My first top ten ranking of the 2022 high school season had the top four teams as Flint Hill, Langley, Bishop O’Connell and Colgan. James Wood, the 4A champions was number 10. Alexandria City could only get a mention on…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inMy first top ten ranking of the 2022 high school season had the top four teams as Flint Hill, Langley, Bishop O’Connell and Colgan. James Wood, the 4A champions was number 10. Alexandria City could only get a mention on the others to be considered.
This gang of four remained atop the top ten throughout the season, with Flint Hill always on top and the others jostling for the two to four spots. Alexandria City now has nestled a spot into the gang of four, with James Wood rising to number six to make it a super six. Below is my final top ten rankings for the Northern Virginia high schools.
Flint Hill (36-0) – They only lost one set this year, their final match in the State championship to Norfolk Academy. They swept Colgan during the regular season and finished as the 20th ranked team in the country according to USA today. It could be more of the same next year. The two key starters graduating are middle
Sonja Meyer
Sonja
Meyer
5'10" | MB
Flint Hill | 2023
State
VA
and outside
Sydney Bryant
Sydney
Bryant
5'7" | S
Flint Hill | 2026
State
VA
. Junior
Sarah Manson
Sarah
Manson
5'10" | MB
Flint Hill | 2024
State
VA
could replace Sonja in the middle and sophomore Audrey Sealock could replace Sydney on the outside. Key returners are
Ryla Jones
Ryla
Jones
6'4" | MB
Flint Hill | 2024
State
#93
Nation
VA
and
Renee Jones
Renee
Jones
6'5" | RS
Flint Hill | 2024
State
VA
, who fill the right side and middle roles, setters
Natalie Nguyen
Natalie
Nguyen
5'5" | S
Flint Hill | 2024
State
VA
and
Isabelle Bardin
Isabelle
Bardin
6'2" | S
Flint Hill | 2025
State
VA
, outside
Mickhaila Murray
Mickhaila
Murray
5'11" | OH
Flint Hill | 2024
State
VA
and libero
Evie Huang
Evie
Huang
5'6" | DS/L
Flint Hill | 2026
State
VA
. After 2023 they will lose the Jones twins, Murray and Nguyen.
Alexandria City (36-2) – Their only two losses were to Robinson when the team was still green and trying to find themselves. They won 14 straight matches after their second loss to Robinson, including two wins over Robinson. Next year will be key as they lose
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
, the only two players left from their first championship season of 2020. They will also be without a key middle in
Annalie McCarthy
Annalie
McCarthy
6'0" | MB
Alexandria | 2023
State
VA
. Key returners for them next year will be outside
Bridie Wendling
Bridie
Wendling
5'10" | OH
Alexandria City | 2024
State
VA
, middle
Harper Travis
Harper
Travis
5'11" | MB
Alexandria City | 2024
State
VA
and libero
Zana Royster
Zana
Royster
5'6" | DS/L
Alexandria City | 2025
State
VA
. They did add frosh Alicia Randall to the varsity squad during their playoff drive and she is listed as a setter, a position they currently do not have on their varsity roster after the departures of Wilmot and Rex.
Bishop O’Connell (29-2) – Last year they were the only team to beat Flint Hill, losing to them three times as well. They were not on their schedule this year, the hope being they would face them in the finals for the State championship. Norfolk Academy put a kibosh to that plan. They should be strong next year. Their only departing senior is
Grace Maria
Grace
Maria
6'2" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2023
State
#150
Nation
VA
. They have three key players returning in middle
Madison Bowser
Madison
Bowser
6'2" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2024
State
VA
,
Teodora Stamenkovic
Teodora
Stamenkovic
6'1" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2026
State
VA
and
Erin Debiec
Erin
Debiec
6'1" | S
Bishop O'Connell | 2024
State
#85
Nation
VA
as well as a trio of back row players in
,
Cara Nearpass
Cara
Nearpass
5'8" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2024
State
VA
and
Maia Cerezo
Maia
Cerezo
5'2" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
. Outsides
Payton Vieselmeyer
Payton
Vieselmeyer
5'8" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
and
Grace Faughnan
Grace
Faughnan
6'0" | RS
Bishop O'Connell | 2024
VA
as well as setter
Emily Reyburn
Emily
Reyburn
5'8" | S
Bishop O'Connell | 2024
State
VA
also hope to enhance their game to make a greater contribution in 2023.
