The Eight Class 4 Teams for Virginia States

We have taken a look at Class 6 and Class 5. These are my predicted Class 4 teams that appear in the final eight. A lot depends on the Regional brackets and what teams are paired there.    [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] will be going to James Madison as a libero. That is a position she plays for her club [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge']. For James Wood they moved her to libero her sophomore season, but after two tournament losses they moved her back to left side where she started as a frosh. The team never lost another match on their way to back to back state championships.   Even at 5'5" Brenna remains a force in the front row. She also acts as a libero when she plays in the back row. Since her and [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] play six rotations this is the second year in a row the Colonels have played without a libero. With so many substitutions allowed in high school you can replace the middles with two defensive specialists if your pin hitters can cover the back row.    James Wood (16-3) Northwestern - They are the two time defending champion. [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] still hit outside as they did when they were frosh and won their first State championship two years ago. The duo rank one/two in kills and one/two in digs as well as one/two in serving aces. One new addition is setter [player_tooltip player_id='621440' first='Kylee' last='Plumb']. She normally sets a 5/1. [player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison'] leads the team in blocks. The team plays without a libero, which they also did last year when they won the state championship.   The last two years when they won state championships they lost only three matches. This year they have already lost three matches, to Riverside (class 5), Kettle Run (class 3) and Hedgesville (West Virginia), all teams that are predicted to appear in their state championships. They have also beaten some strong teams in Dominion, North Hagerstown (Maryland class 3 state champion) and Millbrook twice. They get another run at Kettle Run, playing them in the last match of their regular season.   The Colonels have appeared in a number of final fours but had never won a championship until the last two years. Loudoun County dominated this class from 2007 to 2021 when they won 14 Class 4 state championships. This year you could see a final of James Wood vs Loudoun County. That happened in 2014 when the Captains won. Last year the two played in the first round of the State playoffs and James Wood came out on top. In fact, the Colonels did not lose a set in the state playoffs, sweeping all their opponents. It may be a little more competitive this year.   Loudoun County (17-1) Catoctin - The Captains are back. This year they should be more competitive in states. They also have two strong left sides in [player_tooltip player_id='249330' first='Charlotte' last='Arrington'] and [player_tooltip player_id='523337' first='Ana' last='Smithson'], who make this offense tick, sitting one/two on the team in kills. Last year Charlotte took the high school season off. This year she is second on the team in kills. Both Charlotte and Ana play six rotations. [player_tooltip player_id='377334' first='Josephine' last='Seekford'] powers the ball from the right side while [player_tooltip player_id='720098' first='Brooklyn' last='Benedicto'] impressed me with her middle play. [player_tooltip player_id='591686' first='Clara' last='Jolly'] appears to be their main setter but also serves well, leading the team in aces. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='377327' first='Isabella' last='DeWan'] plays a strong back row.   The only loss for the Captains came against Riverside in the third match of the season. They have beaten Dominion and Independence since then, riding a 16 match winning streak. During the time period of 2007 to 2021 they won 14 state championships, including 10 in a row from 2012 to 2021. Last year they appeared in the state championship but lost in the first round to James Wood. They appear to have their MOJO back.    At 5'9" Alena has heard the talk that she plays as an undersized left side. Despite that, she leads the team in kills and when she plays back row she becomes a second libero. She can also generate offense from the back row by hitting behind the three meter line.   The middles [player_tooltip player_id='240025' first='Abigail' last='Vasak'] and Emilia Antonov with right side [player_tooltip player_id='240027' first='Kaitlyn' last='Demitz'] account for 91 percent of the team's solo blocks and 78 percent of the shared blocks. That makes it critical for the pins [player_tooltip player_id='475397' first='Amaya' last='Bowles'] and Alena to create the offense.    Dominion (19-2) Dulles - The Titans play small but they play well. They have the 5'8" [player_tooltip player_id='346738' first='Alena' last='Smith'] who leads the team in kills hitting from the left side. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='240025' first='Abigail' last='Vasak'] ranks second in kills but also hits at a .429 hitting percentage. [player_tooltip player_id='298857' first='Ingrid' last='Smith'] does most of the setting but also leads the team in aces, while Alena and Abby fall second and third. Middle Emilia Antonov ranks at the top in blocking while [player_tooltip player_id='240027' first='Kaitlyn' last='Demitz'] ranks second. Kaitlyn can also produce kills from either pin ranking third in kills. [player_tooltip player_id='240029' first='Juliet' last='Correll'] used to be one of their pins but her role has shifted to libero. She and defensive specialist Catalina Huerta take control of the back row.   The only losses for Dominion have come against James Wood in their opener and Loudoun County. After their loss to Loudoun County they have swept their last six opponents. Last year they fell just short of appearing in the States. The Titans carry the talent to make their first run at a state championship this year..    