Public and Private High Schools in Full Playoff Swing

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The public high schools in Virginia have been leading up to the State championships with District playoffs, then regional playoffs and finally the State playoffs. All of this will take about a month of competition before a champion is determined. The Virginia State playoffs for private schools will only take about a week before they crown a state champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first step is to identify the top eight high schools in the four divisions. Division I is the highest, while Division IV is the lowest. The eight high schools in Division I who qualified for States are:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Flint Hill, 2. Bishop O'Connell, 3. Norfolk Academy, 4. Episcopal High School. 5. St. Catherines School, 6. Collegiate School, 7. Catholic High School, 8. Bishop Ireton </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top seeded team, Flint Hill played Bishop Ireton, second seed O'Connell played Catholic, Norfolk Academy did battle with Collegiate and Episcopal played St. Catherines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Connell had just completed a sweep on Sunday against Holy Cross to win the WCAC for the second consecutive season so for the opening playoff match they appeared a little flat. Catholic won the opener 27-25 led by the strong outside hitting of <strong>Teagan Engdahl </strong>and the sharp libero play of <strong>Sydney Mize</strong>. <strong>Martha Boser </strong>was a strong setter and caught O'Connell flat footed a number of times with setter dumps. This was a very strong team for a number 7 seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Connell battled back but no game came easy. The Knights were led by the 32 kills of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria']</strong> from the outside and the 16 kills from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180296' first='Madison' last='Bowser']</strong> from the middle. They were able to win the next three 25-20, 25-19 and 25-19. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212889' first='Hannah' last='Kotb'] </strong>led the team with four aces and 19 digs, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria'] </strong>showed her versatility with 16 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps the biggest battle was between the four and five seeds. Episcopal won the first 25-20 but Collegiate took the second 25-19. They swapped victories again in games three and four before Episcopal closed it out with a 15-9 win in game five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Maroon accomplished the win with a very diversified attack. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239273' first='Jonesie' last='Matthews']</strong> dished the ball out to five different hitters on the court. <strong>Nellie Miller</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239271' first='Olivia' last='Krivacek'] </strong>were tops in kills at 10 each. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norfolk Academy swept St. Catherines. <strong>Reagen McGee </strong>led the team with 9 kills. <strong>Peyton McGee</strong> contributed 7 kills along with 9 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flint Hill cruised past Ireton in three led by the 15 kills of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238859' first='Sydney' last='Bryant']</strong>. Judging by the box score they appeared to play everyone on the roster. Ireton got five kills from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181281' first='Lucy' last='Jones'],</strong> who usually plays libero.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The semifinals will be today when Flint Hill plays their division rival Episcopal, who they have already beaten twice and Biship O'Connell plays Norfolk Academy at George Mason. Last year O'Connell defeated Norfolk in the semifinal event so they will come seeking revenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Down Go the Saxons in a Charger Stampede </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The playoffs can be very unpredictable. Even though Langley came into the match 23-0 Chantilly hosted the finals in the Class 6D Region. In the first set the Saxons led through most of the game but the Chargers kept it close. Down 15-19 right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='469183' first='Frida' last='Sagastume']</strong> got a big block and on the next play used the block to get a kill to close the Saxon lead to 17-19. An <strong>Emily Cortez</strong> ace and a block by middle <strong>Gabrielle Nelson</strong> and the Chargers were charged, tying the game 19-19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chantilly was able to creep ahead 22-20 on a Saxon hitting error and a net. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180284' first='Chloe' last='Hokenson']</strong> got the ball back with a kill and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231676' first='Erica' last='Maebius']</strong> tied the game with an ace. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240905' first='Samantha' last='Hollobow']</strong> got probably one of the biggest spikes of her young career with a kill to give the Chargers the serve and a 23-22 lead. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> kill and a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238097' first='Angelina' last='Barrera']</strong> ace gave the Chargers a set one victory and a celebratory huddle in the middle of the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For game two the Saxons again jumped out to an early lead, ahead by as much as 16-11 at one point. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238097' first='Angelina' last='Barrera']</strong> served five points in a row to tie it at 16. A couple <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> kills and a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240904' first='Avery' last='Mercadante']</strong> block and the Chargers were up 24-22. The usually reliable <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> had a chance to win it with the score 24-23, but her 10 foot back row hit sailed out. She did not fail a second time, putting the Chargers ahead 25-24. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240906' first='Jaylin' last='Price']</strong> ace gave the Chargers a 26-24 win and a 2-0 lead in sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos']</strong> took charge in games three and four for Langley. Leni was bombing kills from the middle and Ana was hitting rockets from the outside and the Chargers were never in the game losing 25-17. At one point they had a 6-3 lead but at least 5 kills from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos']</strong> put the Saxons ahead 11-8 and they never looked back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Langley machine again churned in game four with a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker']</strong> block and tip kill in the middle putting them ahead 4-1. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo'] </strong>setter dump in the middle of the Charger court put the Saxons up 15-6. The Chargers were able to close it to 20-16 but kills by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181110' first='Sophia' last='Galova']</strong> put any come back hopes to rest. Langley won game four 25-17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rudders came off for Langley in game five. <strong>Porcha Sagastume </strong>served five points as the Saxons committed a number of hitting errors to fall behind 7-1. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker'] </strong>kill gave the Saxons the ball back down 7-2. They made it 7-4 and what appeared to be a service ace was called out to the displeasure of the Langley fans there, turning what could have been a 7-5 deficit to 8-4. I thought the ball was in but how can you make an accurate call 15 rows up in the bleachers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> back row kill and ace increased that lead to 10-4. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180292' first='Riley' last='Buddie'] </strong>kill got the Saxons the serve back, down 10-5. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> had another kill to increase the lead to 11-5 but<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='181298' first='Ana' last='Toumazatos']</strong> countered with her own kill. Down 7-11 Langley missed their serve to give Chantilly the serve back. They could not take advantage as a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181110' first='Sophia' last='Galova'] </strong>hit off the block put the score at 8-12. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181307' first='Leni' last='Stanton-Parker']</strong> hit off the block put the Saxons to within two at 11-13, but a Mamu tip gave them serve and game point. At 14-11 it was dejavu for me as Chantilly missed their serve, similar to what happened in the West Potomac/Robinson match that would turn the game around. But there was no dejavu with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181297' first='Lameen' last='Mambu']</strong> on the court. She put her last hit to the floor for a 15-12 win. Let the pile on begin and the tears of the Chantilly parents flow as they celebrated their big win. This is why I love this game!!!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Class 6C championship match <strong>Alexandria City </strong>defeated <strong>Robinson</strong> in four. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The AVCA High School All Americans</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) came out with their list of All Americans. Fifty athletes from around the country were named to the first, second and third teams and 150 were honorable mentions. To be eligible for this team you had to be a senior, the coach nominating you had to be a AVCA member and your stats had to be recorded in Max Preps so they could properly evaluate you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First teamers from the DC area were <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181183' first='Pam' last='McCune'] </strong>(Saint Johns) and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='181097' first='Safi' last='Hampton']</strong> (Hammond). Second teamers were<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='181178' first='Milan' last='Rex']</strong> (Alexandria) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181098' first='Grace' last='Maria'] </strong>(Bishop O'Connell). There were no third teamers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Honorable mentions went to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181108' first='Jordan' last='Pryor']</strong> (Middleton), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181179' first='Chloe' last='Wilmot'] </strong>(Alexandria), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='111508' first='Haley' last='Gill']</strong> (Dominion), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233483' first='Ella' last='Kelchner']</strong> (James Wood) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181205' first='Helen' last='Frankovich'] </strong>(Justice). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->