2024 Virginia State Final Preview Class 1-3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My last post was for classes 4-6. This post will be for classes 1-3. My familiarity with these classes is not as great as the higher ones but I have learned the more you try to write about what you are not familiar with the more opportunities you have to learn. The finals for Classes 4-6 are being played Saturday at the Siegel Center in Richmond beginning at 10:00. Classes 1-3 are being played Saturday at the Salem Civic Center beginning at 12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["235285"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6740c08e29a05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After missing most of the early season with a knee injury Calli is back with the team. The trio of seniors Calli [player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold'] and [player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'] will be playing their last match together. Last year they won a championship. They hope to end their high school careers with a second straight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold'] is 30 kills shy of 1,000 and [player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn'] has over 2,000 kills. Calli has been the setter responsible for setting most of their kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hidden Valley swept past one of my predicted state championship winners Christiansburg, leaving me at best two for six as we head into the finals. The two teams were tied with two match wins apiece so this put the Titans on top. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong> drilled 21 kills while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold']</strong> provided additional support with 16 kills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235285' first='Calli' last='Anderson']</strong> contributed three aces and 16 points serving, while also banging out 33 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grafton also pulled off a sweep against New Kent. This will set up a reunion of the final from last year when Hidden Valley won the championship in four. This is their eighth consecutive appearance in the finals for Grafton and their 11th in school history. They are 0-10 to date. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248639' first='Alana' last='Washington']</strong> )14) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465315' first='Ana' last='Breckons'] </strong>(11) combined for 25 kills. The duo also combined for five solo blocks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238858' first='Allyson' last='Burke']</strong> scooped up 17 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>General Info</strong>: For Grafton this is their 11th appearance in a final. Nine of those were in Class 4 where they lost to Loudoun County eight times. They lost to James Wood in their final year in Class 4 and last year in Class 3 they lost to Hidden Valley. For Hidden Valley this is their third straight appearance in the finals, losing to York in 2022 and beating Grafton last year. The only two losses for Hidden Valley have come against Christiansburg. Grafton lost two matches at the Endless Summer tournament, one to Bishop O'Connell and the other to a Puerto Rican team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch for Hidden Valley</strong>: This will be the last year playing together for the trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196556' first='Caleigh' last='Ponn']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235285' first='Calli' last='Anderson'].</strong> Caleigh has accumulated over 2,000 kills in her four year high school career. Next year she will hope to suit up for the libero position at Kansas State. For the 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464576' first='Sophie' last='Arnold'] </strong>her improvement has lessoned the need for Caleigh to accumulate 30 kills per game. Sophia only needs 30 more kills to reach 1,000. That may be difficult in the finals. Calli missed most of this season because of a knee injury. She is back. <strong> Lauren Dudley</strong> and <strong>Abigail Bishop</strong> shared setting duties early in the season while Calli was out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch for Grafton</strong>: The 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='707593' first='Kenzie' last='Smith']</strong> is a nice presence to have in the middle but she was absent in the set against New Kent. She led the team in kills and blocks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248639' first='Alana' last='Washington']</strong> and the 6'1" sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465315' first='Ana' last='Breckons']</strong> provide the additional offense. As commented by the coach at the Endless Summer tournament this is one of their tallest teams so perhaps that will bring a championship. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238858' first='Allyson' last='Burke']</strong> patrols the back row while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545714' first='Kaylie' last='Klemm']</strong> and <strong>Olivia Delacruz </strong>share the setting chores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hidden Valley championships</strong> - 2023, 2016, 2013</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grafton championships</strong> - None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Defiance won in five over Clarke County, avenging an earlier loss when they were swept in the Regional finals. They won the last two sets 25-20 and 15-11 to earn a spot in the finals. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='720606' first='Maecy' last='Frizzelle'] l</strong>ed the way with 25 kills and 25 digs., while <strong>Ella Shreckhise </strong>added ten kills. <strong> Riley Davis</strong> picked up 5 aces and 15 points with her serve while stringing together 26 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridgeview defeated James River in four. They lost the first set 25-21, but after squeaking past James River in the second 25-23 they won the last two sets handily. <strong>Leah Sutherland</strong> led the team with 21 kills and 18 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridgeview has only lost two matches, both to Abingdon in a five day period. They also beat Abingdon twice. This is only their second state appearance. The first occurred last year. The 31 wins for a season stands as a team high. Fort Defiance lost to Turner Ashby early in the season and then got swept by Clarke County in the Regionals. They avenged both losses by beating Turner Ashby twice during the regular season and then taking down Clarke County in the semi-finals. They also eliminated Bruton in the quarterfinals of States, one of my picks to be a state champion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch for Fort Defiance</strong> Left side [player_tooltip player_id='720606' first='Maecy' last='Frizzelle'] is their big bopper with over 1,000 kills in her three year high school career. Only a junior, she has surpassed her sophomore effort by more than 200 kills. She earned first team and player of the year honors for the All Region 2B team. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='845331' first='Caroline' last='Hanger'] </strong>joins her on the first team. She shares setting duties with <strong>Riley Davis</strong> but also stays right side where she ranks third in kills. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809104' first='Norah' last='Anderson'] </strong>plays libero and also made the first team. The other left side<strong> Ella Shreckhise</strong> earned second team honors. Like Maecy she plays six rotations'</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch for Ridgeview</strong>: The 5'3" <strong>Makinley Owens </strong>and the 5'9 middle <strong>Leah Sutherland</strong> are the two seniors that lead the team. At 5'9" Leah is the tallest player on the roster, so they will not beat you with height. Makinley has dished out over 1,000 assists. <strong>Makenzie Wright </strong>also provides some offense from the pins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Defiance championships</strong> - 1995, 1988, 1987</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ridgeview championships</strong> - None </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburn beat Giles to eliminate one of my other state champion picks. Auburn won set two 29-27 to go up 2-0 but Giles battled back to win set three 30-28. The Eagles won the fourth set and now get an opportunity to win their sixth straight championship. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor']</strong> hammered away 46 kills in the loss with a .488 hitting percentage. Rappahannock downed Middlesex in four. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>General Info</strong> - Auburn is going for their sixth straight championship. Rappahannock has made the semi-finals the last three years but lost twice. In 2022 they won a semi-final but ultimately lost to Auburn in the finals. Auburn has beaten them once during the season in a three set match. Auburn has only lost two matches all season, once getting swept by Grace County and the other loss to Giles. They were able to avenge both losses later in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch for Auburn</strong>: 5'9" middle <strong>Gretchen Surface </strong>and Libero <strong>Briel Underwood</strong> return after making the All State first team last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch for Rappahannock: Sadie Packett</strong>, <strong>Laney Williams</strong> and <strong>Maggie Wonderling</strong> made the Class 1 All Region team. Maggie was named the top libero. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Auburn championships</strong> - 2019 - 2023,, 2014, 2013, 2012 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rappahannock championships</strong> - None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->