First Top Ten DMV High School Ranking
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For the public schools in Virginia the volleyball season begins next week. Our top ten will expand to a top twenty to include DC and Maryland high schools in the DMV area. Three of the top five high schools that…
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Continue ReadingFor the public schools in Virginia the volleyball season begins next week. Our top ten will expand to a top twenty to include DC and Maryland high schools in the DMV area. Three of the top five high schools that finished in the top five at the end of the 2022 season return to the top five to begin the 2023 season. The first ten appear below. The second ten will appear later this week.
Flint Hill – Last year they lost the top player in the country in Macaria Spears yet still finished with a better record the following year. The Huskies always reload, no matter who they lose. This year the team will be without their top offensive player Sydney Bryant Sydney Bryant 5'8" | S Virginia Academy | 2026 State VA and middle Sonja Meyer. Also, their 6’5″ right side Renee Jones Renee Jones 6'5" | RS Flint Hill | 2025 State #132 Nation FL reclassified to the class of 2025 and does not appear on the roster.
They still bring plenty of offensive weapons in outside Mickhaila Murray Mickhaila Murray 5'11" | OH Flint Hill | 2024 State VA and middle Ryla Jones Ryla Jones 6'4" | MB Flint Hill | 2024 State #80 Nation VA . They also have 6’2″ setter Isabelle Bardin Isabelle Bardin 6'3" | S Flint Hill | 2025 State #121 Nation VA , who can also create havoc on the right side. Natalie Nguyen Natalie Nguyen 5'5" | S Flint Hill | 2024 State VA returns for her final season as the Huskies setter and Evie Huang Evie Huang 5'6" | DS/L Flint Hill | 2026 State VA comes back for her second season as Libero. That leaves five critical positions covered with returnees. They could call on veterans Sarah Manson Sarah Manson 5'10" | MB Flint Hill | 2024 VA and Audrey Sealock Audrey Sealock OH Flint Hill | 2025 VA to fill the open slots or call on talented frosh Hunter Ross Hunter Ross 6'1" | MB Flint Hill | 2027 State VA or Alli Robinson Alli Robinson 6'1" | MB Flint Hill | 2027 State VA to fill those positions. All that will be fleshed out with their new coach Thai Nguyen.
Highlights
Langley – To build a champion most will say you need three strong offensive players, a good setter and strong libero. The Saxons can lay claim to four of those pieces, but they need to find a replacement for last year’s libero Erica Maebius. Langley returns three of their pin hitters in left side Ana Toumazatos Ana Toumazatos 6'1" | OH Langley | 2025 State VA and right sides Chloe Hokenson Chloe Hokenson 6'1" | S Langley | 2024 State VA and Riley Buddie Riley Buddie 6'1" | OH Langley | 2024 State VA . It is also expected that Leni Stanton-Parker Leni Stanton-Parker 6'0" | OH Langley | 2025 State #116 Nation VA will move from middle to left side, but that could depend on if they can cover the middle positions. Last year Leni played both. Claire Mo Claire Mo 5'10" | S Langley | 2026 State VA will again share setting duties with Chloe in a 6/2. How the other positions will be pieced together will depend on scrimmages and practice. With another year of play under their belt this team goes from a young team in 2022 to a more experienced, veteran team this year.
Bishop O’Connell – With six players over six foot they may be one of the taller teams in the area. It all starts with the two veteran seniors in 6’1″ setter Erin Debiec Erin Debiec 6'1" | S Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State #92 Nation VA and 6’2″ middle Madison Bowser Madison Bowser 6'2" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State VA . Because they have a number of other players who can play middle Madison could hit from the pins, where her hits carry supreme velocity. The down side is if she hits underneath the ball they have a tendency to sail out. Erin can set a 5/1 or hit right side with a 6/2. They also bring in two new transfers in 6’3″ middle/right side Alice Holoubek Alice Holoubek 6'3" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State VA and 5’11” left side Jocelyn Pye Jocelyn Pye 6'0" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2025 State VA . In their first scrimmage against Yorktown those two led the team in kills. Alice got many of her kills hitting right side.
6’2″ middle/right side Teodora Stamenkovic Teodora Stamenkovic 6'2" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2026 State VA returns for her sophomore season with one more year of varsity experience under her belt. 6’0″ Grace Faughnan Grace Faughnan 6'0" | RS Bishop O'Connell | 2024 VA could be used at the pins or in the middle. They also have converted basketball player 6’3″ Eva Robertson playing middle or right side. At 5’9″ Payton Vieselmeyer Payton Vieselmeyer 5'8" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2025 VA will be their smallest front row player, being used at a pin. Emily Reyburn Emily Reyburn 5'8" | S Bishop O'Connell | 2024 VA will be used as setter in a 6/2 or a defensive specialist in a 5/1. Hannah Kotb Hannah Kotb 5'6" | DS/L Bishop O'Connell | 2025 State VA will return in her role as a libero and Maia Cerezo Maia Cerezo 5'2" | DS/L Bishop O'Connell | 2025 State VA will occupy a defensive specialist slot. The only player they lose from the team last year is Grace Maria, but she was their best passer and offensive player, so the hope is more players contribute to the offense and passing to offset her loss.
Chantilly – The Chargers come at you with perhaps the top offensive player in the area, Lameen Mambu Lameen Mambu 6'0" | OH Chantilly | 2025 State #64 Nation VA . The junior can provide damage front row and back row. Setting her will be frosh Caycee Chhum Caycee Chhum 5'7" | S Georgetown Day | 2027 State VA . Nola Murphy Nola Murphy 5'6" | DS/L Chantilly | 2025 State VA grabs the libero limelight. Finding two more offensive pieces would make this team more complete. Can middle Julia Horan Julia Horan OH VA and frosh Erin Green Erin Green 5'11" | RS Chantilly | 2027 State VA fill those spots? This will be a young team that will improve as the season progresses.
