Playoff Preview - Taking a Peek at Class 5

In Virginia the regional brackets are being played next week. Time to catch up and look at some of the high schools in Class 5 that will be in the running for the Virginia state championship. This is a list of the top teams in each Region and the players to watch.    Potomac Region   At the start of the season Riverside was my pick to win the State championship. That opinion has not changed as they march through the season undefeated. Wins over Woodson, Battlefield and Briar Woods set themselves up well for the playoffs. Last year they lost in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, losing to the eventual state champion Midlothian. They hope to change that fate this year.   Moving [player_tooltip player_id='225187' first='Simone' last='Schaefer'] from middle to outside where she can team with [player_tooltip player_id='192587' first='Adriana' last='Perodin'] to give the Rams four hitters at all times has been a difference maker. Both Schaefer and Perodin are potent from the three meter line. Frosh [player_tooltip player_id='464556' first='Kennedy' last='Peyton'] can also fill the outside role. The middles are covered by [player_tooltip player_id='181309' first='Brianna' last='Holladay'] and [player_tooltip player_id='238099' first='Samantha' last='Ferguson']. While they lost two setters to graduation, they did get one of the sisters [player_tooltip player_id='333651' first='Sydney' last='Ray'] to take one of the spots. Another sophomore Kenzie Davis covers the other setter role.   A third sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek'] can be a force at the net, whether she plays right side or middle. Finally, the Rams have a solid libero in [player_tooltip player_id='181240' first='Natalie' last='Carlin'] who covers a lot of ground on defense and passing.    Briar Woods finished second in the Region, losing only to Riverside in regional play. Their only other loss during the season was to Hidden Valley, one of the top five teams ranked in Virginia. The Falcons swept their opponents in 20 of their last 21 wins.   Their offense is led by 6'1" right side [player_tooltip player_id='237667' first='Skyler' last='Riggio'], a six rotation player who brings the offense from the back row as well. Her left handed swing comes down hard and fast. They also have some depth in their offense with strong left sides in [player_tooltip player_id='453965' first='Taylor' last='Hansen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='237670' first='Janssens' last='Arabia'], while middle [player_tooltip player_id='237668' first='Shannon' last='Callaghan'] leads the team in blocks and ranks fourth in kills. [player_tooltip player_id='471623' first='Reagan' last='Walters'] tees the offense up with her setting. She also leads the team in aces. [player_tooltip player_id='238365' first='Molly' last='Gardner'] takes over the back row responsibilities with her libero play.    Independence has lost all five matches they have played against Riverside and Briar Woods. They hope to change things in the playoffs led by senior veteran Faith Easley who leads the team in kills. Also from the left side junior [player_tooltip player_id='235296' first='Makenzie' last='Dvorznak'] sits in second place. On the youthful front frosh [player_tooltip player_id='290176' first='Kieran' last='Rhoton'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='235327' first='Jenna' last='Hathaway'] provide the offense on the right side. Jen also leads the team in assists. Frosh setter [player_tooltip player_id='471485' first='Kaelyn' last='Wharton'] shares the setting responsibilities with Jenna and even set a 5/1 when they played Riverside late in the season. Her sister senior Bri Wharton plays middle, leading the team in blocks while sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='240901' first='Maddy' last='Klees'] also plays middle.   Commonwealth    Riverbend could be the second best team in Class 5. Their only loss so far this season has been to Hidden Valley. They have beaten Colonial Forge three times, the last two matches taking five sets.   The Bears 6'3" middle [player_tooltip player_id='309022' first='Peri' last='Linterman'] is the player teams need to contain if they hope to win. The junior has committed to James Madison University. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='309023' first='Allison' last='Lach'] gets a lot of single blocks on the outside as teams focus on stopping Linterman. She finds success more so than not in putting the ball down. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='397536' first='Aubrey' last='Parker'] normally sets a 5/1. At 5'11 she brings some height to the position and must be watched when in the front row.    