Predicting the DMV State Champions

Last year I predicted six state champions. Five of the six won state championships (Langley, Richard Montgomery, James Wood, Georgetown Day and Flint Hill). The one miss was Riverside, who went undefeated until the finals of the class 5 Virginia state championship. Unfortunately, they lost to First Colonial. This year I will go out on a limb and predict 12 state champions from the various state classes from Virginia to Maryland to DC.   Virginia VHSL    One of the tough choices for Madison is who do they play at libero. They have a pretty good libero in [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'], a position she plays for Metro. She also stands out as their big weapon on the outside. Despite her 5'8" height she ranks as one of the top left sides in high school. Madison reached the semi-finals in states last year with Laila as their biggest offensive weapon. However, even the strongest offensives sputter without good passing. On the roster Madison lists her as a Libero/Outside.    Class 6 - Defending champion Langley. New champion Madison. Langley has started out well this year, but Madison brings back too many weapons. Their big hole to fill would be at libero with the possibility they could turn to [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] to fill that role. Clearly, her offensive strength on the left side will make that a tough decision. Including Laila they have a number of weapons on the pins and up the middle with [player_tooltip player_id='230817' first='Riley' last='Lynch'], [player_tooltip player_id='181314' first='Aubrey' last='Loughlin'], [player_tooltip player_id='397550' first='Chloe' last='Bonney-James'], [player_tooltip player_id='377336' first='Callie' last='Agniel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='359401' first='Chloe' last='Barth']. Langley has the edge with the setting ([player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo']) and libero ([player_tooltip player_id='476364' first='Amber' last='Smith']). Madison ultimately wins.    One of the big losses for Riverside this year is at the libero position. Last year Camryn made the team as a frosh playing as a defensive specialist. Now in her sophomore season she will take over the libero spot. Fortunately for Riverside they should be perfectly fine at this position.   It would not surprise me to see Camryn earn a selection on the All State team. Those honors are usually left for seniors but after watching Camryn play it becomes difficult to find a better libero to put on the court.   She brings energy, passes well and covers a huge area of court with her defense.    Class 5 - Defending champion First Colonial. New champion Riverside. Riverside made it to the finals last year and lost to First Colonial. They have added [player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson'] to a roster that returns middle [player_tooltip player_id='181309' first='Brianna' last='Holladay'], pins [player_tooltip player_id='225187' first='Simone' last='Schaefer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='464556' first='Kennedy' last='Peyton']. [player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek'] can play either pin or middle. [player_tooltip player_id='333651' first='Sydney' last='Ray'] will set while [player_tooltip player_id='438070' first='Camryn' last='Coulther'] will take over the libero role. An extremely solid team.   Class 4 - Defending champion James Wood. Repeating champion James Wood. There will be some push back from Millbrook, Dominion and Loudoun County. Ultimately, it will be James Wood's to lose. For the Colonels the pins will be [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']. Newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='218149' first='Giselle' last='Norris'] gives them a libero, a position they went without last year after moving Brenna back to outside. [player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison'] will be a force in the middle and [player_tooltip player_id='621440' first='Kylee' last='Plumb'] will fill the setting role.   Class 3 - Defending champion Hidden Valley. New champion Christianburg. I originally had Hidden Valley until I heard that setter [player_tooltip player_id='235285' first='Calli' last='Anderson'] would miss the season. The Blue Demons are in the same conference. [player_tooltip player_id='495264' first='Ela' last='Shepherd'] returns to set and hit right side along with last year's frosh setter Blair Self. They also return Addison Reasor to provide additional offense. They have 6'1" frosh Tatum Trotter on the roster as middle/right side. Of course, beating any team with [player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'] hitting outside will be a challenge.   Class 2 - Defending champion Appomattox. New champion Bruton. They bring back the Faw twins, [player_tooltip player_id='601140' first='Jolie' last='Faw'] and [player_tooltip player_id='574200' first='Mina' last='Faw'] as well as Cassie Hall. That gives them a formidable offense. Victoria Compton comes in to take the setting role.   Class 1 - Defending champion Auburn. Repeating champion Auburn. They return first team All State selections Gretchen Surface and Briel Underwood as well as second team All State outside Megan Earnest. Hate going against [player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor'] and Giles.   VISAA    The Knights have undergone some changes with new additions to their lineup. One returning player from last year provides the glue to continue the Knights success. Last year as a newcomer she led the team in kills as well as finished third in digs and second in serve receptions. She plays six rotations and plays them well. Even her attack from the back row has improved, an area she struggled with last year.        