Virginia Top 20
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Earlier this week we identified the top 20 teams from the DMV. Below are the top 20 high schools in Virginia. Many of the Virginia high schools from the DMV area have already had a narrative in the DMV writeup…
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Continue ReadingEarlier this week we identified the top 20 teams from the DMV. Below are the top 20 high schools in Virginia. Many of the Virginia high schools from the DMV area have already had a narrative in the DMV writeup so we kept it brief for them, identifying their stars of the future (sophomores or frosh). Below are the top twenty high schools in Virginia for 2023.
Flint Hill (33-3) – No team from the Virginia area won a match against them. They went 18-2 in sets against Virginia teams ranked in the top 20. The Huskies also won the VISAA state championship. Stars of the future – libero Evie Huang Evie Huang 5'6" | DS/L Flint Hill | 2026 State VA , middle Hunter Ross Hunter Ross 6'1" | MB Flint Hill | 2027 State VA and right side/middle Alli Robinson Alli Robinson 6'1" | MB Flint Hill | 2027 State VA .
2. Bishop O’Connell (31-8) – They lost to Flint Hill in the VISAA state championship. The Knights set won-loss record against Virginia teams was 48-6 with three of those losses occurring in the championship match against Flint Hill. The other three set losses came against Virginia Academy. All other matches were sweeps. The Knights were just one of two Virginia teams that took a set off Flint Hill. Stars of the future – outside Ellyson Miller and middle Teodora Stamenkovic Teodora Stamenkovic 6'2" | MB Bishop O'Connell | 2026 State VA .
3. Langley (27-3) – The Saxons won the VHSL Class 6 State championship. Their only three losses came against Madison. Stars of the future – Claire Mo Claire Mo 5'10" | S Langley | 2026 State VA .
4. First Colonial (27-1) – This was the Patriots second appearance in the Class 5 VHSL state championship. The second time was the charm as they handed Riverside their first loss of the season. The Patriots only loss came early in the season, in their second match against Colonial Forge. After that they won 26 matches in a row. Keely Heffelfinger Keely Heffelfinger 5'8" | OH First Colonial | 2024 State VA churned the offense, leading the team in kills. She had help from Madison Horn Madison Horn 5'10" | MB First Colonial | 2024 VA in the middle. Libero Kayla Foley Kayla Foley 5'5" | DS/L First Colonial | 2024 State VA proved to be a defensive savant, digging everything hit her way. Jules Dooren Jules Dooren 5'8" | S First Colonial | 2024 State VA ran the offense setting a 5/1. She also played a pretty good defense, finishing second on the team in digs. MVP Kayla Foley Kayla Foley 5'5" | DS/L First Colonial | 2024 State VA . Surprise player Jules Dooren Jules Dooren 5'8" | S First Colonial | 2024 State VA . Stars of the future – outside Grace Davies-Hackenberg Grace Davies-Hackenberg OH First Colonial | 2026 State VA , outside Teagan Emdadi Teagan Emdadi 5'8" | RS First Colonial | 2026 State VA .
5. Hidden Valley (33-1) – The Titans won the Class 3 VHSL state championship. While they may be only class 3 they were able to take down ranked teams from higher classes, such as Riverbend, Briar Woods and James Wood. Their only loss of the season came against Flint Hill in the Endless Summer tournament. Caleigh Ponn Caleigh Ponn 5'6" | DS/L Hidden Valley | 2025 State #83 Nation VA led the team in kills and actually finished second in Virginia, despite standing just 5’7″ and playing libero for her travel team. Sophie Arnold Sophie Arnold 6'0" | OH Hidden Valley | 2025 State VA also contributed from the left side. At 5’10” she brings the height to the left side, finishing third on the team in blocks. Calli Anderson Calli Anderson 5'8" | S Hidden Valley | 2025 State VA ran the offense setting a 5/1. Lauren Whitaker Lauren Whitaker 5'4" | DS/L Hidden Valley | 2024 State VA does a solid job as the libero. MVP Caleigh Ponn Caleigh Ponn 5'6" | DS/L Hidden Valley | 2025 State #83 Nation VA . Surprise player Sophie Arnold Sophie Arnold 6'0" | OH Hidden Valley | 2025 State VA . Stars of the Future – None
Highlights
6. Riverside (26-1) – They went into the finals of the VHSL Class 5 state championship against First Colonial undefeated. They lost in four. Along the way they beat Battlefield, Woodson, Rock Ridge, Briar Woods three times and Riverbend twice. Stars of the Future – setter Sydney Ray Sydney Ray 5'7" | S Riverside | 2026 State VA . right side Gabriella Vizek Gabriella Vizek 6'0" | RS Riverside | 2026 State VA , left side Kennedy Peyton Kennedy Peyton 5'7" | OH Riverside | 2027 State VA
7. Battlefield (19-6) – The Bobcats lost their first three matches. The rest of the season they went 19-3. Ultimately, they lost to Langley in the VHSL class 6 state championship. Stars of the Future – right side Kinsley Zebatto Kinsley Zebatto 6'1" | MB Battlefield | 2027 State VA .