Colgan (31-3) – The defending champs fell just two points short of making it back to back. Three key players they will need to replace are middles
Brielle Kemavor
Brielle
Kemavor
6'5" | MB
Charles J. Colgan | 2023
State
#148
Nation
VA
and
Grace Smith
Grace
Smith
6'0" | MB
Colgan | 2023
State
VA
and setter
Alexis Scipione
Alexis
Scipione
5'9" | S
Colgan | 2023
State
VA
. Also departing will be defensive specialist Mil’lani Marte and outside
Kezia Francis
Kezia
Francis
5'9" | OH
Charles Colgan | 2023
State
VA
. They do have some first teamers returning in outside
Aubrey Hatch
Aubrey
Hatch
6'1" | OH
Colgan | 2024
State
VA
and libero
Paula Sigurani
Paula
Sigurani
5'5" | DS/L
Colgan | 2024
State
VA
.
Skylar Johnson
Skylar
Johnson
5'8" | RS
Colgan | 2025
VA
and frosh
Tehillah Garrison
Tehillah
Garrison
5'8" | OH
Colgan | 2026
State
VA
hope to play more important roles. The setting role could be turned over to juniors Maddison Bowman or Skylar Medina.
Langley (23-3) – They were a young team that looked like they were peaking at the right time. Losses to Chantilly and eventual champion Alexandria City crashed their championship hopes. They lose their libero
Erica Maebius
Erica
Maebius
5'3" | DS/L
Langley | 2023
State
VA
and outside
Sophia Galova
Sophia
Galova
5'10" | OH
Langley | 2023
State
VA
, their two captains. The players they bring back should give them another championship run. Setters
Chloe Hokenson
Chloe
Hokenson
6'1" | S
Langley | 2024
State
VA
and
Claire Mo
Claire
Mo
5'9" | S
Langley | 2026
State
VA
return as well as middle/outsides
Leni Stanton-Parker
Leni
Stanton-Parker
6'0" | MB
Langley | 2025
State
VA
,
Riley Buddie
Riley
Buddie
6'1" | OH
Langley | 2024
State
VA
and
Ana Toumazatos
Ana
Toumazatos
6'0" | OH
Langley | 2025
State
VA
. Amber Smith could be the favorite to take over the libero role.
James Wood (26-1) – The Colonels won their first State Championship after appearing in seven final fours, the last being in 2016. With their returning players they could win the next three State Championships. Their two big losses will be libero
Carsyn Vincent
Carsyn
Vincent
5'1" | DS/L
James Wood | 2023
State
VA
and middle
Ella Kelchner
Ella
Kelchner
5'8" | MB
James Wood | 2023
State
VA
. Their two superstar 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
will be returning. Brenna did well hitting outside, but her natural position is libero, a position she may return to after the Vincent graduation. Their two setter combos
Paige Ahakuelo
Paige
Ahakuelo
5'7" | S
James Wood | 2024
State
VA
and
Hannah McCullough
Hannah
McCullough
5'2" | S
James Wood | 2024
State
VA
will be back for one more season. So will key contributors middle
Lexi Taylor
Lexi
Taylor
5'6" | MB
James Wood | 2024
State
VA
and outside
Ashlynn Spence
Ashlynn
Spence
5'8" | MB
James Wood | 2024
State
VA
, who could move over to play the other middle.