Defending champion Flint Hill. New champion Bishop O'Connell. The Knights have reloaded with [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] on the left side. She is the younger sister of Mickhaila Murray from Flint Hill. They also have setter [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] and middle [player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs'] as newcomers. Returners [player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye'] on the outside and [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'] in the middle, with [player_tooltip player_id='235295' first='Hannah' last='Kotb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212888' first='Maia' last='Cerezo'] in the back row give them a solid lineup. [player_tooltip player_id='377397' first='Ellyson' last='Miller'] moves from left side to right side and frosh setter [player_tooltip player_id='612396' first='Natalie' last='Hobson'] has already contributed to two wins.   Flint Hill, the 12 time defending champ, including the last six in a row still has [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] on the floor as well as defensive stalwarts [player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon'], [player_tooltip player_id='520868' first='Caroline' last='Semko'] and [player_tooltip player_id='587878' first='Delaney' last='Malloy']. Also expect a strong year from a Norfolk Academy team led by [player_tooltip player_id='245600' first='Peyton' last='McGee'].   Washington DC    Caycee transferred from Chantilly to Georgetown Day. She will replace two time MVP and Gatorade player of the year Clara Yu at the setting position. That should not be a problem. At the Capitol Hill Classic the last few years she continually wins the top setter award. As a frosh she also made the Concorde District first team last year. So the Mighty Hoppers should be fine with Caycee at the helm.    Defending champion Georgetown Day. Repeating champions Georgetown Day. The new addition of [player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum'] gives them the setter they lost in Clara Yu. The double z's [player_tooltip player_id='248705' first='Zoe' last='Ryu'] and [player_tooltip player_id='437985' first='Zora' last='Dimbo'] provide too much offense on the left side. Right side [player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu'] brings her left handed power to the right side. The middles bring length and strength with [player_tooltip player_id='472234' first='Tessa' last='Fergusson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott'] with [player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth'] providing additional depth once she gets healthy. [player_tooltip player_id='326533' first='Shiraz' last='Benyoucef'] brings leadership from the libero position.   Maryland    Continuing our libero theme we bring you [player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']. Last year she played defensive specialist as the Rockets won their first state championship. This year she will take over for the graduating Casey Bradley at the libero position. Her older sister Ema sets and plays right side. Ana is perfectly content to cover the back row. And she does it well.   She still brings a tough serve to the court, but instead of just playing back row for three rotations the Rockets will have her for six. One of the top liberos in the DMV area.    Class 4 - Defending Champion Richard Montgomery. Repeating champions Richard Montgomery. They are led by Montgomery County player of the year [player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic'] who sets for the team and plays right side. Her little sister [player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] will take over the libero responsibilities. Another sister combination of [player_tooltip player_id='412056' first='Elizabeth' last='Mitchell'] and her younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] will tackle the left side along with [player_tooltip player_id='465326' first='Saesha' last='Dhote']. [player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye'] will set and also play right side. [player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard'] plays one of the middles. This may be one of the more complete teams in the state high school championship race.   Class 3 - Defending Champion North Hagerstown. Repeating champions North Hagerstown. As mentioned in a previous article, the Hubs have too much Doolan not to repeat. They have [player_tooltip player_id='249341' first='Baylee' last='Doolan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] hitting the pins. [player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs'] runs the 5/1 and likes to hit her pins. When the outsides are not on fire she will feed the middle [player_tooltip player_id='481964' first='Nevaeh' last='Ware'].   Class 2 - Defending champion Centennial. New Champion Williamsport. They have some key pieces coming back in outsides [player_tooltip player_id='309027' first='Skylar' last='Norris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='525340' first='Olivia' last='Smith'], along with setter Emerson Shank, libero Elizabeth Warren and middle Ticcara Sumkin. If all those players return, they should be tough to beat.   Class 1 - Defending champion Smithburg. New Champion Boonsboro., Smithburg has the powerful [player_tooltip player_id='346735' first='Emily' last='Ryder'] returning but Boonsboro has outside [player_tooltip player_id='569805' first='Larissa' last='Blair'] returning along with setter [player_tooltip player_id='526877' first='Alyssa' last='Phillips']. Sydney Turner and Anna Jackson bring some height to the middle as does Clara New to the outside.   