Flint Hill, O’Connell Big Winners at Endless Summer

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Flint Hill </strong>and <strong>Bishop O'Connell</strong> 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We focused on the Championship Division since that is the highest Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180295"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6507d4af504d4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Division</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four state champions and two that finished as runners up were among the 12 teams who competed. The State champions were <strong>Flint Hill</strong> (VISAA), <strong>James Woods </strong>(Class 4 VHSL), <strong>Georgetown Day</strong> (Washinton D.C.) and <strong>Musselman</strong> (West Virginia). The two runners up included <strong>Grafton</strong> (Class 4 VHSL) and <strong>Hidden Valley</strong> (Class 3 VHSL). There were also two teams from Florida (<strong>Oviedo</strong> and <strong>Archbishop McCarthy</strong>) and one from Puerto Rico (<strong>NW Bilingual Academy</strong>). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 <strong>Kellam</strong>, 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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kellam was led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465308' first='Blakely' last='Barnes'] </strong>in the middle and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246935' first='Avery' last='Hanly']</strong> on the outside. They also got solid libero play from<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='242358' first='Megan' last='Stone']</strong>. On the other side Flint Hill turned to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon']</strong> to handle their libero responsibilities. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']</strong> returned to her setting role sharing a 6/2 with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180283' first='Natalie' last='Nguyen']</strong>. Isabelle lists at 6'3" but when standing next to 6'4" middle<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='180295' first='Ryla' last='Jones']</strong> they almost look the same in height. They also bring in two frosh who stand tall in 6'1" right side [player_tooltip player_id='437446' first='Alli' last='Z Robinson'] and 6'0" middle [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hidden Valley finished set two on a beautiful back set dump by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235285' first='Calli' last='Anderson']</strong> that found an empty area four to win 25-23. The Titans also received big time contributions from their pins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold']</strong>. The two combined for 22 kills against the Hoppers. Georgetown Day got contributions from their pins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181233' first='Aaliyah' last='Howell']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248705' first='Zoe' last='Ryu']</strong>, with setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180285' first='Clara' last='Yu']</strong> orchestrating the offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] </strong>delivered some clutch hits from the left side, while middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242037' first='Ashlynn' last='Spence']</strong> contributed some big hits as well. Last year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] </strong>finished second for the Colonels in kills hitting from the left side. This year she has moved to the libero role. Frosh <strong>Kyla Wilhelm</strong> takes over the other left side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180282' first='Paige' last='Ahakuelo']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180286' first='Hannah' last='McCullough']</strong> continue sharing the setting responsibilities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although Musselman plays in West Virginia, many of their girls play for the club Blue Ridge in Virginia. They include outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181299' first='Ada' last='McCoy']</strong>, setter <strong>Kendall Watcher</strong> and right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='360562' first='Keleigh' last='Chrisman']</strong>. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181241' first='Ava' last='Dunnigan']</strong> played for Paramount a couple years ago and will play beach at College of Charleston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180296"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6507d4af50541"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Division</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop O'Connell </strong>dominated their bracket. Their last opponent<strong> Hickory</strong> scored twenty points in one set. No other team scored more than 13 points in the other matches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye']</strong> led from the outside, while middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180298' first='Alice' last='Holoubek']</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180296' first='Madison' last='Bowser']</strong> dominated the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='180281' first='Erin' last='Debiec'] did most of the setting but also contributed on the offensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second pool <strong>Chelsea Academy</strong> lost their first match to <strong>Deep Run</strong>. They won their next two, including a 25-14, 25-23 over previously undefeated<strong> Star Athletes.</strong> Chelsea won the tie breaker based on that head to head win. Deep Run lost their last two matches in three. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233008' first='Greta' last='Barvick']</strong> 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 <strong>Ava Barvick</strong> also shows some promise on the outside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other two pools only had three teams. <strong>Stonebridge </strong>swept through their competition, while <strong>Great Bridge</strong> did the same. Stonebridge gets most of their offense from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478383' first='Amelia' last='Matson']</strong>. <strong>Ava Baker </strong>put down an impressive slide kill while <strong>Emily Hinton </strong>sets a 5/1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Divisions </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norfolk Christian</strong> took the Division II-a bracket. They beat <strong>St. Mary's Ryken</strong> in three in the final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division II-b was won by <strong>Landstown</strong>. They went three in the final against <strong>Indian River</strong>, winning the last set 15-8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Salem</strong> won Division III-a. Like their WCAC rival O'Connell, <strong>Paul VI</strong> did not lose a set to win Division III-b. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chesapeake Chirps: Some of the top high school matches to watch this week. Monday - <strong>Riverside</strong> vs <strong>Briar Woods</strong>, Tuesday - <strong>Collegiate </strong>at <strong>St. Catherines</strong> or <strong>James Madison</strong> at <strong>Chantilly</strong>, Wednesday - <strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong> at <strong>Falls Church</strong>, Thursday - <strong>Hidden Valley</strong> vs <strong>Blacksburg</strong>. Saturday there will be a tournament at <strong>Paul VI.</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->