VISAA Division 1 Final Eight High Schools

The Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) runs their own state championship. They are separate from the Virginia High School League (VHSL) which runs the state championships for the public schools. DC combines the public and private schools to run a state championship, while Maryland does not have a state championship for Independent schools.   The VISAA has a committee that votes each week on the top ten schools in the Independent Leagues, breaking them out into four divisions based on class size. Those with more than 161 students are placed in Division I, 76-160 students Division II, 47-75 Division III and finally fewer than 47 Division IV. Below are the top eight teams for Division I. The final ranking comes out November 3.   Flint Hill has dominated the VISAA state playoffs. They have won the state championship the last six years (with no state championship in 2020). This streak would be greater if they were not interrupted by Bishop O'Connell, who beat Flint Hill in the finals in 2016. The Huskies have won a total of 12 championships, most of them after 2011. This year there are five schools that have a chance to be crowned state champions. The top three teams are separated by only one point.    Ava came up from the junior varsity last year to set for a Flint Hill team that lacked offensive threats. Their most potent offensive player 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin'] also set for them last year. Rather than use Isabelle in a 5/1 they chose to give Ava the second setter responsibility in a 6'2".   She leads the team in assists though she sometimes struggles with consistency. That will come with more experience. With Isabelle graduating after this year she becomes the primary setter on the roster next year. It will be interesting what offensive pieces Flint Hill attracts next year..    Flint Hill (19-4) 99 votes - They lost back to back ISL games to Georgetown Day and Potomac School. It has been since 2011 when have they not been the number one seed in the ISL tournament. Against Potomac School they won the first two sets, but then suffered a collapse, losing the final three 25-21, 25-17 and 15-11. Recently they were swept by Bullis in the semi-finals of the ISL playoffs so their ISL championship streak of 12 years has ended.   The Huskies are led by their 6'3" setter who also acts as their left side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='181303' first='Isabelle' last='Bardin']. She leads the team in kills (with a .405 hitting percentage) and serving aces. She would also probably lead the team in assists as well, but they use her in the back row for offense when they need a kill. [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] creates the offense in the middle. She also adds deception by hitting from the right or left side as well. Playing mostly middle she neutralizes most offense, leading the team in blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='465301' first='Audrey' last='Sealock'] has improved her game quite a bit from the left side and plays six rotations. [player_tooltip player_id='181279' first='Kadi' last='Pynchon'] plays a solid libero. Her defensive play and finding the ball for the dig is incredible. If the passing is not there the Huskies will struggle. [player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender'] is the setter responsible for getting the ball to Bardin or Ross.   While they still have the fight to win a seventh straight championship they clearly lack the power of previous Flint Hill teams.    When the season started not a lot of people thought the Panthers would be one of the powers of the Independent School League (ISL). Quietly they played their schedule losing to Bullis and Georgetown Day. A five set win over Flint Hill made them the talk of the conference. In the first round of championship play they took Georgetown Day to five games before losing 15-11 in the fifth set.   Skylar led the team in kills with 19 in that win over Flint Hill. She also put together six blocks. For a middle she leads the team in kills with a team leading .336 hitting percentage as well as leads the team in blocks. Her play has made the Panthers relevant in the ISL. Now they hope to extend that relevancy to the VISAA.    Potomac School (12-2) 99 votes - The Panthers are tied with Flint Hill for the top ranking. Their only two losses have been against Bullis and Georetown Day in the ISL so they are undefeated against all the Virginia teams they have played. A trio of wins over Flint Hill, Virginia Academy and Episcopal convinced the voters to put them in the top spot.   [player_tooltip player_id='477134' first='Zora' last='Burrell'] is an undersized left side who can hammer the ball. They also rely on middles [player_tooltip player_id='501551' first='Skylar' last='Giuliani'] and [player_tooltip player_id='475903' first='Avery' last='Byrnes'] to create most of their offense. The two were blocking machines against Flint Hill. [player_tooltip player_id='235289' first='Adalene' last='Rodgers'] sets but also provides blocking and offense in the front row. They have a frosh in [player_tooltip player_id='722541' first='Lily' last='Gurney'] taking on the libero role. She moves quickly in the back court.    Sometimes middles do not get a lot of respect. Especially when their outsides get the majority of the sets and the other middle is [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic']. Olivia quietly does her job, leading the team in blocks. What a lot of people do not realize though is that she also ranks fourth on the team in kills and her hitting percentage of .369 ranks second to Teodora on the team.   Her blocking numbers will improve once she learns how to read the setter and anticipate who the setter will target. She still has a tendency to arrive late with the block, but when it comes to reach, her hands fly high over the net.    Bishop O'Connell (23-4-2) 98 votes - The Knights were one vote shy of making this a three way tie for first. They found themselves in the finals against Flint Hill last year but fell short of winning the championship. Of the eight teams listed they may have the most potent offensive attack. The key for them to win lies in the effectiveness of their passing. When out of system their offense struggles.   [player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye'] both won first team all WCAC for the Knights based on their outside hitting. They are one/two in kills but Jocelyn has missed significant time because of injuries. The John Hopkins commit is a critical component of their passing rotation as well as her prowess on offense. Middles [player_tooltip player_id='238341' first='Teodora' last='Stamenkovic'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs'] could be keys to their success. When they are hitting it takes pressure off the left sides. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='235295' first='Hannah' last='Kotb'] and defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='212888' first='Maia' last='Cerezo'] also need to keep the passes in system so setter [player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] has choices in her hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='377397' first='Ellyson' last='Miller'] returns to the right side with the return to health of [player_tooltip player_id='475116' first='Jocelyn' last='Pye']. Ellyson has also missed time because of injuries. It does appear that the team has finally gotten healthy for the first time as they enter the VISAA playoffs. That is not good for their opponents.    Anne has committed to Christopher Newport. She has been setting for the Crusaders since she was a frosh. That comes out to about 2,261 assists. For some setters 1,000 assists ranks as an accomplishment.   This year she seems to have gotten more involved in the offense. She ranks fourth on her team in kills, but with a team best .240 hitting percentage.   During her setting career the Saints are 86-20. A VISAA championship would be a nice ending to her high school career.    St. Catherines (20-4) 78 votes - At the Virginia Volleyball Showcase they were able to beat Holy Cross and Norfolk Academy. They also gave Midlothian a rare loss. Wins have also come against Collegiate and Catholic with a second 5 set marathon win over Norfolk Academy. They did lose to Potomac School in five.   They rely on middle Nyana Harris for the bulk of their offense. Their other middle Paxton Raymond is second in kills. That equates to 43 percent of their offense generated by the middles. Tess Holdaway ranks third in kills hitting from the left side. Surprisingly, the setter [player_tooltip player_id='297528' first='Anne' last='Fielding Croft'] ranks fourth in kills. This from someone who predominantly sets a 5/1. When she is in the front row the setter dump is a big weapon for the Saints. [player_tooltip player_id='322106' first='Bailey' last='Loving'] is one of the strongest liberos in Virginia. She also provides leadership while on the court. She ranks first in digs and serving aces. The multi athlete 5'10 sophomore middle Lura Lovette is king of the solo block with eight. She also plays basketball and softball so you may not see her in the travel volleyball circuit.   Norfolk Academy (20-4) 66 points - The Bulldogs took a couple losses at the Virginia Volleyball Showcase against Langley and St. Catherines. They again lost a 5 setter to St. Catherines during the season, as well as a loss to Cox. Some of their big wins have been against Colgan and Patriot at the Virginia Volleyball Showcase, as well as wins against Kellam, Catholic and Collegiate during the season.   