8. James Wood (27-2) – For the second straight year the Colonels won the Class 4 VHSL state championship. Their only two losses came in the Endless Summer tournament against Hidden Valley and Flint Hill. Stars of the Future – left side Kennedy Spaid Kennedy Spaid 5'11" | OH James Wood | 2026 State VA , libero/left side Brenna Corbin Brenna Corbin 5'5" | DS/L James Wood | 2026 State VA , middle Tenley Mattison Tenley Mattison 5'10" | MB James Woods | 2026 State VA
9. Riverbend (27-3) – They failed to get past Riverside in the VHSL class 5 playoffs, losing to them in both the Regionals and finally in the semi-finals of the state championship. Their only other loss came against Hidden Valley. Stars of the Future – setter Aubrey Parker Aubrey Parker 5'11" | S Riverbend | 2026 State VA
Highlights
10. Colonial Forge (21-7) – The Eagles lost in five in the semi-finals of the VHSL Class 6 state championship to eventual champion Langley. They lost the fifth set 17-15. In the opening round of the state championship against Woodson they won in five, taking the fifth set 16-14. Stars of the Future – Middle Jasmine Williams Jasmine Williams 5'11" | MB Colonial Forge | 2026 State VA
Highlights
11. Midlothian (21-2) – This was one of two teams I did not see play from this top 20 list. Last year they won the VHSL Class 5 state championship. This year they fell short, losing to Riverbend in the first round of the state playoffs. Hannah Ball Hannah Ball 5'11" | OH Midlothian | 2024 State VA is the offensive force for this team. Madelyn Eslinger took over the libero spot that was previously played by her sister Brooke. MVP Hannah Ball Hannah Ball 5'11" | OH Midlothian | 2024 State VA . Surprise player unknown. Stars of the Future – unknown.
12. Briar Woods (23-5) – They landed in a tough region to advance to the state championship, with both Riverside and Riverbend in their bracket. Four of their five losses came against Riverside (3) and Riverbend. The other loss was to Hidden Valley. Stars of the Future – Libero Molly Gardner Molly Gardner 5'8" | DS/L Briar Woods | 2026 State VA .
Highlights
13. Woodson (22-2) – The Cavaliers did well to advance to state. They lost the fifth set in the Class 6 state championship first round 16-14 to Colonial Forge, despite the 33 combined kills from Maura Fay Maura Fay 6'1" | OH Woodson | 2024 State VA (17) and Emma Gardner Emma Gardner 6'3" | OH WT Woodson | 2026 State VA (16). Riverside was their only other loss during the season. Stars of the Future – left side Emma Gardner Emma Gardner 6'3" | OH WT Woodson | 2026 State VA , Libero Livia Lee Livia Lee 5'3" | DS/L Woodson | 2026 State VA , setter Sofie Ferrell Sofie Ferrell 5'9" | S Woodson | 2026 State VA
14. Kellam (21-6) – The Knights were one of two Virginia teams to take a set against Flint Hill. They were swept by eventual state champions First Colonial in the first round of the Class 6 state championship. Avery Hanly Avery Hanly 5'11" | OH Kellam | 2024 State VA from the outside and Blakely Barnes Blakely Barnes 5'11" | MB Kellam | 2024 State VA from the middle were their two offensive stalwarts. Both Avery and libero Megan Stone Megan Stone 5'8" | DS/L Kellam | 2024 State VA played solid defense in the back row. MVP Avery Hanly Avery Hanly 5'11" | OH Kellam | 2024 State VA . Surprise player sophomore setter Riley Erwin Riley Erwin 5'11" | S Kellam | 2026 State VA , who finished second on the team in blocks. Stars of the Future – setter Riley Erwin Riley Erwin 5'11" | S Kellam | 2026 State VA , right side Sofia Barnes Sofia Barnes 6'0" | OH Kellam | 2026 State VA and middle McKenna Calkins McKenna Calkins 6'1" | MB Kellam | 2026 State VA
Highlights
