Flint Hill, O’Connell Big Winners at Endless Summer
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Flint Hill and Bishop O’Connell started their seasons at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Florida. Both endured more losses at the tournament than they had in their last two seasons of play. They seem to have recovered since then,…
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Continue ReadingFlint Hill and Bishop O’Connell started their seasons at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Florida. Both endured more losses at the tournament than they had in their last two seasons of play. They seem to have recovered since then, with Flint Hill winning six straight while only losing one set. O’Connell has strung together 10 straight wins without losing a set in those matches. Flint Hill won the Champions Division at Endless Summer while Bishop O’Connell took Division I.
We focused on the Championship Division since that is the highest Division.
Championship Division
Four state champions and two that finished as runners up were among the 12 teams who competed. The State champions were Flint Hill (VISAA), James Woods (Class 4 VHSL), Georgetown Day (Washinton D.C.) and Musselman (West Virginia). The two runners up included Grafton (Class 4 VHSL) and Hidden Valley (Class 3 VHSL). There were also two teams from Florida (Oviedo and Archbishop McCarthy) and one from Puerto Rico (NW Bilingual Academy).
The way the tournament was set up only the three winners from each pool advanced to the gold medal round. Flint Hill opened up against Oviedo and swept them 25-22 in both. Their biggest challenge came against Kellam, who finished third in the pool. Kellam took the Huskies in the opener 25-22, then lost the next two 26-24 and 15-13.
Kellam was led by Blakely Barnes Blakely Barnes 5'11" | MB Kellam | 2024 State VA in the middle and Avery Hanly Avery Hanly 5'11" | OH Kellam | 2024 State VA on the outside. They also got solid libero play from Megan Stone Megan Stone 5'8" | DS/L Kellam | 2024 State VA . On the other side Flint Hill turned to Kadi Pynchon Kadi Pynchon 5'6" | DS/L Flint Hill | 2025 State VA to handle their libero responsibilities. Isabelle Bardin Isabelle Bardin 6'3" | S Flint Hill | 2025 State #121 Nation VA returned to her setting role sharing a 6/2 with Natalie Nguyen Natalie Nguyen 5'5" | S Flint Hill | 2024 State VA . Isabelle lists at 6’3″ but when standing next to 6’4″ middle Ryla Jones Ryla Jones 6'4" | MB Flint Hill | 2024 State #80 Nation VA they almost look the same in height. They also bring in two frosh who stand tall in 6’1″ right side Alli Robinson Alli Robinson 6'1" | MB Flint Hill | 2027 State VA and 6’0″ middle Hunter Ross Hunter Ross 6'1" | MB Flint Hill | 2027 State VA .
Flint Hill breezed by Grafton 25-13, 25-15 to advance to the gold bracket. If they had lost their second match against Kellam the pool would have resulted in a three way tie for first. A tie breaker would have settled the winner.
In the second pool Hidden Valley opened up against Georgetown Day. Perhaps it was the breakfast they had to start the morning, but the Mighty Hoppers destroyed the Titans from Roanoke 25-8 in the first set. Hidden Valley bounced back and won the second 25-23 and waltzed through the third 15-6. That turned out to be the pivotal match of the pool. Hidden Valley swept past their opponents while Georgetown Day did the same.
Hidden Valley finished set two on a beautiful back set dump by Calli Anderson Calli Anderson 5'8" | S Hidden Valley | 2025 State VA that found an empty area four to win 25-23. The Titans also received big time contributions from their pins Caleigh Ponn Caleigh Ponn 5'6" | DS/L Hidden Valley | 2025 State #83 Nation VA and Sophie Arnold Sophie Arnold 6'0" | OH Hidden Valley | 2025 State VA . The two combined for 22 kills against the Hoppers. Georgetown Day got contributions from their pins Jada Aksu Jada Aksu 6'0" | RS Georgetown Day | 2025 State VA , Aaliyah Howell Aaliyah Howell 5'9" | OH Georgetown Day | 2024 State VA and Zoe Ryu Zoe Ryu 6'2" | OH Georgetown Day | 2025 State VA , with setter Clara Yu Clara Yu 5'10" | S Georgetown Day | 2024 State VA orchestrating the offense.
