Other Top Performers at Hawks Invitational

We posted many of the players from the four teams that made the gold bracket this past weekend. Two teams who dropped to the silver bracket, Woodbridge and Annandale were just a win away from earning a spot in the gold. Below are the top performers for those two teams.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Woodbridge</h2>   This is a team for the future with three frosh and four sophomores on their roster. In the last match of the Hawk Invitational they were swept by Edison. If the Vikings could have achieved a split they would have earned a spot in the gold. Some of the top performers for Woodbridge include:   [player_tooltip player_id='747560' first='Elliot' last='Dorgan'] who at 6'1 can dominate the front row with her attacks. She did not play any back row in the games I watched but her front row play generated a number of side outs. She leads her teams in kills with a hitting percentage of .293. As she gains more experience that hitting percentage should increase.   [player_tooltip player_id='747031' first='Braylin' last='Coacher'] sets a 5/1. At 5'9" she has decent height for a setter but give her another inch or two of growth and she will become a target for college recruiters. What impresses most about her stats is that she is third on the team in blocks. It appears she brings a good vertical to the court that allows her to get far over the net. Her hands are good as well while her location will improve with experience. She still needs improvement as a hitter, at least from the couple of hits that I witnessed.   Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='877859' first='Maria' last='Coronel'] impressed with a good redirect block. She currently leads the team in blocking. At 5'10" she brings decent height to the middle. In the games I watched I did not see Woodbridge go to the middle a lot.   Another frosh is middle [player_tooltip player_id='746130' first='Madalyn' last='Webster']. Her 5'8" height leaves her undersized for a middle but she plays the position well. She also showed the ability to hit outside as well. A couple of sets in the middle she tipped over the block with good location, finding an empty spot on the floor. She ranks second on the team in blocks. Despite her small stature she has the ability to reach high over the net to close a lane.   Another player I noted was junior [player_tooltip player_id='833164' first='Jayne' last='Clark']. She was a smaller 5'7" left side who played six rotations. She plays some good defense in the back row. Not as powerful a hitter as Elliot but she finds the spots.   In the Cardinal Division Woodbridge finds themselves in a battle with Colgan for first place. Colgan is used to seeing Forest Park play that role. The Vikings only Division loss has been against Colgan. They swept past Forest Park. Thursday, they have a second game against Forest Park and then next week they have a rematch with Colgan.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Annandale</h2>   Like Woodbridge the Atoms just needed a split with Westfield to advance to the gold. Unfortunately, they too got swept. I have already previewed them in an article talking about the three most surprising teams in the Virginia area. They currently sit in third place in the National Division after a recent second loss to first place Edison.   The frosh [player_tooltip player_id='750056' first='Kiera' last='Jordan'] is their main attacker. Against Hayfield Kierra generated four late kills to give Annandale an amazing win in a set where they were behind 20-23 yet were able to pull out a 25-23 win. Kierra has a tough serve, strengthened by her 6'1" height that can create hard bullets as it travels over the net. While she plays six rotations her back row play could use some improvement. As a frosh she has time to improve that skill.   Another frosh is setter [player_tooltip player_id='888520' first='Rachel' last='Bauer']. For [program_tooltip program_id='511606' first='Vienna' last='Elite'] last year she hit outside. The Atoms converted her to a setter. Normally, she sets a 5/1 but for this tournament she was taken out at times to bring in a taller front row blocker for the right side. Normally, that was Harper Chapmanr.   Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='760223' first='Miah' last='Henderson'] impressed with her libero play. She also was the final server in that 25-23 win when they came from behind 20-23 to win the set. She produced an ace serve in her four point service run. Her serve has a heavy drop at the end. She also shows good hustle in the back row.   The Atoms also have two taller sisters Margaret Moreland and Matilda Moreland to plug up the middle. Matilda is the older sister. Last year she suffered an ankle injury which cut her season short. Both also play basketball for the Atoms. Matilda at 6'0" is the taller middle but Margaret at 5'9" has the potential for future growth.   Finaly, the voice of the team is senior left side [player_tooltip player_id='535380' first='Esther' last='Jung']. She brings six rotation capability to the position. After experiencing a number of losing seasons with the Atoms she finally has a cast around her that allows her to showcase her skills. At 5'7" she is small for a left side, but she makes up for that with a good jump and excellent quickness to get to the ball. When the set is true, she can put good velocity on the ball.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Others</h2>    Saniyah is listed as an outside/right side. For Westfield she plays middle. Not because she really wants to, but someone has to play there. The volleyball world is short of middles so sometimes players have to play out of position to help the team. Saniyah is the ultimate team player.   At 5'9" her height is a bit undersized for a middle. However, she played the position well during the tournament, getting credit for a couple blocks and running the quick tempo sets to draw up the opposing middles. Westfield finished in third place at the Hawks invitational.   Normally Saniyah hits from the pins. Last year she played for DYS. With her experience at middle this year she brings good versatility to a team.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">VISAA Volleyball Rankings</h2>   The Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISSA) came out with their first volleyball rankings for 2025. The top eight teams from these rankings play in a state championship. In Division I Bishop O'Connell is number one while Paul VI is number two. These two teams face off this week. The winner will probably be number one after the next ranking (O'Connell won in five. Details later this week).   In Division II Stone Bridge sits on top with defending champion The Covenant number two. Division III has Chelsea Academy on top while Division IV has Brunswick Academy. Last year Chelsea lost in the finals to number three ranked Timberlake. Brunswick is a two time defending champ at Division IV.   All four schools on top appear to be by unanimous selection.

We posted many of the players from the four teams that made the gold bracket this past weekend. Two teams who dropped to the silver bracket, Woodbridge and Annandale were just a win away from earning a spot in the gold. Below are the top performers for those two teams.