DC and More Virginia State Champions

Now we take a look at the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) and Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) state champions. Our familiarity for the Independent schools is limited to Division I. We'll also take a look at some of the top teams in the Independent School Leagues (ISL) and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) which have some strong volleyball programs.   VISAA Division I    She played an incredible libero at the junior nationals. Pancakes, diving digs, precision passing were in show at the event. Virginia Elite always seemed to play in system because of her libero play.   With [player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang'] and Kadi playing back row this creates a strength for Flint Hill. The other positions could use some help.   Kadi has committed to Lafayette.    Flint Hill - The last time they did not win the State Championship was the CO-Vid year and 2016, when Bishop O'Connell won it. This year Flint Hill received too many students from their feeder schools and were restricted from recruiting athletes from outside that pool. This could be a challenging year for them.   Returners - They still have a solid roster with setter [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] and middles [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] and [player_tooltip player_id='568901' first='Alli' last='Robinson'] (Edit: transferred to IMG in Florida). Last year Alli played right side but could move to middle to replace the departing Ryla Jones. They also bring back two strong back row players in [player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon']. [player_tooltip player_id='465301' first='Audrey' last='Sealock'] is their lone returner to play eft side. The holes that need to be filled may have to come from their junior varsity players or a surprise from their feeder schools.   Losses - They lost some big time talent in middle Ryla Jones, setter Natalie Nguyen and left side Mickhaila Murray. This may force them to be creative with their offense, perhaps using [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] to hit left side. A lot depends on what talent bubbles up from the frosh and junior varsity team. On paper those three losses lack replacements.   Prediction - No Repeat. Unless there are some surprise additions to the roster the Huskies will have difficulty repeating as ISL champions much less winning a VISAA state championship. Sometimes you win with tradition. When you step on that court other teams get overwhelmed by your history and make mistakes. Flint Hill still has enough talent to make it difficult for teams to beat them.    Not many players earn a roster spot on the Knights varsity their frosh season. Teodora is the rare exception. Now in her third year, her game has improved and she sees herself as a middle. Very few players carry a faster wrist snap.   As a frosh she listed 6'0". Now 6'3" she can cover so much more of the court with her block. This will be her first year in a leadership role.    Bishop O'Connell - They were the last team to defeat Flint Hill in the state championship, way back in 2016. Even though they have experienced some big losses as well they have stocked up with some new additions that could balance out those losses.   Returners - Last year their strength was in their middles. They had five players over 6'1. This year their strength will lie in their pins with [player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye'] and [player_tooltip player_id='377397' first='Ellyson' last='Miller'] returning. They also picked up [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'], the younger sister of Mickaila, to hit outside. They also return middles [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic']. In addition, they have picked up [player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs'] and have frosh [player_tooltip player_id='554674' first='Elle' last='Campbell'], who at 6 foot can play middle or pin. The setter is newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'], who transferred from St. Johns. The back row will have returnees [player_tooltip player_id='235295' first='Hannah' last='Kotb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212888' first='Maia' last='Cerezo'].   Losses - They lost a lot of their height with the departures of setter Erin Debiec, middle/left side Madison Bowser and middle/right side Alice Holoubek. Defensive specialist Cara Nearpass and right side Grace Faughnan also graduated while left side Payton Vieselmeyer moved to California. They may not have the height they brought to the court last year, but the talent remains. A strong incoming frosh who hits left side [player_tooltip player_id='490759' first='Ivy' last='Wirth'] moved to North Carolina with her older sister [player_tooltip player_id='249343' first='Alana' last='Wirth']. Alana was injured last year and did not play.   DCSAA    Every year at the DC Capitol Hill Classic she wins the best setter award for her age group. With the departure of Clara Yu the Mighty Hoppers of Georgetown Day needed another setter. Caycee answered that call, transferring from Chantilly.   For Caycee tough shoes to fill but she can make it happen. Both Georetown Day and Bullis are in a great position to sack Flint Hill for the ISL title.    Georgetown Day - Last year they won their second straight DC state championship. The talent on the roster indicates a third is in the works. A number of players returning, plus a critical setter added to the team.   Returners - Their middles should be strong with the return of [player_tooltip player_id='472234' first='Tessa' last='Fergusson'], [player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth'] sharing the responsibilities. At the pins they return a strong trio in [player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu'], [player_tooltip player_id='437985' first='Zora' last='Dimbo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='248705' first='Zoe' last='Ryu']. The back row will continue to bring strength with [player_tooltip player_id='326533' first='Shiraz' last='Benyoucef'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490811' first='Ella' last='Higday']. Where they really needed help was at the setter position, where only [player_tooltip player_id='434853' first='Elizabeth' last='Higday'] was returning. They got that with the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum'] from Chantilly. This roster is strong and poised to win the ISL as well as the DC state championship.   