Milan Rex Virginia Player of the Year Plus All Tournament

A high school season can read like a novel. The days turn like pages and the games run together like chapters. Heroes will emerge and accomplishments celebrated. As the season progresses you just don't know how it is going to end. The 2022 season has now ended. It is time to close the book. A new novel is about to be written. It is called the 2022/2023 travel club season.   It was not too difficult identifying the player of the year for our 2022 high school season (standing to the left of the player with the plaque). [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex'] provided most of the offense for a team that was not expected to be champions. At least not by me. If there was a surprise ending this was it. They had only two returning starters from last year's team that had advanced to the semifinals before losing to Herndon.   Alexandria City lost two games in 2022. Both were to Robinson. That was twice as many losses as they had in the previous two years. But they bounced back. The next two times they played Robinson, one for the District championship and the other to determine seeding for the State bracket, they won. They didn't lose another game all season. Milan provided the offense for this team, averaging 6.5 kills per game and close to 600 kills for the season. She also provided the defense, leading the team with 3.5 digs per set. Finally, to put the icing on the cake she was second on the team in aces. What more can a player do to win a championship?   [player_tooltip player_id='181185' first='Brielle' last='Kemavor'] was right there. If it had been her spike to give Colgan the championship then she would have been given some consideration. [player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria'] from O'Connell was in the running if they had gotten to the State championships and beaten Flint Hill. She was a one woman wrecking crew for the Knights. Flint Hill just had too many weapons to find one that stood out. That gives [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex'] our vote for Virginia high school player of the year.   Below is the All tournament team. They are restricted to high school players in Northern Virginia. It is a team I would hate to coach. Finding playing time for all these players would be a challenge. All had incredible seasons that contributed to their team advancing to the playoffs. We restricted our selections to 24 players so some good players were left out.   First team   [player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria'] OH (Bishop O'Connell/SR) - She led the team in kills with 5.2 per set. She also contributed on defense and in the passing formation. Even with a height of 6'2" she plays the back row like a libero. She also led the team in aces. About the only thing she can't do on the court is set. She was voted to the first team WCAC and first team VISAA. Grace has committed to Connecticut, where her mother played basketball and won a championship.<img class="wp-image-180524" style="width: 150px;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/02/Grace.jpg" alt="">   [player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant'] OH (Flint Hill/SR) - An injury prevented Sydney from contributing to her team's championship run last year. She made up for it this year. Flint Hill lost both of their outsides, one moving to Texas and the other graduating. They did not miss a step, not losing a set the whole season until their last match of the season. Sydney was the offensive presence on this team, leading them in kills. On defense she was third on the team in blocks and digs. She was voted first team in her ISL conference and VISAA first team all state. Sydney is destined for Maryland next year.   [player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu'] OH (Chantilly/SO) - Only a sophomore but perhaps the most dominant hitter this year in high school. Chantilly made it to the semi-finals in States but lost to Alexandria City. She still needs to get more consistency in her back row game but she is a major offensive weapon, whether she is hitting from behind the three meter line or in the front row. She was voted player of the year for the Concorde District.<img class="wp-image-185922" style="width: 150px;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/03/mimi-1.jpg" alt="">   [player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker'] MB (Langley/SO) - She switched between outside and middle during the season. At 5'11" her future may be as an outside. She has the ability to play the back row. It is getting the timing right that is the biggest obstacle for many middles switching to outsides. Her timing on the quicks is impeccable and the balls go down. From the outside she is usually a bit early, but the balls still go down, just not as consistently. She was named to the first team in the Liberty District.   [player_tooltip player_id='181185' first='Brielle' last='Kemavor'] MB (Colgan/SR) - At 6'5" she can dominate a game in the middle. She led her team in blocking and put up 11 blocks in the championship match. She also led her team in hitting, not an easy task for a middle hitter. When the team needs a kill they set her high in the middle and she puts the ball to the floor. She is adept at hitting the quick sets too. Alexandria City knew who to stop when they played Colgan in the championship game, putting up a triple block against her. She was voted player of the year in the Cardinal District for the second season in a row. Brielle will be going to BYU.   [player_tooltip player_id='180295' first='Ryla' last='Jones'] MB (Flint Hill/JR) - Ryla also stands tall in the middle at 6'4". She led her team in blocks and was third in hitting, connecting at a .520 hitting percentage. When Ryla gets the set the chances are pretty good it will result in a point for Flint Hill. She was voted first team all state in the VISAA and first team in the ISL. Ryla has committed to Pittsburgh.   [player_tooltip player_id='181179' first='Chloe' last='Wilmot'] S (Alexandria City/SR) - Chloe goes unrecognized. She is the captain of this team, stitching together the different personalities of the Titan players to form a cohesive unit that came together to win a championship. I'd say she had some success. Without the beautiful placement of her sets Milan may not have had the player of the year award. Chloe stands just 5'7" but has a good jump and at one point was third on her team in blocks. She also plays her position well, not forgetting that defense comes before setting. Setting a 5/1 for two championships in three years is quite the feat. She was voted first team in the Patriot Division. Chloe will be going to Duquesne.   [player_tooltip player_id='180281' first='Erin' last='Debiec'] S (Bishop O'Connell/JR) - Erin stands 6'2" and can be an offensive force at the net, with her block and her swing. Her hitting is still a bit inconsistent because her hands are so consistent for setting that she is used in a 5/1 and does not get a chance to hit often. But when the team needs some offense she can show hitting ability from the left, right or middle. Erin was voted first team all state in the VISAA and made first team WCAC. Erin is destined for Colorado State.   [player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson'] S (Langley/JR) - At 6'2" Chloe also brings an offensive game from the right side. It is extremely rare to find a player who is as proficient at both. She was voted player of the year for the Liberty District and the Regional team. She also has a deadly serve that has steep downward trajectory as it approaches the net. As a junior she will only get better.   [player_tooltip player_id='111508' first='Haley' last='Gill'] L (Dominion/SR) - For this team we only need one defensive player. This is our libero. She is a presence in the back row, named to the Class 4 all Region team as the libero and the top libero in the Dulles District. She knows where to play on defense and makes the tough plays look routine. Haley is committed to Holy Cross college.   [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex'] Utl (Alexandria City/SR) - The biggest question for Milan is what position she plays on the court. For travel ball last year she was the primary setter for the best team in the area (Metro 17) and one of the top ranked teams in the country. She became a hitter in high school because she was the tallest girl on the team at 5'11". She also plays an incredible back row with her defense and passing. She was voted player of the year in the Patriot District and the Prep Dig Player of the Year for Virginia. Milan will be going to UC Santa Barbara.   [player_tooltip player_id='181232' first='Renee' last='Jones'] RS (Flint Hill/JR) - The twin sister of Ryla, who may stand a little taller than her at 6'5". Renee is in the lineup mainly for her blocking, to neutralize the other team's left side hitter. When given a set she puts the ball down, hitting at a .433 percentage. On a different team with less weapons she may get more offensive opportunities, but for the Huskies she is there for her blocking. Renee was also selected for the first team ISL and first team all state in the VISAA.   Second team   [player_tooltip player_id='231633' first='Alexis' last='Scipione'] S (Colgan/SR) - Any player that can set her team to two championship finals must be doing something right. She was voted first team to the Cardinal District.   [player_tooltip player_id='181177' first='Madison' last='Koeller'] S (Millbrook/SR) - She was voted Player of the Year for the Northwestern District. Madison will be going to Bryant next year. <img class="wp-image-211274" style="width: 150px;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/madison.jpg" alt="">   [player_tooltip player_id='180283' first='Natalie' last='Nguyen'] S (Flint Hill/JR) - She was voted first team All State in the VISAA. You may not find a more consistent setter on the floor and she wins wherever she sets, two state championships for Flint Hill and a top five club rating for Metro 16 last year.   [player_tooltip player_id='231669' first='Dryden' last='Rancourt'] OH (Patriot/SR) - She was tops on her team in kills and second in digs showing she can play all six rotations. Dryden was player of the year in the Cedar Run District.   [player_tooltip player_id='209790' first='Aubrey' last='Hatch'] OH (Colgan/JR) - First team in the Cardinal District and one of the key offensive pieces in the Colgan run for back to back State Championships. She was second on her team in both digs and kills and first in aces.   [player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos'] OH (Langley/SO) - First team player in the Liberty District. She can put the ball to the floor. When she gains more consistency she will be one of the best hitters in the area   [player_tooltip player_id='231670' first='Grace' last='Smith'] MB (Colgan/SR) - She gets overlooked being the second middle blocker to Brielle, but she still made the first team in the Cardinal District. She was third on the team in kills and second in blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='180296' first='Madison' last='Bowser'] MB (Bishop O'Connell/JR) - She made second team WCAC and second team State for the VISAA. She hits the ball so hard that one of her hits bounced off the floor and hit a player underneath her jaw, breaking her jaw. It would be hard to find a player that hits the ball with such force. Gaining more focus is her greatest need.   [player_tooltip player_id='225187' first='Simone' last='Schaefer'] MB (Riverside/SO) - Voted player of the year for the Potomoc District. And only a sophomore. She also hits the ball hard.   [player_tooltip player_id='207594' first='Paula' last='Sigurani'] L (Colgan/JR) - For two consecutive seasons she has been voted to the Cardinal District first team. Sometimes you fail to notice those who play with smooth consistency.   [player_tooltip player_id='209185' first='Carly' last='Zimmet'] DS (Loudoun Valley/SR) - Voted first team Dulles District. Love her enthusiasm and hustle on the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='181205' first='Helen' last='Frankovich'] RS (Justice/SR) - She played left side for Justice last year and accumulated over 500 kills, tops on the team. Her back row play still needs work so right side may be best for her. Voted player of the year in the National District.   To get to 24 I had to carve out some talented players. Those who were reluctantly scratched were [player_tooltip player_id='209800' first='Sydney' last='Pham'] L (Madison/JR), [player_tooltip player_id='181234' first='Samia' last='Sayd'] OH (Marshall/JR), [player_tooltip player_id='181102' first='Rylah' last='Robinson'] OH (Robinson/SR), [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] OH (James Wood/FR) and [player_tooltip player_id='180282' first='Paige' last='Ahakuelo'] S (James Wood/JR..

A high school season can read like a novel. The days turn like pages and the games run together like chapters. Heroes will emerge and accomplishments celebrated. As the season progresses you just don't know how it is going to end. The 2022 season has now ended. It is time to close the book. A new novel is about to be written. It is called the 2022/2023 travel club season.