Battlefield (17-4) – I thought they had the potential to get to the State finals, but they were upset by Forest Park in the Regionals, losing the fifth game 16-14. This will be a very strong roster for next year. The two seniors they lost were
Emily Dunn
Emily
Dunn
5'9" | OH
Battlefield | 2023
VA
and Sofia Miller but they return most of their key contributors from this year. That includes setters
Melorra Arthur
Melorra
Arthur
S
Battlefield | 2024
State
VA
and
Aava Shingler
Aava
Shingler
S
Battlefield | 2024
State
VA
, outsides
Skyler Tennant
Skyler
Tennant
5'11" | RS
Battlefield | 2025
State
VA
,
Grace Bianchi
Grace
Bianchi
5'7" | OH
Battlefield | 2024
State
VA
and
Taelin Connolley
Taelin
Connolley
5'6" | OH
Battlefield | 2024
State
VA
, middle
Brianna Clay
Brianna
Clay
6'2" | MB
Battlefield | 2024
State
VA
and libero
Jaelle Savannah Hinkle
Jaelle
Savannah Hinkle
DS/L
Battlefield | 2024
State
VA
. The only sophomore among this group is Skyler, the rest are juniors. The 2023 high school season could be a big one for the Bobcats.
Riverside (16-6) – They lost to eventual Class 5 State champs Midlothian in the first round of the State brackets. They were the only Northern Virginia team to make it to the States in Class 5. Their big losses are their two setters
Ava Ray
Ava
Ray
5'7" | S
Riverside | 2023
State
VA
and
Sage Duggal
Sage
Duggal
5'5" | S
Riverside | 2023
State
VA
. If they can find one or two new setters there is plenty of offense on this team, including player of the year middle
Simone Schaefer
Simone
Schaefer
5'10" | MB
Riverside | 2025
State
VA
and outside
Brianna Holladay
Brianna
Holladay
6'1" | MB
Riverside | 2025
State
VA
, both sophomores. Libero
Natalie Carlin
Natalie
Carlin
5'5" | DS/L
Riverside | 2024
State
VA
, outside
Adriana Perodin
Adriana
Perodin
5'8" | OH
Riverside | 2025
VA
and middle
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha
Ferguson
5'10" | MB
Riverside | 2024
State
VA
are the three juniors that will be returning.
Dominion (19-8) – This is a team that seemed to find a groove near the end of the season. They finally lost to James Wood in the semifinals of class four. The big loss for this team would be their libero
Haley Gill
Haley
Gill
5'7" | DS/L
Dominion | 2023
State
#197
Nation
VA
, who was number two in Virginia in digs. Also graduating will be outside
Kennedy Seekford
Kennedy
Seekford
5'5" | DS/L
Dominion | 2023
State
VA
and middle
Maya Van Wyngaardt
Maya
Van Wyngaardt
6'1" | MB
Dominion | 2023
State
VA
. They could have a loaded lineup with sophomore setters
Juliet Correll
Juliet
Correll
S
Dominion | 2025
State
VA
and
Emma Adiacontei
Emma
Adiacontei
S
Dominion | 2025
State
VA
returning, as well as middle
Abigail Vasak
Abigail
Vasak
MB
Dominion | 2025
State
VA
and outside
Kaitlyn Demitz
Kaitlyn
Demitz
RS
Dominion | 2025
State
VA
.
Chantilly (14-7) – Any team that has
Lameen Mambu
Lameen
Mambu
6'0" | OH
Chantilly | 2025
State
VA
on their roster can beat anyone. The Chargers got to the semi-finals, only to lose to Alexandria City in four. They upset Langley to earn a spot in the State championship game. Before losing to the Titans they had accomplished a six game winning streak. They will lose setter
Jaylin Price
Jaylin
Price
5'2" | S
Chantilly | 2023
State
VA
plus outsides
Samantha Hollobow
Samantha
Hollobow
5'8" | OH
Chantilly | 2023
State
VA
and
Aspen Nardelli
Aspen
Nardelli
5'11" | RS
Chantilly | 2023
State
VA
. Critical back row players Emily Cortez and
Angelina Barrera
Angelina
Barrera
5'2" | DS/L
Chantilly | 2023
State
VA
will also depart. Returning are Mambu, libero
Nola Murphy
Nola
Murphy
5'6" | DS/L
Chantilly | 2025
State
VA
, outside Frida Sagastume and middle
Avery Mercadante
Avery
Mercadante
5'9" | MB
Chantilly | 2024
State
VA
. Frosh
Sarah Kim
Sarah
Kim
5'6" | S
Chantilly | 2026
State
VA
and sophomore Hala Younes could share the setting duties next year.