15. Madison (25-4) – The Warhawks were the one team wrecking crew to class 6 state champion Langley, beating them all three times they played. Unfortunately, they lost to Battlefield in the semi-finals of the state playoffs. If they had won they would have faced Langley for a fourth time, with another win giving them a state championship. They had entered that Battlefield match with a 13 match winning streak. Stars of the Future – left side Laila Chadwick Laila Chadwick 5'8" | DS/L James Madison | 2027 State VA , setter Briana Vo Briana Vo 5'4" | S James Madison | 2026 State VA , right side Chloe Barth Chloe Barth 5'9" | RS James Madison | 2027 State VA
Highlights
16. Colgan (20-4) – The Sharks had earned their way to the finals of the last two Class 6 state championships, winning in 2021 but falling short to Alexandria City last year after battling for five sets. Despite losing some important pieces to graduation, they advanced to the Regionals before succumbing to Battlefield in a sweep. Stars of the Future – setter Elizabeth Robinson Elizabeth Robinson 5'7" | S Colgan | 2026 State VA , middle Elizabeth York Elizabeth York 6'3" | MB Colgan | 2026 State VA , left side Tehillah Garrison Tehillah Garrison 5'9" | OH Colgan | 2026 State VA
17. Stonebridge (35-1) – They beat Chelsea Academy in the VISAA Class III state championships in five. This avenged an earlier loss to Chelsea during the Endless Summer tournament, their only loss during the season. Amelia Matson Amelia Matson 5'8" | OH Stonebridge | 2024 State VA led the charge with 29 kills. The 5’8″ outside finished fourth in the State in kills. Emily Hinton runs the offense setting a 5/1. Amelia Matson Amelia Matson 5'8" | OH Stonebridge | 2024 State VA is my MVP and surprise player. Up until this year I only knew her name. Watching her play in the Endless Summer tournament and the VISAA championships confirmed to me she is a strong player. She hits the ball hard from both the back row and the front row and has a good feel for the game. It would be interesting to watch how she competes against stronger competition. Stars of the Future – Payton Weatherford.
18. St Catherines (25-4) – The Saints lost to Bishop O’Connell in the semi-finals of the VISAA state championship. They lost the first set 26-24 after coming back from a 24-19 deficit. That changed the complexion of the match and they were swept in three. Middle Taylor Meredith Taylor Meredith MB St. Catherines | 2024 State VA is their big offensive presence. She led the team in kills with quick sets in the middle, but when the team got out of system their offense struggled. Anne Fielding Croft Anne Fielding Croft 5'9" | S St. Catherine's | 2025 State VA ran a 5/1. Campbell Wood Campbell Wood 5'5" | DS/L St. Catherines | 2024 State VA played a strong libero. MVP Taylor Meredith Taylor Meredith MB St. Catherines | 2024 State VA . When she is cranking the kills from the middle the team is difficult to beat. Surprise player Campbell Wood Campbell Wood 5'5" | DS/L St. Catherines | 2024 State VA . I was impressed with her libero play for Richmond Volleyball Club two years ago. She disappeared from my line of sight but returned with her smooth libero play for the Saints. Stars of the Future – Bailey Loving Bailey Loving 5'8" | DS/L St. Catherines | 2026 State VA
Highlights
19. Chantilly (15-4) – They may have the top hitter in the state of Virginia in Lameen Mambu Lameen Mambu 6'0" | OH Chantilly | 2025 State #64 Nation VA . Mimi was not enough to get them to the States. They were swept in a regional round against Langley. Stars of the Future – outside Erin Green Erin Green 5'11" | RS Chantilly | 2027 State VA , setter Caycee Chhum Caycee Chhum 5'7" | S Georgetown Day | 2027 State VA
20. Rock Ridge (18-5) – This is the second team I did not get to see play that is ranked in the top 20. The Phoenix were able to bounce back after a slow start to the season when they lost four of their first six matches. A 16 game winning streak followed, with a loss to Blacksburg in the first round of the Class 4 VHSL state championship putting an end to their season. Stars of the Future – Libero Asiya Bakr Asiya Bakr 5'5" | DS/L Rock Ridge | 2027 State VA