VISAA Division 1 Final Eight High Schools
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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"
Isabelle Bardin
Isabelle
Bardin
6'3" | S
Flint Hill | 2025
State
#75
Nation
VA
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..
Highlights
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
Isabelle Bardin
Isabelle
Bardin
6'3" | S
Flint Hill | 2025
State
#75
Nation
VA
. 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.
Hunter Ross
Hunter
Ross
6'2" | MB/OH
Flint Hill | 2027
State
#64
Nation
VA
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.
Audrey Sealock
Audrey
Sealock
OH
Flint Hill | 2025
State
VA
has improved her game quite a bit from the left side and plays six rotations.
Kadi Pynchon
Kadi
Pynchon
5'6" | DS/L
Flint Hill | 2025
State
VA
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.
Ava Zender
Ava
Zender
5'10" | S
Flint Hill School | 2027
State
VA
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.
Highlights
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.
Zora Burrell
Zora
Burrell
5'7" | OH
Potomac | 2025
State
VA
is an undersized left side who can hammer the ball. They also rely on middles
Skylar Giuliani
Skylar
Giuliani
6'1" | MB
The Potomac School | 2025
State
VA
and
Avery Byrnes
Avery
Byrnes
6'0" | MB/RS
The Potomac School | 2026
State
VA
to create most of their offense. The two were blocking machines against Flint Hill.
Adalene Rodgers
Adalene
Rodgers
5'11" | RS/S
Potomac | 2025
State
VA
sets but also provides blocking and offense in the front row. They have a frosh in
Lily Gurney
Lily
Gurney
5'4" | DS/L
The Potomac School | 2028
State
VA
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
Teodora Stamenkovic
Teodora
Stamenkovic
6'3" | MB
george marshall | 2026
State
VA
. 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.
Highlights
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.
Macie Murray
Macie
Murray
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
and
Jocelyn Pye
Jocelyn
Pye
6'0" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
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
Teodora Stamenkovic
Teodora
Stamenkovic
6'3" | MB
george marshall | 2026
State
VA
and
Olivia Boggs
Olivia
Boggs
6'1" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
could be keys to their success. When they are hitting it takes pressure off the left sides. Libero
Hannah Kotb
Hannah
Kotb
5'6" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
and defensive specialist
Maia Cerezo
Maia
Cerezo
5'2" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
also need to keep the passes in system so setter
Avery Prendergast
Avery
Prendergast
5'9" | S
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
has choices in her hitters.
Ellyson Miller
Ellyson
Miller
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2026
State
VA
returns to the right side with the return to health of
Jocelyn Pye
Jocelyn
Pye
6'0" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2025
State
VA
. 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.
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Highlights
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
Paxton
Raymond
MH
VA
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
Anne Fielding Croft
Anne
Fielding Croft
5'9" | S
St. Catherine's | 2025
State
VA
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.
Bailey Loving
Bailey
Loving
5'8" | DS/L
St. Catherine's | 2026
State
VA
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
Lura
Lovette
MH
VA
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
Peyton McGee
Peyton
McGee
5'10" | S
Norfolk Academy | 2025
State
VA
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.
Sydney Peterson
Sydney
Peterson
5'10" | OH
Norfolk Academy | 2026
State
VA
and
Charleston Hart
Charleston
Hart
5'9" | DS/L
Norfolk Academy | 2026
State
VA
are the players to watch from the left side. They both are balanced six rotation players.
The 6'1" Vivi Deans creates some disruption in the middle with her height, however Kinsley Flores Kinsley Flores 6'0" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2027 State VA leads the team in blocks. The primary setter is sophomore Michaela Betancourt Michaela Betancourt 5'7" | S/RS Norfolk Academy | 2027 VA . 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 Ayosa Stewart 5'11" | MB/RS Episcopal | 2027 State VA is one of those sophomores who is performing well. She is second on the team in blocks and third in kills. Senior Setter Jonesie Matthews Jonesie Matthews 5'6" | S Episcopal | 2025 VA orchestrates the offense. Other than Stewart her favorite targets are her left sides Nellie Miller and Georgia Patry Georgia Patry OH Episcopal | 2026 VA . Libero Chloe Smith Chloe Smith 5'2" | DS/L Episcopal | 2025 VA patrols the back row, clearly leading her team in digs. She also has a top notch serve.
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Highlights
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.
Ashley Grace Johnstone
Ashley
Grace Johnstone
5'11" | OH/DS/L
Collegiate School | 2026
State
VA
provided offense from the back row as well as the left side. The right side
Ann Musick
Ann
Musick
6'0" | RS/MB
Collegiate | 2026
VA
also impressed as well as their libero and team captain
Harper Murphy
Harper
Murphy
DS/L
Collegiate | 2025
VA
. They carry some height on this team with 6'0" middle Isabelle Braband and their frosh setter
Ava Callaghan
Ava
Callaghan
5'11" | S
Collegiate | 2028
State
VA
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 Lacee Jackson OH VA 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 Isabella Shepared MH VA 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.
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