Additional Overachieving High School Teams

It does appear an odd year with so many high schools performing above expectations. My post focusing on the bounce back years of Annandale, Fairfax and South Lakes have encouraged others to point out their schools incredible year. So this post will focus on the bounce back years from Potomac Falls, Lake Braddock and National Cathedral.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potomac Falls Panthers</h2>   You have to go back all the way to 2015 to find a winning season from Potomac Falls. That year they went 21-9 resulting in an appearance in the finals of the Class 5 Virginia State championships. Ultimately, they lost to Stone Bridge in five. This year they find themselves second in the Potomac Conference, one game behind last year's Class 5 state champion Riverside. The Rams are one of their three losses this year, but they get to play them again this week. In their previous match with them they lost in four, taking the third set 25-22.   I have not seen them play yet, but they do have some familiar names on their roster. A number of players are ranked based on their performance during club season or based on their participation in a Prep Dig showcase. [player_tooltip player_id='536741' first='Lacey' last='Bogues'] is a 5'8" outside who was named by Prep Dig as the most surprising club player this past year leading [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] to a national bid. Now she is duplicating that effort for the Panthers as they gear towards the playoffs. She delivers offense whether hitting from the back row or front row.   Another player in the class of 2027 rankings is libero [player_tooltip player_id='706453' first='Ela' last='Yilmaz']. She played for that same [program_tooltip program_id='498081' first='Loudoun' last='Elite'] team that qualified for a national bid. [player_tooltip player_id='807922' first='Ellie' last='Brumback'] powered balls for Virginia Juniors and appears to be having the same success for Potomac Falls. Bringing experience to the group is senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='324765' first='Camille' last='Ciambruschini']., who popped the 1,000 assist mark last year. As a junior she set her team to their first regional game appearance in five years. She hopes to expand that to a state championship experience this year. This past club season she shared setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='333651' first='Sydney' last='Ray'] at Virginia Juniors. Sydney set Riverside to a state championship last year. For Potomac Falls that will be their biggest adversary in getting to the state championship this year.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lake Braddock Bruins</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] is now a senior for Lake Braddock. During her frosh season they improved from 0-12 to 9-12. Last year they finished 10-10. Historically, Lake Braddock has never appeared in a State championship. Morgan is hoping to change that during her senior season. It has been three years of struggle, but the team now finds themselves tied for second with Fairfax in the Patriot Division.   Morgan provides most of the offensive production for this team, leading them in kills by more than 100. She also finds herself in serve receive and playing defense in the back row, something she did not get to do much when playing for Metro. She is second on the team in digs and third in blocks. Morgan has committed to Tennessee.   Last year's frosh setter [player_tooltip player_id='664951' first='Micki' last='Millsaps'] now is the primary setter for the Bruins. She shared that position last year but her setting for Braddock Youth Club helped improve her game. Only 5'5" she may get taken out in the front row late in the game when the team needs some blocking. Middle/right side Eden Smith also contributes to the offense, third in kills, but it is her blocking, where she ranks on top that sets her apart. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='808118' first='Yana' last='Jensen'] plays a solid back row, keeping the team in system. That becomes critical when you have a hitter like [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] at your disposal.   Lake Braddock has a big game against West Springfield this week.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">National Cathedral</h2>   In the Independent School League (ISL) the divisions are broken out into A and AA. National Cathedral has spent most of their time competing in the lower A Division where they do not have to compete with Flint Hill and Georgetown Day. These last couple years they have had success playing in the "A" Division, which recently resulted in their promotion to AA. To their surprise they have been very competitive in AA, finding themselves tied for second place with Georgetown Visitation. They even shocked Flint Hill, beating them in five, perhaps the first time in recent school history they have beaten the Huskies.    Her main position is playing libero for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. For National Cathedral she branches out a bit. She hits outside enough to be second on the team in kills with a .274 hitting percentage. Recently she has been utilized as a setter and ranks second in assists. Finally, she tops the team in service aces. At 5'5" her best position may be as a libero, but no matter what position she plays her versatility impresses.   In a five set win over Flint Hill Lilly finished the game with 14 kills, 19 digs and 21 assists. Putting up those kind of numbers is a main reason why National Cathedral is 15-2-1 and sitting in second place in the Independent School League (ISL)   While she may not have the height to play front row at the higher levels her volleyball IQ is off the charts as far as finding the open areas of the court. She uses that knowledge when playing libero during the club season.   Lilly has yet to commit. A college looking for an all around solid volleyball player need look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='412055' first='Lilly' last='Kennedy']. She does it all.    They have a talented team. [player_tooltip player_id='412055' first='Lilly' last='Kennedy'] plays practically every position on the team, whether it is setting, hitting, playing defense or serving for points. She leaves the libero duties to her frosh sister [player_tooltip player_id='892024' first='Clair' last='Kennedy'] who leads the team in digs. The offense is initiated by the 5'10" left side [player_tooltip player_id='438098' first='Kennedy' last='Williams']. She leads the team in kills, burying 26 of them against Flint Hill in their five set win. She plays six rotations, one of three players important in their serve receive.   They rely on middles Adele Muoio and Alexandra Lohmeyer to take care of the blocking. They rank as the top two players in blocks. Frosh [player_tooltip player_id='894716' first='Dina' last='Leigh'] and Amanda Yeboah-Afari also help Lilly with the setting.   The only two teams they have lost to have been to conference foes Stone Ridge and Georgetown Visitation. They play Georgetown Day as their final game of the regular season. These two teams may also face off against each other in the ISL playoffs and the DC State championships, as will Georgetown Visitation.

It does appear an odd year with so many high schools performing above expectations. My post focusing on the bounce back years of Annandale, Fairfax and South Lakes have encouraged others to point out their schools incredible year. So this post will focus on the bounce back years from Potomac Falls, Lake Braddock and National Cathedral.