Game of the Week - Independence Downs Freedom    One of the cool things about high school ball is you get the opportunity to see players finding themselves at positions they did not play at club ball. The most common one is the libero who hits outside. For Kieran, it appears she will get an opportunity to hit some left side.   For Metro, Kieran normally plays right side. And she plays it well. For Independence she has been given the opportunity to play some left side. She also shows she can crush the ball from the that side as well. I have yet to see her play back row, but that may be the next step. Independence will be a tough team to beat with [player_tooltip player_id='235296' first='Makenzie' last='Dvorznak'] and Kieran at the pins.    Freedom came into this match 3-0. On the other side Independence lost their opener to Dominion in four. The game was played in the Freedom gym.   Independence took the first set 25-15 but lost the second set 25-21. Freedom ran a 6/2 in the opener with [player_tooltip player_id='444617' first='Kamilla' last='Hendrix'] and [player_tooltip player_id='693837' first='Taylor' last='Sourinhong'] setting. After losing the first set they went with Taylor running a 5/1. Left side [player_tooltip player_id='470561' first='Grace' last='Francis'] and frosh right side [player_tooltip player_id='623088' first='Irina' last='Padden'] got hot in the second set to give the Eagles the second set.   For Independence, they used [player_tooltip player_id='290176' first='Kieran' last='Rhoton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='235296' first='Makenzie' last='Dvorznak'] on the left side and [player_tooltip player_id='471485' first='Kaelyn' last='Wharton'] on the right side. [player_tooltip player_id='240901' first='Maddy' last='Klees'] provided the offense up the middle. This worked for the first set but after losing the second set Kieran and Kaelyn switched pins. They won the third set 25-21.   Independence jumped to an early 13-3 lead in the fourth set. Freedom went back to the 6/2. They fell further behind, so much so that [player_tooltip player_id='235296' first='Makenzie' last='Dvorznak'] was taken out of the game when she reached the back row to give her a rest. Freedom began battling back with [player_tooltip player_id='352832' first='Kiley' last='Robinette'] leading the charge. She produced two consecutive kills to make it 16-20. Makenzie re-entered the game, but the momentum had shifted. An ace serve by Kiley put Freedom to within two 19 -21.   With Makenzie back in the game she buried a ball down the line to put the Tigers ahead 24-22. Another kill by [player_tooltip player_id='352832' first='Kiley' last='Robinette'] tied the score at 24-24 with Freedom owning the serve. An out serve and then an errant hit gave Independence the 26-24 win and the match.   The play of [player_tooltip player_id='290176' first='Kieran' last='Rhoton'] remains quite familiar from the right side, however I always thought she could play a pretty good left side. Thursday night she proved that by consistently crushing balls to the floor. The most impressive player for Independence was easily [player_tooltip player_id='235296' first='Makenzie' last='Dvorznak'], ranked at 104 for the class of 2025. She has committed to Division III Hobart and William Smith. Clearly an underrated player on my part. An excellent all around player who moves fluidly through six rotations well, passing, playing defense and creating offense from behind the three meter line. Expect a major climb in the rankings for her.   Othe players who impressed for Independence were their setters [player_tooltip player_id='235327' first='Jenna' last='Hathaway'] and Kyla Frazzetti. The few times I have watched Jenna play travel ball she does not set. She hits right side, which fits her left handed swing. [player_tooltip player_id='240901' first='Maddy' last='Klees'] at one point was listed as a setter but at 5'11" she has shifted to the middle. She likes hitting to her left with the quicks and tipping when going to the right. This past club season she appears to have focused on beach play. Finally, libero [player_tooltip player_id='693829' first='Ella' last='Kliner'] impressed me with her back row play. She plays with fiery enthusiasm and hustle. Good to see such improvement in her game since she played for me a couple years ago. At that time she was new to the sport so there was a trace of tentativeness to her game, but that has disappeared.   Other Games to Note   It took five but Bullis downed Holy Cross in their opener. Bullis took the first two 26-24, but Holy Cross rallied back to even the match with 25-21 and 25-18 wins. Bullis recovered and captured the fifth set 15-13.   Cox moved to 3-0 on the year with a 3-1 win over defending class 5 state champion First Colonial. Last year First Colonial only lost one match. The loss to Cox was their third loss in eight matches.   Norfolk Academy showed they are a team to watch with their sweep over beach powerhouse Kellam. The first and third sets were decided by two points (26-24, 25-23).   Langley swept past a strong Alexandria City team 3-0.

Last year I predicted six state champions. Five of the six won state championships (Langley, Richard Montgomery, James Wood, Georgetown Day and Flint Hill). The one miss was Riverside, who went undefeated until the finals of the class 5 Virginia state championship. Unfortunately, they lost to First Colonial. This year I will go out on a limb and predict 12 state champions from the various state classes from Virginia to Maryland to DC.