Highlights
Georgetown Day – They won the DC state championship last year, their first in school history. Most of the key players return in setter Clara Yu Clara Yu 5'10" | S Georgetown Day | 2024 State VA , right side Jada Aksu Jada Aksu 6'0" | RS Georgetown Day | 2025 State VA and left side Zoe Ryu Zoe Ryu 6'2" | OH Georgetown Day | 2025 State VA . Middles Gabrielle Wigglesworth Gabrielle Wigglesworth 5'9" | MB Georgetown Day | 2026 State VA and Fiona McDermott Fiona McDermott 6'1" | MB Georgetown Day | 2026 State VA may contribute more now that they have gained a year of experience. The new frosh to watch is Zora Dimbo Zora Dimbo 5'10" | OH Georgetown Day | 2027 State VA . Defeating Flint Hill and winning an Independent Schools League (ISL) title would rank as their biggest goal this year.
Richard Montgomery – The Rockets carry all the pieces to win a state championship. Ema Djordjevic Ema Djordjevic 6'0" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA will set and provide the offense for this team. Other offensive pieces include Corinne Howard Corinne Howard 5'11" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA , who could play middle or outside and middle Caroline Kaye Caroline Kaye 6'1" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA . Frosh Ana Djordjevic Ana Djordjevic 5'7" | DS/L Richard Montgomery | 2027 State MD could fill the libero spot. Cassandra Bradley Cassandra Bradley 5'6" | DS/L Richard Montgomery | 2024 State VA also plays libero, if she does not take over a setting role. Many of these girls played on the same travel team (MVSA Sparks) so there is already a bit of team chemistry to the roster.
Holy Cross – The big key for the Tartans is the timeline for the return of Emerson Sellman Emerson Sellman 6'4" | OH Academy of Holy Cross | 2024 State #5 Nation VA . She will miss the start of the season representing the U.S. National team in two international events. She has already won one gold medal at the U19 world championships and currently represents the United States in Mexico at the U21 world championships. Fortunately, Holy Cross still maintains offensive weapons to get them by short term. Middle Rowan Johnson Rowan Johnson 6'1" | MB Holy Cross (MD) | 2025 State MD and setter Jaylyn Simon Jaylyn Simon 5'9" | S Holy Cross | 2024 State VA hope to connect more to keep the pressure off Sellman. Another setter, transfer Anasofia Zanellato Anasofia Zanellato 6'0" | S Academy Of The Holy Cross | 2026 State VA could allow Jaylyn to hit right side.
Highlights
Riverside – No rosters are up yet for the Rams, but their biggest need is to replace starting setters Ava Ray and Sage Duggal. Sydney Ray Sydney Ray 5'7" | S Riverside | 2026 State VA looked good in a scrimmage against Patriot and appears to be that piece. Simone Schaefer Simone Schaefer 5'11" | OH Riverside | 2025 State VA may move from middle to outside to combine with Adriana Perodin Adriana Perodin 5'9" | OH Riverside | 2024 State VA to give the Rams two potent pin attacks. Natalie Carlin Natalie Carlin 5'4" | DS/L Riverside | 2024 State VA plays a strong libero. Brianna Holladay Brianna Holladay 6'2" | MB Riverside | 2025 State VA gives the Rams that third offensive piece in their goal to march to their first Class 5 championship.
James Wood – Two of the best frosh from last year 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 led the team in hitting and a Class 4 State championship. Brenna only stands 5’4″ but relies on location to finish off her kills. She may play more libero this season, though she loves to hit. Paige Ahakuelo Paige Ahakuelo 5'8" | S James Wood | 2024 State VA and Hannah McCullough Hannah McCullough 5'2" | S James Wood | 2024 State VA return to their setting roles. Paige can stay in the front row and hit right side. Tenley Mattison Tenley Mattison 5'10" | MB James Woods | 2026 State VA and Ashlynn Spence Ashlynn Spence 5'8" | MB James Wood | 2024 State VA issue out offensive production in the middle. Kyla Wilhelm made the team as a frosh. She is listed on the roster as an outside. The Colonels are the defending Class 4 champs, ending the 10 year reign held by the Loudoun County Captains.
Highlights
Dominion – I thought the Titans had a strong roster, but with frosh Ingrid Smith Ingrid Smith 5'8" | S Dominion | 2027 State VA setting it could be even stronger. During a scrimmage Dominion used her to set in four rotations, setting once while in the front row with the right side serving. The middle play of Abigail Vasak Abigail Vasak MB Dominion | 2025 State VA looked impressive. The 5’8″ Alena Smith Alena Smith 5'8" | OH Dominion | 2025 State VA contributes strong swings from the left side and the left handed swing of Kaitlyn Demitz Kaitlyn Demitz 5'11" | RS Dominion | 2025 State VA punishes balls from the right side. Kylie Patterson Kylie Patterson OH Dominion | 2024 VA will be tasked with replacing Haley Gil at the libero position. Emma Adiacontei Emma Adiacontei S Dominion | 2025 VA will perform as the second setter.
Highlights
Chesapeake Chirps – Watched a little of the Massaponax jamboree. Teams from Saint Catherines, Courtland, Briar Woods and Atlee were there. The 5’10” Carley P Coghill Carley P Coghill 5'10" | MB Massaponax | 2024 State VA looked impressive hitting outside. She even had one rotation where she filled in as setter. Last year she played middle but at the tournament she looked impressive hitting left side. The top player for Saint Catherine was middle Taylor Meridith. Skyler Riggio Skyler Riggio 6'1" | RS Briar Woods | 2024 State VA played a rare six rotation right side for Briar Woods. Courtland and Atlee lacked rosters.