Taylor Breaks VHSL Career Kills Record

<!-- wp:image {"id":897132,"width":"370px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/sophie-taylor-hitting.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-897132" style="width:370px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Chris Lang, Sophia Taylor</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year <strong>Caleight Ponn </strong>broke the Virginia High School League (VHSL) career kills record with 2,285. That same year [player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor'] broke the record for most kills in one season with 750. On Tuesday <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor']</strong> passed <strong>Caleigh Ponn</strong> to establish a new career record for kills for a season. Since Giles season is not over yet that career record has yet to be established.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophie delivered the record breaking kill in the third set of a sweep against George Wythe. Based on her performance she has risen to number seven in our class of 2026. Last year Giles lost in the Class 1 semi-finals against six time defending champion Auburn despite 46 kills from Sophie. The Spartans hope to change that fate this year. They have already beaten Auburn twice during the regular season, the first time in four sets and the second in five sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two years ago Sophie played on the same club team ([program_tooltip program_id='506397' first='River' last='Valley Juniors']) as Caleigh Ponn. Caleigh played libero while Sophie hit outside. Caleigh now plays for Kansas State while Sophie has committed to Ole Miss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some will argue that Sophie generated her kills against mainly Class 1 opponents. However, if you watched her dominate at the East Coast championships this past summer it is clear she can generate kills against any opponent. It would not surprise me that she will be one of the top players at Ole Miss next season. The two time Class 1 MVP should win it for a third time after this season is complete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">IAAM Championship Updates</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the "A" bracket the defending champs <strong>Maryvale Prep</strong> swept past <strong>Garrison Forest</strong>, while <strong>Annapolis Area Christian</strong> also swept past <strong>Mercy</strong>. This will be a repeat of the 2023 championship when Maryvale Prep won in five over Annapolis Area Christian. <strong>Scarlett Netherto</strong>n led the Eagles with 17 kills, three aces and 10 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the "B" bracket<strong> Glenelg County</strong> squeaked past<strong> St. Mary's</strong> in five, taking the final set 15-13. Seniors <strong>Annika Nilsen</strong> (16) and <strong>Kyla Wootten</strong> (13) as well as junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896386' first='Kristina' last='Melton']</strong> (17) led the charge to combine for 46 kills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493358' first='Kennedy' last='Cummins'] </strong>led the defense with 34 digs. <strong>Gerstel Academy</strong> also won in five over <strong>John Carroll</strong>. Last year Glenelg County lost in the semi-finals to eventual champion Garrison Forest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the "C" bracket<strong> Park School</strong> won in five over <strong>Our Lady of Mount Carmel</strong> while <strong>Severn School</strong> swept past <strong>St. Timothy's.</strong> Gerstel Academy won the "C" bracket last year and are poised to win the "B" bracket this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Big Games from Last Week</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second consecutive season <strong>St. Catherines</strong> handed 12th ranked <strong>Midlothian</strong> their first loss. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888289' first='Emmerson' last='Croft']</strong> strung together 5 aces and 11 assists to lead the charge. No player reached double digits in kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732553,"width":"639px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/Sienna-Mitchell1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732553" style="width:639px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='550688' first='Sienna' last='Mitchell']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Number 24<strong> Patriot</strong> pulled an upset over number 9 <strong>Colgan</strong>. For Colgan it is their fourth loss of the season after pulling off seven consecutive sweeps. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='550688' first='Sienna' last='Mitchell']</strong> led the Sharks with 11 kills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt'] </strong>fired 21 kills and two blocks for Patriot. [player_tooltip player_id='238850' first='Sydney' last='Bennett'] led Patriot with 7 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kellam</strong> took down <strong>Ocean Lakes</strong> in five. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='484970' first='Sofia' last='Barnes']</strong> had a day with 30 kills while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484751' first='Riley' last='Erwin']</strong> was four aces away from a quadruple double, with 11 kills, 6 aces, 12 digs and 20 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Number 1 <strong>James Wood</strong> beat <strong>Millbrook</strong> in four early in the week. A couple days later number 22 <strong>Kettle Run</strong> shocked James Wood with a five set win, taking the last two sets 25-22 and 15-13. They pulled out the win despite the 34 kills from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":589240,"width":"444px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/98-Eva-Collingham.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-589240" style="width:444px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='437448' first='Eva' last='Collingham']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chantilly</strong> upset the hard charging <strong>South Lakes </strong>in five, taking the last set 15-13. The Chargers were led offensively by the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='716365' first='Skyler' last='Riley'] (24 kills), [player_tooltip player_id='455102' first='Erin' last='Green'] (17 kills) and [player_tooltip player_id='377344' first='Julia' last='Horan'] (13 kills). [player_tooltip player_id='240899' first='Sarah' last='Kim'] had a field day with 53 assists. The Seahawks were led by their trio of [player_tooltip player_id='437448' first='Eva' last='Collingham'] (17 kills), [player_tooltip player_id='888598' first='Sena' last='Elston'] 15 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='569730' first='Ava' last='Grilliot'] (10 kills). Later in the week <strong>Westfield</strong> downed South Lakes in five, winning the last set 16-14. A tough week for the Seahawks after debuting in the top 25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6th ranked<strong> Howard </strong>swept past 21st ranked <strong>Broadneck</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='577516' first='Mariska' last='Ordonez'] finished with 9 kills, 3 aces, five blocks and 13 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='698761' first='Imagine' last='Peltier'] distributed the ball to five different players for 27 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='374421' first='Miranda' last='Ball'] picked up 22 digs, Later in the week Howard would sweep past <strong>Arundel</strong> while Broaneck stopped <strong>Resevoir</strong> in four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Number 5 ranked <strong>North Hagerstown</strong> swept past <strong>Williamsport</strong>. Last year Williamsport won the Class 2 state championship. [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] finished with 17 kills four aces and 21 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Calvert</strong> swept past <strong>Leonardtown</strong> to hand them their first defeat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->