What Colleges Are Grabbing Our Local Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below a list of colleges two or more of our ranked players from the class of 2023 and 2024 selected to play volleyball. Unfortunately, picking a college can be a messy and complicated process, especially during these times. Patience can be an asset. Do you select from the heart? Or more from the brain? With the transfer portal and the extra year of eligibility given because of the pandemic it only makes it that much harder to find a college looking for players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Navy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are located in Annapolis. Very local and easy to scout DMV talent. They are a Division I school that plays in the Patriot League. Navy earned tournament champion honors in 2018 and won regular season championships in 1999 and 2018. Last year they finished 16-12, losing to defending champs Colgate in the finals in five sets of the Patriot championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their coach is <strong>Paco Labrador</strong>, who is in his fifth season. He led Navy to the Conference championship, which gave them their first appearance in the NCAA championships as a Division I school. Paco previously coached at Division III Wittenberg where he won a national championship in 2011.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Stephenson </strong>(DS/L) Senior/Riverside, <strong>Lainey Feighery</strong> (setter) Sophomore/Chantilly, </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181196' first='Arleigh' last='Hanson']</strong> (setter) frosh/West Potomac, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181206' first='Armani' last='Kenney']</strong> (middle) frosh/North Hagerstown, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180289' first='Lilah' last='Stevens']</strong> (outside) 2024/Stonebridge, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235747' first='Natalia' last='PeBenito']</strong> (DS/L) 2024/Good Counsel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another local college that plays near Baltimore. The Retrievers are a Division I school that plays in the American East Conference. They have played in the NCAA championships the last three years, losing to Pepperdine in the spring of 2021, losing to Pittsburgh in the Fall of 2021 and finally, losing to Penn State in 2022. They also appeared in 1998 and lost to USC. That makes them 0-4 in the NCAA tournament. At least they get to the dance. Staying for more than one song has been a challenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UMBC is coached by <strong>Kasey Crider</strong>. Last year was his first year at UMBC. Previously, Crider was the associate head coach at Miami (Florida). He has also coached at Stanford and Pepperdine and played at Pepperdine where he was a two time All American.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emily Genau </strong>(Opposite) sophomore/Damascus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181205' first='Helen' last='Frankovich']</strong> (Opposite) frosh/Justice, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181201' first='Hannah' last='Howard']</strong> (libero) frosh/Musselman, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='182753' first='Isabel' last='Ostvig'] </strong>(setter) 2024/Colonial Forge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norfolk State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Obviously, the Spartans are located in Norfolk. They play in Division I in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Last year they finished 7-18. They are coached by <strong>Kathy Bullock</strong> (18-64 under her tenure). They have made no NCAA appearances. Perhaps the addition of some local talent will change that fortune?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Briana Ellis (</strong>middle) frosh/King George, [player_tooltip player_id='231670' first='Grace' last='Smith'] (middle) frosh/Colgan, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320808' first='Catori' last='Crawford']</strong> (outside) frosh/Manchester, <strong>Tiana Brasby</strong> (libero) frosh/Independence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia Wesleyan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Marlins are a Division III school located in Virginia Beach. They are coached by<strong> Karissa Cumberbatch </strong>who previously had coached at Grafton High School. This is her third season. Last year Wesleyan were Old Dominion Athletic Conference champions. They are 44-17 in their first two seasons with Karissa at the helm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jenna Waters</strong> (outside) junior/George Marshal, <strong>Cara Caruso</strong> (DS) Senior/Stone Bridge, They also have a number of players from Richmond and Virginia Beach,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209175' first='Trisha' last='Guevara']</strong> (setter) frosh/Stone Bridge, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181111' first='Annika' last='Engen']</strong> (outside) frosh/Rock Ridge, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242125' first='Niya' last='Nash']</strong> (setter) frosh/Forest Park</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christopher Newport</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Division III school the Captains have not had a losing record since <strong>Lindsay Birch</strong> took the helm in 2002. Last year her 23-14 record was her worst winning percentage since 2003 (.513). They have appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament the last 15 years. Second place has been their highest finish (2011). Christopher Newport is located in Newport News, Virginia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindsay Birch began her career as an outside hitter for Christopher in 1998 and then began coaching them after she graduated in 2002. Overall, her .809 winning percentage ranks 21st in the history of collegiate volleyball and third among Division III coaches, according to her bio. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The roster is filled with local Virginia players. 18 of the 20 players from the 2022 roster are from Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209171' first='Samantha' last='Dorn'] </strong>(right side) frosh/West Potomac, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181104' first='Phoebe' last='Adams'] </strong>(outside) frosh/Herndon, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238097' first='Angelina' last='Barrera'] </strong>(Libero) frosh/Chantilly</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers play in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have appeared in the NCAA tournament twice (1998 and 1999). Virginia has stumbled since 2016, failing to achieve a winning record. This will be <strong>Shannon Wells</strong> third year as coach of the team. Her .418 winning percentage last year ranks as their best since 2019 (.419). Prior to coaching at Virginia Shannon served as the assistant coach for Mary Wise at Florida from 2014-20. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayna Francis </strong>(outside) graduate/Princess Anne</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181186' first='Nala' last='Cornegy'] </strong>(middle) frosh/Episcopal, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180294' first='Kiylah' last='Presley'] </strong>(outside) 2024/Bishop McNamera</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rider</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos are in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They have been coached by <strong>Jeff Rotondo</strong> for the last four years. In his second season as coach he gave the Broncos an MAAC championship. Last year they finished with a losing record (11-20). The school is located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. They play Division I.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181102' first='Rylah' last='Robinson']</strong> (outside) frosh/Robinson, <strong>Carly Zimmit </strong>(Libero) frosh/Loudoun Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mary Washington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. <strong>Alex Hinsey</strong> has been coaching the team for the last four seasons (with the pandemic cancelling the 2020 season). Alex has not had a losing season in his three years of coaching, improving his record each year. Last year the Eagles won the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference and advanced to the NCAA Sweet sixteen in Division III. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They have 16 players from the Maryland/Virginia area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180298' first='Alice' last='Holoubek'] </strong>(middle) 2024/Bishop O'Connell, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180290' first='Calla' last='Petz']</strong> (outside) 2024/Heritage</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richard Bland</strong> <strong>College of William and Mary</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Statesman started their volleyball program in 20017 and finished 2-17. They are a Division II junior college. Last year they finished 34-3 and won the National Championship. The head coach is <strong>Stephanie Dryden</strong>, assisted by her husband the associate head coach <strong>Shaun Dryden</strong>. The college is located in South Prince George in Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Current Roster of Local Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12 of their 13 rostered players are from Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Recruits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231633' first='Alexis' last='Scipione'] </strong>(setter) frosh/Colgan, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='231669' first='Dryden' last='Rancourt']</strong> (outside) frosh/Patriot</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->