Playoff Preview Class 4
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The Regionals are about to start in each of the classes. Time to take a look at some of the favorites in Class 4. Northwestern Kennedy Spaid VA #2 OH #2 HEIGHT 5'11" POS OH CLASS 2026 View Profile Kennedy…
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Continue ReadingThe Regionals are about to start in each of the classes. Time to take a look at some of the favorites in Class 4.
Northwestern
James Woods is the defending champion. They beat Grafton last year in the finals. Grafton has dropped to Class 3. The Colonels only two losses happened at the Endless Summer tournament against Hidden Valley and Flint Hill, two of the better teams in the state. The Colonels are led by perhaps one of the top left sides in the game, even though she is still a sophomore. Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State VA stands 5’10” and leads her team in kills. She also competes at six rotations.
While teams focus on Kennedy the middles respond with 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 . They will not beat you with their height but they take advantage of their quickness. Ashlynn has the best hitting percentage on the team. Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA is one of the best liberos in the game but it appears she has moved back to the other left side spot where she played last year, finishing second in kills. Seniors 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 have been sharing the setting duties for the last three years. Paige can also deliver from the right side, second on the team in kills. She also completed a triple double in the District finals against Sherando with 12 kills, 16 digs and 14 assists.
Millwood lost three games this year, two of them to James Woods and the other to Sherando. They open Regional play against Sherando. This is a young team that relies on their veteran outsides Berkeley Konrady Berkeley Konrady 6'1" | OH Millbrook | 2025 State VA and Grace Behneke to deliver their offense. After them comes a trio of frosh in pin hitter Aaliyah Green Aaliyah Green 5'9" | OH Millbrook | 2027 State VA , setter Paisley Cook Paisley Cook 5'5" | S Millbrook | 2027 State VA and libero Katherine Madden Katherine Madden 5'4" | DS/L Millbrook | 2027 State VA . The Pioneers may not do it this year but this is a good rehearsal for winning the state championship perhaps next year.
Sherando had a nine match winning streak coming into their District final against James Wood. They won the first set but lost the next three to see the winning streak come to an end. They open regional play against Millbrook, a team they split with during the season. Left side Helena Ritter Helena Ritter 5'7" | MB Shernando | 2025 VA contributes from the outside while Sarah Starling Sarah Starling 5'11" | MB Sherando | 2024 State VA keeps opponents honest accumulating kills from the middle. Sophomores Amanda Ingrassia and Katherine Frelich share the setting duties.
Capital
Highlights
Atlee split with Hanover during the regular season. Thier only other loss was to Massaponax. They go into the playoffs with a 9 match winning streak, losing just one set during that time. Only got to see Atlee play once this year, but the players who impressed were middle Regan McDougall, libero Heidi Engel Heidi Engel 5'4" | DS/L Atlee | 2026 State VA and their two left sides Avery Flaherty and frosh Blake Crawford Blake Crawford 5'7" | OH Atlee | 2027 State VA . Blake has a left handed swing that can also play right side. Regan brings length to the middle and hits the quicks well.
Hanover suffered sweeps when playing Atlee and Midlothian. They have finished the regular season strong with sweeps in their last three matches. They have a trio of seniors that they rely on. The 6’2″ Campbell Woods(pictured above) is a force on the right side while Charlotte Michaels can contribute from the left side. Lydia Whitlow brings on the middle attack.
Dulles
Highlights
We have not talked a lot about Rock Ridge this year but they won the Dulles District. They lost three of their first four to Briar Woods, Riverside and Battlefield. A loss to South Lakes made it four out of their first six. They now have a 14 match winning streak entering the playoffs. Grace Tucker Grace Tucker 5'9" | OH Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA leads this team in offense. She is also a great leader on the court with her hustle and enthusiasm. Two other seniors, setter Ankita Kamath Ankita Kamath 5'6" | S Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA and libero Isha Uppalli Isha Uppalli 5'5" | DS/L Rock Ridge | 2024 State VA give this team a veteran presence. Ankita sets a 5/1 while Isha is one of the best passing liberos in the area and plays a solid defense. Isha and Ankita rank first and second in aces. Asiya Bakr Asiya Bakr 5'5" | DS/L Rock Ridge | 2027 State VA is a frosh to watch.
Dominion lost to Rock Ridge all three times they played this year. Frosh setter Ingrid Smith Ingrid Smith 5'8" | S Dominion | 2027 State VA is perhaps one of the better setters in this area. She normally stays in to set four rotations and sometimes is used in a 5/1. She has three top junior targets in right side Kaitlyn Demitz Kaitlyn Demitz 5'11" | RS Dominion | 2025 State VA , left side Alena Smith Alena Smith 5'8" | OH Dominion | 2025 State VA and middle Abigail Vasak Abigail Vasak MB Dominion | 2025 State VA . Abigail leads the team in blocks and hitting percentage. Alena leads the team in aces. The back row is held together by seniors Kylie Patterson Kylie Patterson OH Dominion | 2024 VA and Ava Field. Emma Adiacontei Emma Adiacontei S Dominion | 2025 VA also contributes to the setting. If they fail to advance far this year they bring back a more experienced group for next year.
Catoctin
Loudoun County saw their 10 year championship winning streak in class 4 (or AA) come to an end last year. They have actually won championships in 14 of their last 15 seasons. They lost their first two games this year to Briar Woods and Riverside. During the season they also lost two matches to Dulles Class 4 opponents Dominion and Rock Ridge. Recently, the Captains took down Woodbridge to bring a District crown back to Loudoun County. They rely on their pins for their offense with Ana Smithson Ana Smithson 5'9" | OH Loudoun County | 2025 State VA , Madison LaRue Madison LaRue 5'9" | OH Loudoun County | 2024 State VA and Isabella Miller leading the charge. Kayla Luther Kayla Luther 5'8" | OH Loudoun County | 2027 State VA is a frosh pin to watch. Clara Jolly and Grace Galos are the setters responsible for feeding the pins appetite for kills. Sophomore libero Isabella DeWan Isabella DeWan 5'6" | DS/L Loudoun County | 2026 State VA takes over the back row responsibility. Sophomore setter Claire Popish made her debut in the Woodbridge District title game. They are scheduled to play Dominion in their opening Regional contest.
Jefferson
Highlights
Western Albemarle seems to be playing their best ball as the season winds down with a six game winning streak, including a sweep over their rival Albemarle. Two of their five losses have come against Riverbend. Libero Amelia Tomlinson Amelia Tomlinson 5'8" | DS/L Western Albemarle | 2024 State VA gives this team a chance with her passing and defensive play. That proves critical when one of their most effective hitters is 6’0″ middle Natalie Rocco Natalie Rocco 6'0" | MB Western Albermarle | 2024 State VA . Ava Hardy and Ella Kuzjak share the setting chores. The two outsides are Mary Kumer and Juliana Murphy.