Even at 5'10" Aaliyah can fly. It would not surprise me if she can reach 10 feet on her approach. Playing for [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] allows her to incorporate a little beach play in her indoor game. That creates improvement in her back row play and generates an awareness on the importance of the placement of her shots.   She and [player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady'] are responsible for the bulk of the offense for the Pioneers. Berkeley has committed to William and Mary and ranks number 12 in our class of 2025. Aaliyah enters that crucial recruiting year in the class of 2027. She ranks number 11 in the class of 2027.    Millbrook (17-3) Northwestern - The Pioneers will wear you down with their pins. [player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady'] provides the strength, height (6'0") and experience while [player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green'] provides the athleticism to lead the offense. Berkeley plays six rotations and is a player to watch from the 3 meter line. Aaliyah is generally a three rotation player but skies when in the front row. [player_tooltip player_id='451960' first='Paisley' last='Cook'] handles setting duties while [player_tooltip player_id='437980' first='Katherine' last='Madden'] takes care of the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='527011' first='Dreu' last='Patterson'] can bring down some powerful spikes from the middle and sets up a good block.   Millbrook took a loss to Riverside and then lost to James Wood twice. The second match went five sets. Last year Millbrook fell short of making it into the state bracket, losing the their conference rival James wood in the Regionals. Millbrook has reached the final four twice, the first time in 2017 and the second in 2021. Both times they lost to Loudoun County in the semi-final.    Last year Carolina won Battlefield District player of the year. She also made second team all state. During that year they asked to set and play right side. With [player_tooltip player_id='397536' first='Aubrey' last='Parker'] transferring to Courtland the setting days for Courtland may be done.   She plays both middle and right side for her club and high school team. That adds a little versatility to her game. She can also play a little defense in the back row if called upon.   With Aubrey transferring to set for Courtland that has opened up the offense. That allows Carolina to spot light her game, whether it is hitting right side or middle.    Courtland (21-2) Battlefield - Last year [player_tooltip player_id='397536' first='Aubrey' last='Parker'] set for River Bend and they finished with their best record in history. This year she transferred to Courtland and they are 21-2, much improved from last yeara . That is a 48-5 record for her last two seasons setting for two different high schools. The lefty swing of [player_tooltip player_id='524421' first='Chelsea' last='Quaye'] can cause some damage. [player_tooltip player_id='397539' first='Carolina' last='Eastlake'] plays a strong middle. [player_tooltip player_id='523341' first='Makailah' last='Ford'] shines as their top performer from the left side. She is another transfer, this one from James Monroe. Isabella Hopkins covers the back row as a libero.   The only two losses for the Cougars this year came against Langley in the finals of the Virginia Volleyball Showcase and Massaponax. They have gone on a ten match winning streak since then, losing just one set, even getting a revenge win for their loss against Massaponax. They also have wins over Colgan and Hanover. Last year they lost in the first round of the state championship, getting swept by Jamestown. They hope to progress farther this time around.   The farthest the Cougars have ever gone in the state playoffs was the semi-finals in 2016 when they lost to the eventual state champion Loudoun County.   Atlee (17-3) Capital - The two players who have made an impression are libero [player_tooltip player_id='464572' first='Heidi' last='Engel'] and left side [player_tooltip player_id='464573' first='Blake' last='Crawford']. The sophomore stands just 5'7" but brings a strong left handed swing to the court. Her ideal position would be right side. On the roster she is listed as outside hitter/setter. I have yet to see her set. [player_tooltip player_id='326536' first='Reagan' last='MacDougall'] brings some height to the middle at 6'0".   Midlothian, Courtland and Deep Run have been the only teams to have beaten Atlee. Against Deep Run they lost in five in the last regular season match during the season, losing the fifth set 17-15. The Raiders have yet to win a championship. They went to the finals in 2012 before losing to Kellam in five. That came when they were playing in Class 5.   Glass (19-4) Seminole - Not much is known about them since I have not seen them play but they have improved their record from last year. The top hitter for the Hilltoppers is left side [player_tooltip player_id='734377' first='Aubri' last='Willis'], who leads her team in kills. The two middles Jayden Smith and Elizabeth Bauer follow. Both Jayden and Elizabeth are one/two in blocks and have a hitting percentage at .491 and .471. Ava Grace Mayberry is the primary setter. She also leads the team in digs and aces. They have a frosh libero in Sara Wesley.   All four losses have come against teams in their conference, two to Liberty Christian and twice to Jefferson Forest twice. Glass have not won a State championship or appeared in the final four. They would be the Cinderella team in the tournament if they can earn their way into the bracket.   Jefferson Forest (16-4) or Salem (16-9) could be the eighth team to make the state bracket. There is not enough information known about the players to make a fair assessment of the team. Jefferson Forest did beat Glass twice in conference play. They last won a state championship back in 1997 while losing in the finals in 2003, as well as in 1996 and 1984. Salem last won a championship in 1998.

We have taken a look at Class 6 and Class 5. These are my predicted Class 4 teams that appear in the final eight. A lot depends on the Regional brackets and what teams are paired there.