James Woods played in a pool with high schools from three different states or areas, including the defending Endless Summer champion Musselman. After defeating Archbishop McCarthy (Florida) and NW Bilingual (Puerto Rico), they ended any chance of Musselman repeating as the Endless Summer champion with a 25-21 and 25-23 sweep. A win by Musselman would have advanced them to the gold bracket.
Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State VA delivered some clutch hits from the left side, while middles 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 contributed some big hits as well. Last year Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA finished second for the Colonels in kills hitting from the left side. This year she has moved to the libero role. Frosh Kyla Wilhelm takes over the other left side. 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 continue sharing the setting responsibilities.
Although Musselman plays in West Virginia, many of their girls play for the club Blue Ridge in Virginia. They include outside Ada McCoy Ada McCoy 5'11" | OH Musselman (WVA) | 2025 State VA , setter Kendall Watcher and right side Keleigh Chrisman Keleigh Chrisman 5'10" | OH Musselman | 2024 State VA . Libero Ava Dunnigan Ava Dunnigan 5'4" | DS/L Musselman | 2024 VA played for Paramount a couple years ago and will play beach at College of Charleston.
Flint Hill proved their dominance by sweeping James Woods and Hidden Valley in the gold bracket. Hidden Valley reached 22 points in the first set, but no other set against Flint Hill reached 20. Oviedo, who finished second to Flint Hill in pool play, won the silver bracket. Kellam, who finished third to Flint Hill won the bronze bracket.
First Division
Bishop O’Connell dominated their bracket. Their last opponent Hickory scored twenty points in one set. No other team scored more than 13 points in the other matches. Jocelyn Pye Jocelyn Pye 6'0" | OH Bishop O'Connell | 2025 State VA led from the outside, while middles Alice Holoubek Alice Holoubek 6'3" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State VA , Teodora Stamenkovic Teodora Stamenkovic 6'2" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2026 State VA and Madison Bowser Madison Bowser 6'2" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State VA dominated the middle. Erin Debiec Erin Debiec 6'1" | S Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State #92 Nation VA did most of the setting but also contributed on the offensive end.
In the second pool Chelsea Academy lost their first match to Deep Run. They won their next two, including a 25-14, 25-23 over previously undefeated Star Athletes. Chelsea won the tie breaker based on that head to head win. Deep Run lost their last two matches in three. Greta Barvick Greta Barvick 5'10" | S Chelsea Academy | 2024 State VA led Chelsea Academy. She brings an impressive sixth sense court vision to the game, using blockers hands and finding the open spots on the floor for her kills. Her sister sophomore Ava Barvick also shows some promise on the outside.
The other two pools only had three teams. Stonebridge swept through their competition, while Great Bridge did the same. Stonebridge gets most of their offense from Amelia Matson Amelia Matson 5'8" | OH Stonebridge | 2024 State VA . Ava Baker put down an impressive slide kill while Emily Hinton sets a 5/1.
The playoffs were dominated by O’Connell. Neither Great Bridge nor Chelsea Academy could reach 20 points. For O’Connell it was their third consecutive Endless Summer championship, two others at lower divisions. The second semi-final between Stonebridge and Chelsea was the match to watch. Chelsea won the first 28-26, while Stonebridge dominated the second match. Chelsea pulled out the third match 15-`13.
Other Divisions
Norfolk Christian took the Division II-a bracket. They beat St. Mary’s Ryken in three in the final.
Division II-b was won by Landstown. They went three in the final against Indian River, winning the last set 15-8.
Salem won Division III-a. Like their WCAC rival O’Connell, Paul VI did not lose a set to win Division III-b.
Chesapeake Chirps: Some of the top high school matches to watch this week. Monday – Riverside vs Briar Woods, Tuesday – Collegiate at St. Catherines or James Madison at Chantilly, Wednesday – Thomas Jefferson at Falls Church, Thursday – Hidden Valley vs Blacksburg. Saturday there will be a tournament at Paul VI.