High School State Championship Report for 2023

To start our high school season off with a bullet serve let's take a look at who might be the high school state champions in class 4-6 in Virginia for 2023. The public high school tryouts have been completed and teams are formed. First, let's take a look at the defending state champion to assess their odds of repeating. After that, my state champion selection. Finally, some high schools to consider in the running.

Class 6

Alexandria City (Defending champions)

Departures - Milan Rex, Chloe Wilmot, Annalie McCarthy

Losing Gatorade Player of the Year Milan Rex hurts big time. She hit left side and also contributed to the offense with critical back row attacks. You could count on her for over 20 to 30 kills per match. Her setter, first team All State Chloe Wilmot brings a second dose of hurt to the team. Those two were the glue that put two championships together in 2020 and 2022. Annalie McCarthy was a key piece in the middle.

Sophomore Alicia Randall Alicia Randall 5'8" | S Alexandria | 2026 State VA looks to take over the setting duties. Expect some early struggles as she familiarizes herself with the offense. Senior Bridie Wendling Bridie Wendling 5'10" | OH Alexandria City | 2024 State VA will provide much of the offense from the left side. The back row should be a strength with libero Zana Royster Zana Royster 5'6" | DS/L Alexandria City | 2025 VA and defensive specialist Casey Donahue Casey Donahue 5'5" | DS/L Alexandria City | 2025 VA returning. Senior Harper Travis Harper Travis 5'11" | MB Alexandria City | 2024 State VA will fill one of the middle slots and share the leadership responsibilities with Bridie.

Assessment - Last year I did not anticipate them to do well because they had incurred too many roster losses. Milan and Chloe were able to overcome those losses and stitch together a competitive team. I do not anticipate this happening again this year, though a battle for a District championship or second place finish still remains a possibility.

Langley (my pick for the State championship)

Departures - Eric Maebius, Sophia Galova

Libero Erica Maebius is the one big position that needs a replacement. Her passing allowed the offense to run quicks in the middle with great regularity. A good offense starts with a pass.

Chloe Hokenson Chloe Hokenson 6'1" | S Langley | 2024 State VA won Liberty District MVP with her ability to set and provide significant offense on the right side. At 6'1" she provides some length at the net. Claire Mo Claire Mo 5'9" | S Langley | 2026 State VA sets the other piece of the 6'2". The sophomore has gained a year more of experience, setting her club team Paramount to an appearance in junior nationals. Junior left side Ana Toumazatos Ana Toumazatos 6'1" | OH Langley | 2025 State VA hits the ball with serious velocity. Even at 6'0" she has the quickness to fill one of the back row slots. Leni Stanton-Parker Leni Stanton-Parker 6'0" | OH IMG Academy | 2025 #134 Nation FL went back and forth between middle and outside last year. I suspect she will find a home outside this year. Riley Buddie Riley Buddie 6'1" | OH Langley | 2024 State VA will continue to replace Claire on the right side. The libero spot could be earned by third setter Hailey Park Hailey Park 5'4" | S Langley | 2026 State VA or Amber Smith Amber Smith 5'6" | DS/L Langley | 2025 State VA .

Assessment - Last year this team was young, with two sophomores and one frosh playing critical roles. These players have all gained another year of experience. They lost to eventual State champion Alexandria City in the quarterfinals last year. This year they should go all the way. Langley has captured state championships in 2013 and 2017. They were runners up in 2015 and 2007.

Others to Contend

Chantilly has Lameen Mambu Lameen Mambu 6'0" | OH Chantilly | 2025 State #68 Nation VA . She brings offensive firepower from the front and back row. Any team that carries the top ranked player in the class of 2025 has a chance to win. The Chargers lost setter Jaylin Price, but they gained frosh Caycee Chhum Caycee Chhum 5'7" | S Georgetown Day | 2027 State VA , whose setting should get her a spot on the varsity roster.

