Challengers Seeking to Dim the Rockets Red Glare Three Peat

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am proud to say that when Richard Montgomery won their first state title two years ago it was one of my state predictions. I also predicted they would win a second title last year. Will they win a third? That I am not so certain. Tryouts begin next week so rosters will be completed soon. Predictions will come out when that happens, but until then three challengers await.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Richard Montgomery</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":787823,"width":"449px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/IMG_4214-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-787823" style="width:449px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: [player_tooltip player_id='800545' first='Riley' last='Ko'], MVP [player_tooltip player_id='833815' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='831110' first='Chika' last='Onukwugha']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They have two straight class 4 Maryland state titles, the first in the history of the school. This year they are gunning for a third. Prior to that they had only reached the semi-finals, way back in 1992 and 2011. Unfortunately, They have lost a lot from their roster including Gatorade player of the Year <strong>Ema Djordjevic</strong>. She will take her volleyball career to UMBC. Her younger sister libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>will lead this team now, with help from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='833815' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']</strong>, who is every bit as good as Ema. She won the MVP at Junior Nationals (pictured above) for leading Metro to a first place finish in the 16 National Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Players</strong> - Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</strong>, DS/Libero <strong>Katie Chung</strong>, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim'],</strong> middle <strong>Jessica Yao</strong>, outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465326' first='Saesha' last='Dhote']</strong>, DS/Libero <strong>Emma Sotomayor</strong>, left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='833815' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'],</strong> left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831591' first='Elizabeth' last='Mitchell']</strong>, </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Critical Departures</strong> - setter/right side <strong>Ema Djordjevic</strong>, Setter/right side <strong>Amy Ye,</strong> middle <strong>Corinne Howard</strong>, middle <strong>Carly Nunez</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rising Frosh</strong> - MVSA always seems to contribute some rising frosh to this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assessment</strong> - The losses of two six foot setter/right sides in <strong>Ema Djordjevic</strong> and <strong>Amy Ye</strong> will be difficult to replace. They provided much of the offense for the Rockets the last two years. The smaller <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim']</strong> stands out as one of the replacements but her height restricts her play to the back row. Middle <strong>Corinne Howard </strong>also stands out as a big loss. The three of them provided for more than 50 percent of their kills. The good news is the Mitchell sisters will take over from the left side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='833815' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] </strong>blocked some middle last year to give Corinne an opportunity to hit outside, but her primary responsibility for 2025 is left side. As a frosh she finished second on the team in kills. She will team with sister [player_tooltip player_id='831591' first='Elizabeth' last='Mitchell'] to replenish the Rocket offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</strong> will continue to provide contributions in the back row with her libero play. She ranks as the second best libero in the class of 2027. [player_tooltip player_id='465326' first='Saesha' last='Dhote'] may see her playing time increase hitting from the right side. Finding a couple middles and another setter will determine whether a three peat is in their future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fun Fact</strong> - During the national anthem the students will cheer "Rockets" when the line "the rockets red glare" come into play. Richard Montgomery is the oldest school in Montgomery County, built in 1892. It has had a couple rebuilds during that time, including 1940 when a fire destroyed the school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Broadneck</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781892,"width":"364px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/68-Barrett-Bolter.jpg?w=903" alt="" class="wp-image-781892" style="width:364px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They reached the finals last year where they were swept by Richard Montgomery. A new group of rookies will enhance a returning cast to form a very formidable team. While Richard Montgomery lost some key pieces Broadneck appears to have gotten stronger. Broadneck has not won since 2009 when they finished off their own three peat. Broadneck has won a total of six state championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning players</strong> - DS/Libero<strong> Chloe Richie</strong>, DS/Libero <strong>Julie Wagne</strong>r, outside<strong> Marley Evans</strong>, outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834131' first='Kennedy' last='Smith']</strong>, right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='829558' first='Anna' last='Graves'],</strong> setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='721762' first='Sydney' last='Lawrence']</strong>, right side/middle <strong>Addison Britton,</strong> outside <strong>Chloe Hays</strong>, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter']</strong>, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='850662' first='Lexi' last='Britton']</strong>, middle <strong>Molly Robinson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Critical Departures</strong> - middle <strong>Amanda Protzman</strong>, middle <strong>Addison Sladky</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rising Frosh </strong>- setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750053' first='Alexis' last='Luscomb']</strong>, left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='747047' first='Ella' last='Luscomb'], </strong>middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='783307' first='Neely' last='Olish']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assessment </strong>- Setting is pretty flush with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='721762' first='Sydney' last='Lawrence'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter']</strong>. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='850662' first='Lexi' last='Britton'] </strong>is also on the roster as a third setter. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='783307' first='Neely' last='Olish']</strong> could fill one of the middle positions that have been lost through graduation. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834131' first='Kennedy' last='Smith'] </strong>stands out as one of the top outsides in the DMV area. The talent exists to make another run into the final. Whether they win it may depend on the success of their incoming frosh.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fun Fact</strong> - Over the summer<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='783307' first='Neely' last='Olish']</strong> won a top performer award at the Prep Dig frosh showcase. Another top performer at our showcases <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter']</strong> set her club team Metro to a second place finish in the Junior Nationals in Dallas playing in the National Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Winston Churchill</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Churchill has yet to win a Class 4 Maryland state championship. They reached the semi-finals in 2022 and 2024. Is this the year for them to put it all together? They have some formidable pieces to get them close but to win the championship they will need some contributions from any rising frosh or an improving junior varsity player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Players</strong> - setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346818' first='Charlotte' last='Deraleau']</strong>, right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438053' first='Lucille' last='Deraleau']</strong>, middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809868' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum']</strong>, middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772008' first='Meera' last='Patel']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Critical Departures </strong>- libero/ds <strong>Kareena Rathnam</strong>, libero/ds <strong>Sherry Ye </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rising Frosh</strong> - Like Richard Montgomery many of their rising frosh come from MVSA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assessment</strong> - The back row duo of <strong>Kareena Rathnam</strong> and <strong>Sherry Ye</strong> have graduated. They patrolled behind the ten foot line for the Bulldogs for a couple years, preventing balls from hitting the floor. They will be tough to replace. The two middles [player_tooltip player_id='809868' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='772008' first='Meera' last='Patel'] appear to be their strength. Both stand over 6'1" and can neutralize offenses with their blocking. If the passing does not exist it will prove difficult to set that strength. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346818' first='Charlotte' last='Deraleau']</strong> takes on the setting responsibilities. Her sister <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438053' first='Lucille' last='Deraleau']</strong> could move to a left side pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fun Fact </strong>- Churchill played Richard Montgomery three times last season. They lost all three matches. They did win a set in each match and even took the Rockets to five sets in the semi-finals before falling in the fifth set 15-12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Walter Johnson</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589273,"width":"365px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/132-Emilia-Zhang.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589273" style="width:365px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='831836' first='Emilia' last='Zhang']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another high school that has come close but yet to win a state championship. They did get to the finals in 1982 and 1992. Last year the Wildcats did finish first in the Mongomery County Region. Unfortunately, they were upset by the second place Churchill Bulldogs in five in a Regional matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Players</strong> - left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831836' first='Emilia' last='Zhang']</strong>, middle <strong>Gianna Schiolli</strong>, libero/ds <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800130' first='Celiana' last='Caraballo']</strong>, libero/ds <strong>Na;ama Shmul,</strong> setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='697424' first='Ellie' last='Silberfeld'],</strong> right side/setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465327' first='Michaela' last='Anderson']</strong>, left side <strong>Hannah Yen</strong>, left side <strong>Sophia Beato</strong>, middle <strong>Rayne Christopher</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Critical Departures</strong> - setter <strong>Sofia Silberfeld,</strong> left side <strong>Stella Lichter</strong>, middle <strong>Ariel Mazur</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rising Frosh </strong>- None so far. Tryouts could identify a rising star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assessment </strong>- They lost three critical pieces in their leading hitter <strong>Stella Lichter</strong>, their top blocker <strong>Ariel Mazur</strong> and their top setter<strong> Sofia Silberfeld</strong>. The good news is they have their second best hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831836' first='Emilia' last='Zhang']</strong>, their second best blocker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465327' first='Michaela' last='Anderson']</strong> and their second best setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='697424' first='Ellie' last='Silberfeld'] </strong>returning. They also have their libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800130' first='Celiana' last='Caraballo']</strong> returning as well. For this coming year they need to filter their lineup with some new second bests to enhance this team for a playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fun Fact - <strong>Sofia Silberfeld </strong>finished her Wildcat career with 1,248 assists. For her frosh season she finished with 48. During her first year with the team <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='697424' first='Ellie' last='Silberfeld']</strong> finished with 181 assists. That puts her on pace to surpass her sister. It is possible she may even set a 5/1 this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->