What Colleges Are Grabbing Our Local Prospects
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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…
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Continue ReadingBelow 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.
Navy
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.
Their coach is Paco Labrador, 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.
Current Roster of Local Players
Chris Stephenson (DS/L) Senior/Riverside, Lainey Feighery (setter) Sophomore/Chantilly,
New Recruits
Arleigh Hanson Arleigh Hanson 6'0" | S West Potomac | 2023 State VA (setter) frosh/West Potomac, Armani Kenney Armani Kenney 5'11" | MB North Hagerstow | 2023 State VA (middle) frosh/North Hagerstown, Lilah Stevens Lilah Stevens 5'9" | OH Stone Bridge | 2024 State VA (outside) 2024/Stonebridge, Natalia PeBenito Natalia PeBenito 5'7" | DS/L Good Counsel | 2024 State VA (DS/L) 2024/Good Counsel
University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
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.
UMBC is coached by Kasey Crider. 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.
Current Roster of Local Players
Emily Genau (Opposite) sophomore/Damascus
New Recruits
Helen Frankovich Helen Frankovich 6'3" | RS Justice | 2023 State VA (Opposite) frosh/Justice, Hannah Howard Hannah Howard 5'8" | DS/L Musselman (WVA) | 2023 State VA (libero) frosh/Musselman, Isabel Ostvig Isabel Ostvig 5'10" | S Colonial Forge | 2024 State VA (setter) 2024/Colonial Forge
Norfolk State
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 Kathy Bullock (18-64 under her tenure). They have made no NCAA appearances. Perhaps the addition of some local talent will change that fortune?
Current Roster of Local Players
None
New Recruits
Briana Ellis (middle) frosh/King George, Grace Smith Grace Smith 6'0" | MB Colgan | 2023 State VA (middle) frosh/Colgan, Catori Crawford Catori Crawford 5'9" | OH Manchester | 2023 State VA (outside) frosh/Manchester, Tiana Brasby (libero) frosh/Independence
Virginia Wesleyan
The Marlins are a Division III school located in Virginia Beach. They are coached by Karissa Cumberbatch 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.
Current Roster of Local Players
Jenna Waters (outside) junior/George Marshal, Cara Caruso (DS) Senior/Stone Bridge, They also have a number of players from Richmond and Virginia Beach,
New Recruits
Trisha Guevara Trisha Guevara 5'3" | S Stone Bridge | 2023 State VA (setter) frosh/Stone Bridge, Annika Engen Annika Engen 5'10" | OH Rock Ridge | 2023 State VA (outside) frosh/Rock Ridge, Niya Nash Niya Nash 5'8" | S Forest Park | 2023 State VA (setter) frosh/Forest Park
Christopher Newport
Another Division III school the Captains have not had a losing record since Lindsay Birch 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.
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.
Current Roster of Local Players
The roster is filled with local Virginia players. 18 of the 20 players from the 2022 roster are from Virginia.
New Recruits
Samantha Dorn Samantha Dorn 6'0" | RS West Potomac | 2023 State VA (right side) frosh/West Potomac, Phoebe Adams Phoebe Adams 5'10" | OH Herndon | 2023 State VA (outside) frosh/Herndon, Angelina Barrera Angelina Barrera 5'2" | DS/L Chantilly | 2023 State VA (Libero) frosh/Chantilly
Virginia
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 Shannon Wells 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.
Current Roster of Local Players
Jayna Francis (outside) graduate/Princess Anne
New Recruits
Nala Cornegy Nala Cornegy 6'3" | MB Episcopal | 2023 State VA (middle) frosh/Episcopal, Kiylah Presley Kiylah Presley 6'0" | OH Bishop McNamara | 2024 State #114 Nation VA (outside) 2024/Bishop McNamera
Rider
The Broncos are in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They have been coached by Jeff Rotondo 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.
Current Roster of Local Players
None
New Recruits
Rylah Robinson Rylah Robinson 5'10" | OH J. W. Robinson | 2023 State VA (outside) frosh/Robinson, Carly Zimmit (Libero) frosh/Loudoun Valley
Mary Washington
The Eagles are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Alex Hinsey 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.
Current Roster of Local Players
They have 16 players from the Maryland/Virginia area.
New Recruits
Alice Holoubek Alice Holoubek 6'3" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State VA (middle) 2024/Bishop O’Connell, Calla Petz Calla Petz 5'9" | OH Heritage | 2024 State VA (outside) 2024/Heritage
Richard Bland College of William and Mary
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 Stephanie Dryden, assisted by her husband the associate head coach Shaun Dryden. The college is located in South Prince George in Virginia.
Current Roster of Local Players
12 of their 13 rostered players are from Virginia.
New Recruits
Alexis Scipione Alexis Scipione 5'9" | S Colgan | 2023 State VA (setter) frosh/Colgan, Dryden Rancourt Dryden Rancourt 5'11" | OH Patriot | 2023 State VA (outside) frosh/Patriot