Looking to Find a Top Twenty Slot

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple weeks ago we put together a top twenty for the DMV area. You can see the top ten from that list at this link <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/08/first-top-ten-dmv-high-school-ranking/">First Top Ten DMV High School Ranking | Prep Dig</a>. The Virginia season has gotten started so next week we will rank for the first time our top twenty high school volleyball teams in Virginia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are some of the teams looking to climb into the Prep Dig top twenty rankings that were not named in our DMV top twenty. Those teams with higher class levels may rise above the lower class level, unless head to head competition shows the lower class level can win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["397397"],"_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-64fa9bfdde907"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colonial Forge (5-0) - They are led by sisters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='182753' first='Isabel' last='Ostvig']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465297' first='Grace' last='Ostvig']</strong>. The older sister Isabel sets while the younger one Grace pummels balls from the outside. <strong>Claire Wortman</strong> also swings effectively from the outside. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397397' first='Jasmine' last='Williams'] </strong>does not have the length of most middles, but she still remains effective putting balls away. They played a tough schedule to start the season, but whipped together victories over Battlefield, First Colonial and Massaponax. Their next big test will be against conference rival Riverbend on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["309022"],"_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-64fa9bfdde987"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riverbend (5-0) - They have a big games against Colonial Forge that will see one of them go 5-1., while the other improves to 6-0 They lack current rosters but 6'3" middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309022' first='Peri' last='Linterman']</strong> has to be creating an impact. The James Madison commit is only a junior but can be a force from the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Catherines (6-0) - The Saints are a private school that competes in the VISAA state championships. They have some convincing wins over Courtland and Collegiate. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464566' first='Taylor' last='Meredith'] </strong>has the ability to run quicks in the middle, keeping the outside lanes free of double blocking. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248635' first='Campbell' last='Wood']</strong> helps the team stay in system with her precision passing. You also have to love a player who dolphin dives after every ball within her grasp. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='297528' first='Anne' last='Fielding Croft'] </strong>dishes out the sets. <strong>Madison Loving</strong> is a smaller outside who hits the ball well and can also set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["230817"],"_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-64fa9bfdde9ed"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James Madison (8-0) - They put together two tournament wins over previously undefeated Langley and Colgan. Those are statement victories. They rely on a fantastic foursome with Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] </strong>keying the offense with her potential to hit from the back or front row. Middles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230817' first='Riley' last='Lynch']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='183606' first='Camille' last='Pomeroy']</strong> can hit the quicks to open up the outsides as well as plug up the lanes with their blocks. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209800' first='Sydney' last='Pham'] </strong>is solid with her passes and defense. Weave together two setters <strong>Norah Vaudo </strong>and <strong>Brianna Vo</strong> with two right sides frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='359401' first='Chloe' last='Barth']</strong> and senior <strong>Samantha Van Vollenhaven </strong>and this team can make some noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Colonial (5-1) - Their only loss has been to Colonial Forge in a tournament. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465285' first='Keely' last='Heffelfinger']</strong> plays six rotations and keeps the offense clicking. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='249294' first='Teagan' last='Emdadi'] </strong>also contributes from the left side. Michigan State commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248630' first='Kayla' last='Foley'] </strong>could be one of the better liberos in the state of Virginia. She also seems to always be near the ball whether to pass or play defense. Setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465293' first='Juliana' last='Dooren'] </strong>orchestrates the offense with masterful setting. The Patriots can also run a 6/2 with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='643829' first='Jordan' last='Baker']</strong> as the second setter. <strong>Gabrielle Taylor </strong>plays a strong middle, especially when running the quicks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["238365"],"_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-64fa9bfddea50"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Briar Woods (5-0) - They have been a surprise with sweeps in three of their first five matches. Their opener was a five game win over Loudoun County. Clemson commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237667' first='Skyler' last='Riggio']</strong> is the key to their offense. She plays right side but plays all six rotations. Her lefthanded swing brings the heat. For her to play six rotations <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471623' first='Reagan' last='Walters']</strong> handles the setting duties in a 5/1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453965' first='Taylor' last='Hansen']</strong> stands small for a left side but she still hits the ball a ton. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238365' first='Molly' last='Gardner']</strong> roams the back row as the libero. The 6'0"<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='237669' first='Emily' last='Peterson']</strong> and 5'11" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237668' first='Shannon' last='Callaghan']</strong> share the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["196556"],"_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-64fa9bfddeab6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hidden Valley (3-0) - Last year Hidden Valley went undefeated until the last game of the season when they lost in the finals of the Class 3 state championships. The offense churns around the 5'7" left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'],</strong> who led all of Virginia in kills last year. The Kansas State commit plays libero for club. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235285' first='Calli' last='Anderson']</strong> is a smooth setter who knows her role. Find the hot hitter named Ponn. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233482' first='Lauren' last='Whitaker']</strong> patrols the back row as the libero. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grafton (4-0) - They appeared in the finals in the Class 4 State championships the last six years but lost either to Loudoun County or James Woods. They drop down to Class 3 this year. Hidden Valley welcomes them. Last year Hidden Valley beat Grafton in the Endless Summer tournament. The Clippers are led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233007' first='Alexis' last='Keeter'],</strong> a one woman army who leads the team in kills. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465315' first='Ana' last='Breckons'] </strong>has made some noise blocking the middle. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238858' first='Allyson' last='Burke']</strong> comes seasoned with one more year of experience playing the libero position. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='545714' first='Kaylie' last='Klemm']</strong> creates the plays with her smooth setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->