DMV Playoff Review

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The playoffs are in full gear in Virginia and just getting started in Maryland and soon in DC. Time to take a look at the teams and the players to watch from Maryland and D.C..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Virginia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210539"],"_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-6541c2121777f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexandria City hosted the last District championship match, taking on the number one seed Woodson. Even though Woodson won the regular season Alexandria City hosted the championship because it was the defending champion. During the regular season Woodson had swept Alexandria City twice. However, Alexandria City was more competitive the second time they had played them. The Titans were also coming into the match with a five match winning streak. The hope existed that things would be different the third time around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately for the Titans it was too much <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233000' first='Maura' last='Fay']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner']</strong>. Emma led the team with 15 kills and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233000' first='Maura' last='Fay']</strong> added 9. The first two sets seemed like more of the same with the Cavaliers waltzing over the Titans 25-15, 25-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Titans were more competitive in set three with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464589' first='Julia' last='Kelly']</strong> getting a kill to pull the Titans to within one and then combining with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250614' first='Harper' last='Travis']</strong> for a block to tie the game at 20-20. A <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='204152' first='Sofie' last='Ferrell']</strong> setter dump gave the Cavaliers the lead again, but Kelly got another kill to knot it at 21-21. The Cavaliers went on a two point run after a <strong>Catherine Quigley</strong> overset kill and a solo block by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233000' first='Maura' last='Fay']</strong> to up the lead to 23-21. Maura would later add a tip kill to pull the Titans within one point of completing a third sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233001' first='Bridget' last='Wendling']</strong> pushed a two handed set to land deep into the setter's coffin corner to pull the Titans to within one 23-24. A small rally was ended when the Titans were called for a net, which completed the Cavaliers sweep 25-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='469251' first='Nora' last='Gilmer']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='210539' first='Emma' last='Gardner']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233000' first='Maura' last='Fay']</strong> were voted to the All District tournament team for Woodson. For Alexandria City <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250614' first='Harper' last='Travis']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='474064' first='Rania' last='Shuster']</strong> were named to the team. Rania won the libero spot during the season and played the position well enough to earn second team honors on the All District Patriot team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Alexandria City and Woodson will be hosting regional matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 6 Region A were all sweeps. Grassfield, Glen Allen. Deep Run and Cosby all advanced. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 5 Region D also got started with Briar Woods sweeping past Independence 25-17, 25-16 and 25-13. Massaponax also swept past Lightridge 25-15. 25-11 and 26-24. Riverbend and Riverside both earned byes. Riverbend will host Briar Woods while Riverside will host Massaponax on 11/2. Class 5 Region B saw winners in Woodside, Granby, Menchville and Maury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Class 4 region C action Loudoun County just squeezed past Dominion in five, winning the last set 15-12. Earlier in the season Dominion had swept Loudoun County. Rock Ridge got past Woodgrove in four 25-9, 25-19, 28-30 and 25-10. Loudoun County will play Woodgrove for the Region 4c championship. Class 4 region B saw winners in Dinwiddle, Courtland, Spotslyvania and Chancellor. Atlee and Hanover received byes with Atlee slated to play Dinwiddle and Hanover slotted to play Spotslyvania. Region 4 A action saw Jamestown, Manor, Gloucester and Smithfield winners. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["235748"],"_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-6541c212177e1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richard Mongomery played Wooten for the Montgomery County championship. Wooten had beaten the Rockets in five when they played during the regular season. It went five again, with Wooten winning the fifth set 15-12. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']</strong> picked up 17 kills in the game. The junior has reached 500 kills for her high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Class 4 the Richard Montgomery Rockets may have the most talented roster despite losing to Wootten twice. They start with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='412056' first='Elizabeth' last='Mitchell'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard']</strong> providing offense from the pins. Corinne can also play middle. Ema shares setting duties with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye']</strong>. Both stay in the game to hit right side. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309031' first='Caroline' last='Kaye']</strong> leads the team in blocks. The back row is solid with libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352786' first='Cassandra' last='Bradley']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438049' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</strong>. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465326' first='Saesha' last='Dhote']</strong> can also contribute from the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After their two wins over the Rockets Wootten (Edit: been told they have dropped to Class 3) may now be the favorite in Class 4. Besides giving Richard Montgomery two losses they have also beaten last year's defending champion Urbana. Wootten's only two losses have come against Georgetown Day and Churchill. They have two strong setters in sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325600' first='Taryn' last='Su']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377331' first='Sofia' last='Sossa']</strong>. Libero <strong>Jessica Chen</strong> handles the back row duties. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434851' first='Caitlin' last='Doherty']</strong> (Edit: appears out for the playoffs) brings a solid presence to the middle. A pair of sisters, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325604' first='Sara' last='Foster']</strong> hits from the pins while <strong>Paige Foster</strong> occupies a middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["321679"],"_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-6541c21217830"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A third team to watch is Urbana. They are the defending Class 4 state champions after defeating Arundel last year. They have two talented middles in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321679' first='Simone' last='Assasie'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346736' first='Ava' last='Hinnant'].</strong> Simone ranks first in kills and blocks. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='321680' first='Talia' last='DoCarmo']</strong> handles the offense from the outside. Libero <strong>Natalia Johnson</strong> takes responsibility for the back row. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478953' first='Kaelynn' last='Burge']</strong> runs the offense with her setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arundel has dropped down to Class 3A and will probably win this championship, after finishing second to Urbana in class 4 last year. They have yet to lose a match this year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309025' first='Payton' last='Swinton']</strong> demolishes balls from the right side, leading the team in kills. Her younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='434861' first='Bailey' last='Swinton'] handles the libero role. The offense is run by<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='284195' first='Daisy' last='Pentorn'],</strong> who sets a 5/1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon']</strong> leads the team in blocks and shares the middle blocking responsibilities with <strong>Brooke Waters</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481852' first='Taylor' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='319715' first='Deviana' last='Walker']</strong> swing from the left side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Hagerstown with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='249341' first='Baylee' last='Doolan']</strong> hitting from the outside will be one of their challengers. The Northern Patriots are also undefeated but I have yet to see them play or any of their players on the roster play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washington D.C.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181763"],"_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-6541c2121787b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be a repeat of St.Johns and Georgetown Day in the championship match. The Mighty Hoppers will repeat as champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu']</strong> leads in kills with her powerful left arm swinging from the right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248705' first='Zoe' last='Ryu'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181233' first='Aaliyah' last='Howell']</strong> take the swings from the left side. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437985' first='Zora' last='Dimbo']</strong> can also take some swings from the pins. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth']</strong> leads the team in blocks while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472234' first='Tessa' last='Fergusson']</strong> also shares the middle responsibility. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180285' first='Clara' last='Yu']</strong> is the primary setter, operating a 5/1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='326533' first='Shiraz' last='Benyoucef'] </strong>fills the libero role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Johns relies on their two left sides for their offense, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235283' first='Racquel' last='Frazier']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'].</strong> Racquel leads the team in kills and her defense has improved that she also leads the team in digs. Both players play six rotations. <strong>Emilie Jabbour</strong> leads the team in blocks while handling the middle. The setting duties are shared by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221032' first='Wynn' last='Eaton']</strong>. <strong>Erin Carmody</strong> fills the libero role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A sleeper team to watch is Georgetown Visitation. Their two twins (pictured above), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='348735' first='Audrey' last='Monlux']</strong>, who is their primary setter and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='348696' first='Julia' last='Monlux']</strong>, who plays middle, fuel the offense. Despite being their primary setter Audrey is still third on the team in kills and aces. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473872' first='Jocelyn' last='Gill'] </strong>is one of the team's more productive hitters from the middle, even though she is only a frosh. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397545' first='Katelyn' last='Strike']</strong> plays middle or right side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->