Do not count out defending 2021 state champion Colgan. The loss of setter Alexis Scipione and dominating middle Brielle Kemavor will not be replaced. Senior Left side Aubrey Hatch Aubrey Hatch 6'1" | OH Colgan | 2024 State VA returns to lead this offense and replace the leadership lost with Alexis and Brielle's departure. Gaining more experience and growth from sophomore Tehillah Garrison Tehillah Garrison 5'9" | OH Colgan | 2026 State VA will help. Middles Jordan Miller Jordan Miller 5'10" | MB Colgan | 2024 State VA and Elizabeth York Elizabeth York 6'3" | MB/RS Colgan | 2026 State VA bring skills to the court that were hidden with Brielle and Grace Smith grabbing all the playing time. Paula Sigurani Paula Sigurani 5'4" | DS/L Colgan | 2024 State VA returns as the libero. Setter Maddison Bowman Maddison Bowman 5'6" | S Colgan | 2024 State VA hopes to replace Alexis setting up the offense.

Class 5

Midlothian (Defending Champions)

Departures - Tatum Evans, Brooke Eslinger, Halle Phelps

The loss of 6'1" left side Tatum Evans takes a big bite out of the Trojan offense. Libero Brooke Eslinger made numerous saves with her hustling defense. She also provided some spark on the court. Halle Phelps brought a solid middle attack. In total, seven seniors were lost.

Key Returnees - Hannah Ball Hannah Ball 5'11" | OH Midlothian | 2024 State VA , Alex Mazulewicz Alex Mazulewicz 5'11" | S Midlothian | 2024 VA

Hannah Ball Hannah Ball 5'11" | OH Midlothian | 2024 State VA cannot do it alone. The senior ranks number five in our class of 2024. Hoping to assist her with the offense is sophomore Dylan Cline. Alex Mazulewicz Alex Mazulewicz 5'11" | S Midlothian | 2024 VA returns as the setter. She stands 5'11" and could help with the offense on the right side. That would give junior Maddy Eslinger Maddy Eslinger 5'7" | S Midlothian | 2025 VA an opportunity to set. in a 6/2.

Assessment - The loss of Evans and Phelps makes this a smaller team. They may get to the State playoffs but they will fall short of winning a championship. Last year was their first ever state championship and their first appearance in the States.

Riverside (My pick for State Champion)

Departures - Ava Ray, Sage Duggal, Emma Sawruk

They need to find someone to set after the departures of Ava Ray and Sage Duggal. Emma Sawruk provided offense from the outside and played a solid back row.

They return some powerful offensive pieces in left side Adriana Perodin Adriana Perodin 5'9" | OH Riverside | 2024 State VA and middles Simone Schaefer Simone Schaefer 5'11" | OH Riverside | 2025 State VA and Brianna Holladay Brianna Holladay 6'2" | MB Riverside | 2025 State VA . All three of them played for Paramount, resulting in a ninth place finish in junior nationals. Libero Natalie Carlin Natalie Carlin 5'4" | DS/L Riverside | 2024 State VA also played for Paramount but with the 17s team. She will provide some solid play in the back row. The setting duties could be handed off to sophomores Sydney Ray Sydney Ray 5'8" | S Riverside | 2026 State VA or the taller Mackenzie Davis Mackenzie Davis 6'0" | S Riverside | 2026 State VA , who at 5'11" could impact on the right side.

Assessment - For a team that has yet to appear in the States and may rely on two sophomore setters to lead the way, a state championship may be a lot to ask. Midlothian made it for the first time to states last year, but they had a junior setter. Riverside just carries too much offense not to score points.

Others to Contend

First Colonial lost last year in the finals to Midlothian. They have some offense in Keely Heffelfinger Keely Heffelfinger 5'8" | OH First Colonial | 2024 State VA and Teagan Emdadi Teagan Emdadi 5'8" | RS First Colonial | 2026 State VA . Michigan State commit Kayla Foley Kayla Foley 5'5" | DS/L First Colonial | 2024 State VA will bring strong back row play. The last championship for First Colonial was in 2002. They have been to the final four 11 times since 2000. With this roster they will make it 12 times but fall short of a championship.