Setter/right side [player_tooltip player_id='245600' first='Peyton' last='McGee'] is the player to watch on this team. The Bucknell commit leads the team in kills with an impressive hitting percentage of .358, leads the team in serving aces, ranks second in assists and digs and even finds herself third in blocks. Her left handed swing can be tough to stop from the right side. [player_tooltip player_id='752059' first='Sydney' last='Peterson'] and Charleston Hart are the players to watch from the left side. They both are balanced six rotation players.   The 6'1" [player_tooltip player_id='664173' first='Vivi' last='Deans'] creates some disruption in the middle with her height, however [player_tooltip player_id='557876' first='Kinsley' last='Flores'] leads the team in blocks. The primary setter is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='780665' first='Michaela' last='Betancourt']. She also brings a strong serve and plays defense well. Libero Bella Cancado covers the back court. She is small but quick on the court.   Episcopal (15-8) 50 points - The Maroon have played Bishop O'Connell, Flint Hill and Potomac School (twice) during the regular season and been swept by all three. They have a roster that is young with four sophomores and two frosh, almost half their roster.   Middle Ayosa Stewart is one of those sophomores who is performing well. She is second on the team in blocks and third in kills. Senior Setter [player_tooltip player_id='239273' first='Jonesie' last='Matthews'] orchestrates the offense. Other than Stewart her favorite targets are her left sides Nellie Miller and Georgia Patry. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='239274' first='Chloe' last='Smith'] patrols the back row, clearly leading her team in digs. She also has a top notch serve.    Ashley has stepped up her game this junior season, providing her team offense in the front and back row. When I watched this team play at the Virginia Volleyball Showcase they played with a high level of passion. This allowed them to compete in the gold bracket, something that Holy Cross and St. Catherines fell short of achieving. Ashley certainly contributes to their scrappy style of play.   Last year Ashley made the team as a sophomore. During that time she ranked fourth on her team in kills. This year she is the primary offensive piece playing all six rotations.    Collegiate (16-10) 49 points - They have yet to beat any team they have played in the top eight, losing to St. Catherines twice, Potomac School, Flint Hill and Norfolk Academy. The Cougars did take Norfolk Academy to five before finally losing the fifth set 16-14. Overall, their set record against the four stands at 4-15. One impressive win came against Holy Cross at the Virginia Volleyball Showcase.   This team is scrappy with the ability to keep rallies alive. They earned a spot in the gold bracket at the Virginia Volleyball showcase with their play, something that cannot be said about St. Catherines and Norfolk Academy. [player_tooltip player_id='517814' first='Ashley' last='Grace Johnstone'] provided offense from the back row as well as the left side. The right side [player_tooltip player_id='670560' first='Ann' last='Musick'] also impressed as well as their libero and team captain [player_tooltip player_id='664165' first='Harper' last='Murphy']. They carry some height on this team with 6'0" middle Isabelle Braband and their frosh setter [player_tooltip player_id='693818' first='Ava' last='Callaghan'] who stands 5'11". Junior Makenzie Weiss appears to be their primary setter. She is used to leading an offense as she also plays point guard for their basketball team.   Catholic (11-12) 31 points - The Crusaders were swept by Norfolk Academy and Saint Catherines. The Virginia Beach school has also lost to Virginia Academy and Peninsula, two teams who play at the lower divisions. in the VISAA. They are a smaller team led by their left sides Lacee Jackson and Grace Hentschel, who sit one/two in kills. They are both sophomores. Lacey stands 5'10" while Grace is a bit undersized at 5'7".   Another sophomore Brooklyn Beverly appears to be their primary setter. Frosh Miley Hoffman leads the team in aces but at 5'4" her role is more in the backcourt. That appears to be the Crusader strength with libero Lianna Schmieder leading the team in digs along with Tara Gonzelles right behind her. Tara is another sophomore. A second frosh Isabella Shepared ranks second on the team in blocks. At 5'6" she must bring a strong vertical to play middle. The tallest player on the team at 5'10" is middle Isabel Echaniz. Not surprisingly, she leads the team in blocks.

The Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) runs their own state championship. They are separate from the Virginia High School League (VHSL) which runs the state championships for the public schools. DC combines the public and private schools to run a state championship, while Maryland does not have a state championship for Independent schools.