Colonial Forge has just five losses but three of them have been to Riverbend. The other two are to Flint Hill and North Stafford. They rely on the sister combination of [player_tooltip player_id='182753' first='Isabel' last='Ostvig'] and [player_tooltip player_id='465297' first='Grace' last='Ostvig'] for a big part of their offense. The older sister dishes out the sets, many of which go to younger sister Grace. [player_tooltip player_id='465296' first='Claire' last='Wortman'] also brings some offense from the outside while [player_tooltip player_id='397397' first='Jasmine' last='Williams'] smokes the quick sets from the middle.    North Stafford has taken Colonial Forge to five sets in two of the three matches they have played against them. They have managed to earn one win. [player_tooltip player_id='294589' first='Maya' last='Tillman'] leads the offense from the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='221415' first='Lindsey' last='Canty'] brings it from the outside while frosh [player_tooltip player_id='436122' first='Arianna' last='Mancari'] is a player to watch. I like the play of libero [player_tooltip player_id='471627' first='Allison' last='Spittal']. She passes well, attacks with a jump spin serve and has the hands of a setter.   Dominion    Midlothian is the defending Class 5 state champion. Their only loss this year has come against St. Catherines, losing in five, the last set a 15-13 thriller. Last year when they won the championship they finished undefeated at 26-0. Not a lot of big wins on their schedule but most of their wins have been sweeps. [player_tooltip player_id='190541' first='Hannah' last='Ball'] carries the team with her outside hitting. [player_tooltip player_id='248631' first='Alex' last='Mazulewicz'] returns as the setter. Madelyn Eslinger fills the libero role, which last year in the championship run was filled by her sister Brooke. A number of key graduations from last year's team will make it difficult for them to repeat.   Beach   The only loss for First Colonial came against Colonial Forge. Since then they have raced out to a 19 game winning streak. Last year they lost in the championship match to Midlothian., losing the fifth set 15-13. [player_tooltip player_id='248630' first='Kayla' last='Foley'] ranks as one of the top liberos in the area. She has a commitment to Michigan State. [player_tooltip player_id='465285' first='Keely' last='Heffelfinger'] provides the offense from the outside. [player_tooltip player_id='465293' first='Jules' last='Dooren'] makes sure the offense stays on point with her setting. [player_tooltip player_id='249294' first='Teagan' last='Emdadi'] was a key for them last year as a frosh. This year she ranks sixth in kills. [player_tooltip player_id='481863' first='Madison' last='Horn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='326539' first='Gabby' last='Taylor'] rank second and third in kills this year.    Kellam only has four losses on the year. Half of them were to First Colonial. The others were to the Florida team Oviedo and the top team in the state Flint Hill. [player_tooltip player_id='246935' first='Avery' last='Hanly'] is the top hitter from the outside while [player_tooltip player_id='465308' first='Blakely' last='Barnes'] brings it from the middle. Blakely tops the team in blocks and aces and ranks second in kills. Avery covers six rotations, banging out the offense from the back row and front row. [player_tooltip player_id='242358' first='Megan' last='Stone'] brings the hustle to the libero position. The setting position is shared by senior Marti Boser and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484751' first='Riley' last='Erwin']. Riley is second on the team in hitting percentage and fifth in kills.   Jefferson   Albemarle comes into the playoffs with a 15 match winning streak. The Patriots rely on middles Presley Stroud and Morgan Ascoli for their offense. Amelia Lynch is responsible for setting the offense, running a 5/1. Laci Mann is a smaller outside but brings good velocity on her hits. All four players are juniors with Stroud and Lynch the team captains.   Chesapeake Chirps: Some of the District finals have been completed.. Langley won the Liberty District with a 3-1 win over George Marshall. Colgan won the Cardinal District with its four set win over Forest Park. In the Concorde District Madison won in four over Chantilly. Falls Church swept Thomas Jefferson to win the National District. [player_tooltip player_id='233451' first='Charlotte' last='Nguyen'] with 13 kills and three aces. James Wood won the Northwestern District defeating Sherando in four. [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] finished with 18 kills. Rock Ridge over Dominion in four to take the Dulles District. Woodson will face Alexandria City on Monday for the Patriot District crown.

In Virginia the regional brackets are being played next week. Time to catch up and look at some of the high schools in Class 5 that will be in the running for the Virginia state championship. This is a list of the top teams in each Region and the players to watch.