You can't count out Massaponax with middle Carley P Coghill Carley P Coghill 5'10" | MB Massaponax | 2024 State VA still contributing to the offense. The loss of left side Carlie Clements will hinder the offensive output. Cameron Cox Cameron Cox 5'4" | DS/L Massaponax | 2025 State VA returns for libero duties and setter Addison Higgins Addison Higgins 5'9" | S Massaponax | 2025 State VA hopes to lead the team to two more wins at the end of the year. Last year the Panthers made their first ever appearance in the final four of the State playoffs, losing to the eventual State champion Midlothian.

The 2021 State champions Stone Bridge will still be a threat with Lilah Stevens Lilah Stevens 5'9" | OH Stone Bridge | 2024 State VA (pictured above) hitting from the left side. Gabriella Flamish Gabriella Flamish 6'2" | OH Stone Bridge | 2024 State VA also provides some offense from the pins.

Class 4

James Wood (Defending Champions and my pick to repeat)

Departures - Carsyn Vincent, Ella Kelchner

While talent was lost they have players on the roster who can fill those positions.

Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State #169 Nation VA can move from outside to libero. While she ranked number two on the team in kills libero is where the 5'5" player belongs, even though she loves to hit. Frosh Aaliyah Green Aaliyah Green 5'10" | OH/RS Millbrook | 2027 State VA (Edit: Actually on Millbrook roster) possesses the talent to fill an outside position. Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State #156 Nation VA led the team in kills as a frosh last year and she returns to do even more damage as a sophomore. The two setters Hannah McCullough Hannah McCullough 5'2" | S James Wood | 2024 State VA and Paige Ahakuelo Paige Ahakuelo 5'8" | S James Wood | 2024 State VA return. The middles are small with 5'8" Ashlynn Spence Ashlynn Spence 5'8" | MB James Wood | 2024 State VA and 5'6" Lexi Taylor Lexi Taylor 5'6" | MB James Wood | 2024 VA , but Class 4 tends to lack giants at the middle spots. All six of these players participated in Junior Nationals either for Blue Ridge or Paramount. The 2022 championship was the first for James Wood ending a ten year championship run by Loudoun County.

Assessment - Too much talent returning not to repeat. This team may be better than last year, with Brenna playing libero and Aaliyah hitting outside.

Others to Contend

Dominion - Last year was their first year to make a final four in the State championship. They lost to eventual State champion James Wood in four. The Titans bring back a lot of familiar names. To start how about Juliet Correll Juliet Correll DS/L Dominion | 2025 State VA and Emma Adiacontei Emma Adiacontei S Dominion | 2025 VA at the setting position and Alena Smith Alena Smith 5'9" | OH Dominion | 2025 State VA , Megan Hiltner Megan Hiltner 5'10" | OH Dominion | 2026 State VA and Kaitlyn Demitz Kaitlyn Demitz 5'11" | RS Dominion | 2025 State VA at the pins. Abigail Vasak Abigail Vasak MB Dominion | 2025 State VA returns as one of the middles. Their biggest loss is libero Haley Gil.

Grafton - One of these years Grafton will come out on top. The Clippers have finished second six straight years, five of those to Loudoun County and last year to James Wood. They also have eight second place finishes and 14 final four appearances. They lose setter Alondra Miranda-Pagan but perhaps they will replace her with another 5'3" setter in sophomore Allyson Burke Allyson Burke 5'3" | DS/L Grafton | 2026 State VA . Alexis Keeter, whose father coaches the team returns as their big offensive threat.

Millbrook - They play in the same division as James Wood. Last year they won the Northwestern District but lost in the Regional semifinals to Dominion in five. Their libero Giselle Norris Giselle Norris 5'6" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA appears to be sitting out the season and their star player Madison Koeller graduated. They still have some pop on the pins in Grace Behneke and Berkeley Konrady Berkeley Konrady 6'1" | OH Millbrook | 2025 State VA . They just need to find someone to pass the ball and set the pins.

Loudoun County - It appears to be another long season for the Captains. Frosh Kayla Luther Kayla Luther 5'7" | OH/DS/L Loudoun County | 2027 State VA will help from the outside, but a top club player appears to have opted out from playing high school. Despite the setback don't take them too lightly.