2024 State VA was their big hitter from the right side. When the Falcons needed a point it was usually Riggio that got the set. The setter Jenna Van der Biezen Jenna Van der Biezen 5'8" | S Briar Woods | 2023 State VA had nice hands and ran a variety of quick tempo sets to keep the other teams off balance. She liked to feed the middles Shannon Callaghan Shannon Callaghan 5'11" | MB Briar Woods | 2024 State VA and Emily Peterson Emily Peterson 6'0" | MB Briar Woods | 2024 State VA . Janssens Arabia Janssens Arabia 5'8" | OH Briar Woods | 2024 State VA gave the team some offense from the left side. She is a lefty swinging junior. The Falcons counted on frosh Molly Gardner to cover the back row. She did a good job with quiet arms for passing and dug quite a few hard hits.
My pick for this District was defending State champion Stonebridge but they collapsed mid season with four straight District losses.
Chesapeake Chirps: James Woods downed Millbrook to win the Northwestern District. Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State VA led the charge with 16 kills. James Woods also had a tough battle with North Hagerstown, winning in five. They won the last set 17-15. Spaid again led the team with 20 kills….Hidden Valley came close to seeing their first loss of the season. They hung on to beat Christianburg in five, winning the fifth set 16-14. Caleigh Ponn Caleigh Ponn 5'6" | DS/L Hidden Valley | 2025 State #83 Nation VA finished the match with 30 kills.