The Generals, the Statesmen, the Bruins and the Jaguars

Virginia high schools have started their volleyball season. Below is a summary of two matches that I attended. Saturday, I hope to be in Richmond for the second day of the Virginia Volleyball Showcase.   Generals Battle back to beat the Statesmen    Kathryn brings smooth hands and good location for setting. She runs the Generals offense operating a 5/1. Her game could be enhanced with more velocity on her serve and incorporating a jump set into her game.   Lots of potential for this class of 2027 setter. The jump set will give her the ability to attack when in the front row but also draw the middle or right side up for the block when she sets from the back row. It is also easier for the middle to hit the quicks when the hands are higher. The downside is that it may take some work to find that consistency in location that she currently has with the standing set.   Only a sophomore so there is plenty of time for her to work on her game.    The first three sets finished 25-18, with Marshall the victors in the first and third set. The Generals took the fourth set 25-22 and scored the final three points to win the fifth set 15-13. For the Generals it marked their first win of the year after being swept by Chantilly in their opener. The Statesmen took their first loss after sweeping past Oakton in their opener.   The Generals relied on their two outsides [player_tooltip player_id='470447' first='Evelyn' last='Donovan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='525352' first='Gabriella' last='Netwall'] to generate most of their offense. Each play six rotations but Gabriella appeared to be used more in the back row for the three meter attack. She jumps well and has a quick wrist snap to put the ball down. Evelyn played for Metro last year but did not get a lot of playing time, mostly used as a second libero or defensive specialist. For the Generals she plays every point. Evelyn ranks number 45 in our class of 2027 while Gabreilla ranks number 112 in our class of 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='466569' first='Kathryn' last='Wagener'] also belongs to the class of 2027 where she ranks at number 35. For a sophomore she brings good location to her sets and runs the offense well. What would enhance her game is a little more velocity to her serves. I came away impressed with middle Sydney Onley, whose left handed swing would perform better on the right side. As a lefthander that quick set becomes tougher to time as the ball travels across her body before she has an opportunity to make contact. Sydney belongs to the class of 2026. At 6'0" she brings the greatest height to the floor for the Generals, which makes the middle a good fit for the team.   Last year Sydney played for Mojo Elite 16. Prior to that her first sport was basketball but she has drifted more towards volleyball as she plays the game more. You can see and feel it in her enthusiasm and love for the game on the court. She presents a positive attitude always encouraging her teammates. At one point she took a swing at a ball and missed it entirely. Instead of dwelling on the mistake she laughed it off and placed her focus on the next play.   [player_tooltip player_id='530365' first='Francis' last='Armstrong'] is a class of 2027 right side. She also plays for Mojo Elite, but with the 15s. During the summer Mojo Elite 15 took second place in the Spooky Nook tournament. Francis started on the right side for Mojo Elite and contributed some key spikes to that second place finish.   For Marshall they rotate their three pins, [player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'], [player_tooltip player_id='643819' first='Julia' last='Schumer'] and frosh [player_tooltip player_id='562335' first='Zeynep' last='Anaz']. Ayla ranks at number 19 in our class of 2027. She played right side in the first, second and fifth set and left side in the third and fourth set. When playing the left side she played six rotations but needs to work a little more on her consistency with passing to play six rotations. She hits the ball the hardest of the three and her offense can be effective in the back row with a little more play there.   [player_tooltip player_id='643819' first='Julia' last='Schumer'] stood out as the surprise player of the match. She belongs to the class of 2024 and is unranked. She hits the ball well and plays a stellar defense. There were a number of sliding one handed digs she made in the back row. Julia played all five matches at the left side. Definitely the player who stands out as the glue for this Marshall team.   Class of 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='562335' first='Zeynep' last='Anaz'] did not start the third and fourth set. The three sets she started she proved impactful from the left side. Zeynep played for Virginia Juniors this past club season. For the three sets she played she covered all six rotations. [player_tooltip player_id='235328' first='Isabella' last='Tran'] and [player_tooltip player_id='664163' first='Mara' last='Simic'] were the primary setters. Isabella plays for Virginia Elite but lost playing time to Chloe Hokenson, who did most of the setting. For the Statesmen Isabella shows good hands and the ability to hit right side. She gets steady playing time for Marshall.   [player_tooltip player_id='369730' first='Gracie' last='Froemling'] played a solid libero. She ranks at number 132 in our class of 2026. [player_tooltip player_id='235326' first='Emily' last='Kim'] and [player_tooltip player_id='523340' first='Naomi' last='Lucas'] saw some time on the right side. [player_tooltip player_id='235305' first='Megan' last='Ice'] put some quick sets to the floor while playing middle. All three players belong to the class of 2025.   In the fifth set [player_tooltip player_id='525352' first='Gabriella' last='Netwall'] provided the offense to give the Generals the early lead. [player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'] blocked Netwall late in the game to tie it at 11-11. An [player_tooltip player_id='470447' first='Evelyn' last='Donovan'] kill gave the Generals the lead again at 12-11. Sayd banged back to back kills to put Marshall ahead 13-12. Another kill by Donavan tied the score at 13-13 and gave the Generals serve. It was Donavan with the ace to make it 14-13.   Marshall passed the next serve too far to the left side of the court. The set probably should have gone to the left side hitter, but it went to the middle as a quick set. There was not of room for a cross court kill but cross court it went. The spike went beyond the line to end the game 15-13.   Too Much [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] Lead the Bruins over the Jaguars    Morgan has a tall frame for an outside hitter. She hits the ball hard whether playing front row or back row. When she makes contact it can be a tough ball to dig. Adding a little more finesse to her game with a roll shot could enhance her repertoire. When a team digs in for a hard driven ball a change of pace roll shot in the middle of the court would be as tough to dig as one of her hard driven spikes.   Morgan works hard at her game. Improving the consistency of her back row play would make her a more accomplished six rotation player. For Lake Braddock she gets the opportunity to play six rotations, sometimes even being used in a two pass rotation with the Bruins libero. This will help her with Metro when she battles against the best teams in the country.    Falls Church last year finished second in the National District. They won their opener over Annandale. Thomas Jefferson won the top spot last year. Lake Braddock usually finishes in the middle of the pack in their division. With Woodson weakened by graduations and players leaving the area Lake Braddock has a shot for a run at second in the Patriot Division. Alexandria City has owned that top spot for the last few years. The Bruins were swept in their opener by defending Class 6 state champion Langley. Last night [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] proved too much for Falls Church, allowing the Bruins to power their way to a 25-18, 25-21 and 25-23 sweep.   For Falls Church, setter [player_tooltip player_id='248668' first='Eliana' last='Tamayo'] leads the offense. She runs a 5/1, serves tough and even puts down an occasional spike when she does not set the ball. At 5'6" she stands a little small for the front row, but her setting is so critical that she sets all six rotations. Her primary target for this match was middle [player_tooltip player_id='664148' first='Ainsley' last='Phillips']. Ainsley has a strong right arm that can put the ball away. The 5'11" class of 2025 tends to focus on basketball during the volleyball club season. During this match she was the offensive threat for the jaguars.   [player_tooltip player_id='664150' first='Nalani' last='Applehans'] also plays middle. While Ainsley put the ball away consistently with her hitting, Nalani did a great job blocking at the net, recording at least three blocks during the three set match.   The Bruins offense relies on [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams'], the number two ranked prospect in our class of 2026. The 6'4 left side already has a commitment to Tennesse to play volleyball. Her serving and kills from the front and back row scored many of the Bruin points. Williams two kills to finish set three iced the Bruins sweep.   [player_tooltip player_id='240900' first='Yana' last='Jensen'] played libero. A number of times the class of 2026 lined up in a two passing formation with [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams']. If the Bruins are to be exploited passing would be the way to do it. Keeping them out of system to prevent an easy set to Morgan is the way to beat this team.   The Bruins used three setters with senior Grace Hitchcock, junior Norell Rivera Miranda and frosh [player_tooltip player_id='664951' first='Micki' last='Millsaps'] all getting playing time. All of them need a little more work on finding consistency in their location and height of their sets. Micki and Grace both set for Braddock Road Volleyball Club. Perhaps their mantra is just set the ball high and let Morgan do all the work.   [player_tooltip player_id='664956' first='Harley' last='McAndrew'] at 6'1" has good height for the right side. Not many back sets went her direction but she has the potential to take advantage when the blocking focus is on Morgan. She played for Virginia Elite last year. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='664958' first='Hanna' last='Berhe'] has height but is still a bit raw with her hitting approach. She has the wing span to put up a good block. Gaining the experience to better anticipate the set would be next on her agenda.

Virginia high schools have started their volleyball season. Below is a summary of two matches that I attended. Saturday, I hope to be in Richmond for the second day of the Virginia Volleyball Showcase.