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference First Team
Emerson Sellman
Emerson
Sellman
6'3" | OH
Academy of Holy Cross | 2024
State
#43
Nation
VA
OH (Holy Cross/JR),
Grace Maria
Grace
Maria
6'2" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2023
State
#150
Nation
VA
OH (O’Connell/SR),
Alina D’Andrade
Alina
D’Andrade
5'8" | S
Elizabeth Seton | 2023
State
VA
S (Elizabeth Seton/SR),
Natalia PeBenito
Natalia
PeBenito
5'7" | DS/L
Good Counsel | 2024
State
VA
DS/L (Good Counsel/JR),
Erin Debiec
Erin
Debiec
6'1" | S
Bishop O'Connell | 2024
State
#85
Nation
VA
S (O’Connell),
Emily Farrell
Emily
Farrell
6'1" | OH
St. Mary Ryken | 2024
State
VA
OH (Ryken/SR),
Pam McCune
Pam
McCune
6'2" | MB
St. Johns | 2023
State
#186
Nation
VA
MB (St. Johns/SR),
Kiylah Presley
Kiylah
Presley
6'0" | MB
Bishop McNamara | 2024
State
VA
MB (McNamera/JR)
Emerson Sellman
Emerson
Sellman
6'3" | OH
Academy of Holy Cross | 2024
State
#43
Nation
VA
won player of the year.
Independent School League First Team
AA Division
Jada Aksu
Jada
Aksu
6'0" | RS
Georgetown Day | 2025
State
VA
RS (Georgetown Day/SO),
Sydney Bryant
Sydney
Bryant
5'7" | S
Flint Hill | 2026
State
VA
OH (Flint Hill/SR),
Nala Cornegy
Nala
Cornegy
6'3" | MB
Episcopal | 2023
State
VA
MB (Episcopal/SR),
Laiya Ebo
Laiya
Ebo
6'1" | RS
Holton Arms | 2023
State
VA
OH (Holton Arms/SR),
Alexis Ewing
Alexis
Ewing
6'3" | OH
Bullis | 2025
State
VA
OH (Bullis/SO),
EllaMae Fitzgerald
EllaMae
Fitzgerald
5'8" | DS/L
Episcopal | 2023
State
VA
OH (Episcopal/SR),
Ryla Jones
Ryla
Jones
6'4" | MB
Flint Hill | 2024
State
#93
Nation
VA
MB (Flint Hill/JR),
Renee Jones
Renee
Jones
6'5" | RS
Flint Hill | 2024
State
VA
RS (Flint Hill/JR),
Sydney Mayfield
Sydney
Mayfield
5'11" | RS
Bullis | 2025
State
VA
OH (Bullis/FR),
Mickhaila Murray
Mickhaila
Murray
5'11" | OH
Flint Hill | 2024
State
VA
OH (Flint Hill/JR),
Adalena Rodgers
Adalena
Rodgers
5'10" | S
Potomac | 2025
State
VA
S (Potomac/SO),
Clara Yu
Clara
Yu
5'10" | S
Georgetown Day | 2024
State
VA
S (Georgetown Day/JR)
A Division
Carey Brown L (Holy Child/SR),
Isabela Fowlkes
Isabela
Fowlkes
6'1" | RS
Maret | 2023
State
VA
OH (Maret/SR), Isabel Gurney L/OH (Sidwell Friends/SR), Julia Monlux MB (Georgetown Visitation/JR),
Norah oppenheim
Norah
oppenheim
5'11" | OH
St. Andrews | 2025
State
VA
OH (St. Andrews/SO),
Olivia Shank
Olivia
Shank
5'3" | DS/L
Georgetown Visitation | 2025
State
VA
L (Georgetown Visitation/SO)
Northern Virginia High Schools with State Championships
14 – Loudoun County
4 – Loudoun Valley
2 – Hylton, Langley, Stone Bridge, Alexandria City
1 – Briar Woods, Chantilly, Colgan, Forest Park, Tuscarora, James Wood