Losses - The biggest loss was losing Gatorade Player of the Year setter Clara Yu, who won the MVP the last two years in the state championship. They also lost their secondary setter Jocelyn Torres, who also played some back row. The Mighty Hoppers will miss the offense of left side Aaliyah Howell, but all their other pins are returning.   Prediction - A trifecta. Too much talent on this team not to repeat.    Her game keeps improving. Racquel brings a powerful right arm to the court. During her first season with St. Johns she struggled passing. This made her a target to serve and limited her to three rotations.   She appears to have been working on that aspect of her game. It has reached a point where now she plays six rotations. The passing could still use more consistency, but it is no longer a weakness in her game.    St, Johns - The Cadets dominated the first years of the DC championships. Jackson Reed (then Wilson) became the first public school to win the championship in 2021. Georgetown Day has won the event the last two years. St. Johns has the talent to give the Mighty Hoppers a game.   Returners - Their strength lies in the two returning outsides [player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves'] and [player_tooltip player_id='235283' first='Racquel' last='Frazier']. With the departure of [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] that leaves [player_tooltip player_id='221032' first='Wynn' last='Mendez Eaton'] as the only returning setter. [player_tooltip player_id='437988' first='Sasha' last='Plummer'] returns as a right side and [player_tooltip player_id='530367' first='Ava' last='Gill'] and [player_tooltip player_id='399508' first='Leana' last='Gould'] could see most of their time in the middle. A fairly young team that has gained one more year of experience.   Losses - Other than setter [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] there were no significant departures.   Independent School League (ISL)    Last year Megan played up with the 16s. This year she played down with the 15s, setting for a talented Virginia Jrs. team. She set a 5/1 leading the team to a USA bid. At Junior Nationals Juniors just missed earning a spot in gold bracket, losing a match to TAV Blue.   For Bullis Megan will share setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'], another setter who ran a 5/1 for Metro. Bullis is bursting with talent.    Bullis - Flint Hill has not lost a set in the ISL since 2011. That may change this year with two much stronger adversaries in their conference Georgetown Day and Bullis. The Bulldogs play in Marylnd, which does not hold a state tournament for independent high schools. Unlike DC they also do not mix public and private high schools in a state championship tournament.   Returners - The biggest returnee is left side [player_tooltip player_id='181300' first='Alexis' last='Ewing']. The Penn State commit is the daughter of Patrick Ewing. Her game still requires consistency, especially in the back row but the athleticism and skills exist. They also carry three other pins in [player_tooltip player_id='183589' first='Angelique' last='Desamours'], [player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181235' first='Sydney' last='Mayfield']. Sydney normally plays left side. Two quality setters [player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='206729' first='Megan' last='Phan'] compete for playing time. They can both set a 5/1. The back row is covered with [player_tooltip player_id='184604' first='Nia' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='238860' first='Mia' last='Fornasiero']. Finding another middle other than [player_tooltip player_id='248712' first='Kyla' last='Harris'] would make this team complete, though they list [player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly'] as a middle on the roster.   Losses - The roster did not have any seniors.   Washington Catholic Athletic Conference    The loss of Emerson Sellman will hurt. Rowan will try to fill the void. While she filled the middle spot for Virginia Jrs. this past season she also saw some time at the right side. This adds some versatility to her game.   She will be one of the leaders to a young group of players seeing high school volleyball for the first time.    Holy Cross - Known for its quality basketball, this conference now puts together some competitive volleyball teams. Last year the Tartans finished number one in the DMV area. They were the only high school team that did not see a loss, even defeating Flint Hill in a tournament match that went three sets.   Returnees - Talking to their coach Dave Geiger he mentioned they have six incoming frosh that play club. The last time such a strong group of frosh came on board Emerson Sellman made her debut. Holy Cross has played in the championship match for twelve straight seasons, winning last year's championship, but losing to Bishop O'Connell in the previous two. It should come down to those two again if the incoming frosh can contribute. [player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'] could make her debut as one of those frosh while playing a pin. [player_tooltip player_id='496520' first='Rowan' last='Johnson'] plays one of the middles while [player_tooltip player_id='238376' first='Anasofia' last='Zanellato'] could take over the reins at setter. [player_tooltip player_id='181304' first='Sarah' last='Jeremias'] and [player_tooltip player_id='438091' first='Catherine' last='McIntyre'] will join [player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods'] at the pins. [player_tooltip player_id='472384' first='Kate' last='Bickel'] played a tremendous job when she took over the libero role towards the end of the season. The 2024 season should see a full year from her.   Losses - The two biggest losses were left side Emerson Sellman and setter Jaylyn Simon. Emerson, an Ohio State commit won the Gatorade player of the year award for Maryland last year. Without a doubt, perhaps the most dominant player ever in the WCAC, although current Flint Hill coach Rhamat Alhassan made her presence felt. Both have played for the U.S. National team at international events. Jaylyn set a 5/1 for the conference championship game.   l

Now we take a look at the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) and Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) state champions. Our familiarity for the Independent schools is limited to Division I. We'll also take a look at some of the top teams in the Independent School Leagues (ISL) and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) which have some strong volleyball programs.