Shock and Awe as Flint Hill Wins VISAA State Championship

Last year was considered a down year for Flint Hill. The Huskies failed to win the Independent School League (ISL) championship, a streak that had lasted since 2011. They even lost their first ISL set, another record that had lasted since that same 2011 time period. While the Huskies did make it to the finals of the VISAA championship they lost to Bishop O'Connell, ending a streak that had lbeen in place since 2016. Despite a respectable 21-6 record there were no championships to show for it.   The 2025 season looked bleak as well, especially considering they would have to play without Purdue bound Isabelle Bardin. They struggled to stay above .500, even experiencing a five match losing streak early in the season. They did win their Flint Hill tournament, defeating a strong Paul VI team in the finals, something they failed to do last year.   In a bid to create more offense they moved [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] to the outside. There was still a struggle as she battled the timing of hitting the higher sets. As the season progressed, they lost to Georgetown Day early in the ISL playoffs, losing another opportunity at a championship. When the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) did their seeding for the state tournament Flint Hill was given a sixth seed, perhaps their lowest seeding in over a decade.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/68-Delaney-Malloy.jpg?w=985" alt="" class="wp-image-790412" style="width:340px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='784849' first='Delaney' last='Malloy']</figcaption></figure>   Their first playoff match came against the number 3 Norfolk Academy. [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] banged out 18 kills and the 5'5" [player_tooltip player_id='784849' first='Delaney' last='Malloy'], ranked number 57 in our class of 2028 but as a libero/defensive replacement pummeled 11 kills as a left side. They beat Norfolk Academy 25-12, 25-17 and 29-27. Perhaps Norfolk Academy took them a little lightly. That result stood out as a bit of a shock, especially for those involved in the seeding process.   Their next match came against the number two seed Bishop O'Connell, a team they had lost to earlier in the season in five sets. They took an 8-0 lead in the first set to win 25-14. Another big lead took place in the second set, at 7-1. However, the Knights battled back from that one to tie the game 10-10. The Huskies still won 25-17 taking advantage of the struggling passing. Again, Flint Hill raced to a 12-2 lead in the third set, but O'Connell fought back to tie it 15-15. The Huskies again won 25-18. [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] finished with 20 kills, receiving more than 50 percent of the sets. One could argue that O'Connell was missing two of their starters, [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'] was not available and [player_tooltip player_id='377397' first='Ellyson' last='Miller'] tried to play but back issues made her unavailable for most of the match. Whatever the circumstances a second shock was delivered.   The Huskies had now swept past the third and second seeds. Now the awe was starting to appear. Next on the agenda was the number one seed Paul VI. They had recently won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) conference championship raising their confidence level. They had also swept past their first two opponents, led by the power of their two outsides [player_tooltip player_id='357402' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='333650' first='Louise' last='Neuhart'] These two teams fought it out in the Flint Hill tournament with Paul VI winning in pool play but Flint Hill taking the championship.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/94-Mandela-Masimini.jpg?w=932" alt="" class="wp-image-781917" style="width:335px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='728971' first='Mandela' last='Masimini']</figcaption></figure>   Paul VI started the first set in control leading throughout until a [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] block gave the Huskies a 22-21 lead. A [player_tooltip player_id='728971' first='Mandela' last='Masimini'] redirect followed by a Paul VI hitting error extended the lead to 24-21. Another Masimini redirect gave the Huskies the first set 25-22.   Paul VI restored some order in the next two sets thrashing the Huskies in the second set 25-15. After a [player_tooltip player_id='357402' first='Coco' last='Lewis'] kill gave the Panthers a 18-15 lead, [player_tooltip player_id='722900' first='Amanda' last='Dadio'] went on a seven point serving run, including two aces, the last to win the set 25-15. In the third set Paul VI jumped out to a 14-5 lead. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='893067' first='Clara' last='Hays'] managed to sneak a platform pass into the "5" corner for her second kill of the match and a 19-11 advantage. Paul VI hung on to the lead for a 25-19 win.   The fourth set had some back and forth to it with both teams taking four point leads generated by large serving runs. Back to back Panther hitting errors late in the set gave Flint Hill a 23-19 advantage. A setter dump by [player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender'] put the Huskies within a point of winning it 24-21 but the Panthers pulled to within one. [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] ended it with a back row attack that struck just inside the court for a 25-23 win.   The fifth set saw a big momentum shift when frosh [player_tooltip player_id='893943' first='Mila' last='Smith'] lifted herself high over the net to participate in a block of [player_tooltip player_id='357402' first='Coco' last='Lewis'], giving the Huskies a 4-2 lead. It was her one block of the match, but it may have been the most critical. Flint Hill extended that lead to 10-4 after two more back row attacks by [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross']. Hunter ended the match with a kill in the middle and an attack from outside to end the set 15-8. The pile on begins.   The shock was now complete. The awe had just begun. Entering the match with a 14-13-1 record they had just won the VISAA state championship. With her 30 kills [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] was named player of the year in the VISAA.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division II - Stonebridge Maintains a Perfect Season</h2>   Last year Stonebridge lost to The Covenant School in the finals of the VISAA Division II championship finals. They failed to score more than 15 points in the sweep. This year Fredericksburg Christian played The Covenant School in the semi-finals and knocked them out in a five set win. [player_tooltip player_id='810123' first='Abby' last='Rexrode'] led the team in kills with 16 while [player_tooltip player_id='584072' first='Madison' last='Butler'] as well as frosh [player_tooltip player_id='779114' first='Lacie' last='Rayford'] contributed 13 each. Another frosh [player_tooltip player_id='903413' first='Izzy' last='Thompson'] posted 19 assists, sharing the setting duties with senior Chloe Borisuk who added 24. The Eagles needed to win the last two matches 25-23 and 15-13 to escape with the victory.   Stonebridge was playing without their second leading hitter [player_tooltip player_id='887032' first='Payton' last='Weatherford'], who ranked second on her team in kills. She would be replaced by [player_tooltip player_id='887040' first='Libbie' last='Plumlee'], who played most of the season as the libero/defensive specialist. Hayden Marchigiani would take over the libero duties. Earlier in the season Stonebridge had faced Fredericksburg Christian, sweeping them in a two set match. Payton had recorded 10 kills and 12 digs in that match.   This crowd was easily the loudest of the group to arrive. The outside hitting of [player_tooltip player_id='887042' first='Madalyn' last='Wartick'] fueled the Cavaliers offense early, eventually creating a 15-12 lead. The Eagles frosh middle [player_tooltip player_id='779114' first='Lacie' last='Rayford'] blocked an attempted setter dump to level the score at 17-17. [player_tooltip player_id='828505' first='Zara' last='Ofole'] followed with a kill from the right side for an 18-17 Cavalier lead that would stand for the remainder of the set. A Wartick cross court smash pulled them to within one of winning the set 24-20. Middle Emily Bertrand generated a big block to end the first set 25-21   The second set was fought just as closely. Kaleigh Dillman served up two aces to give the Eagles a 22-18 advantage before having her next serve hit the net. The Cavaliers Taniya Cannon smashed a ball off a block to tie the score at 22-22. Back to back serving errors kept the score level at 23-23. A [player_tooltip player_id='584072' first='Madison' last='Butler'] use of the block and a doubles call against Stonebridge gave the set to the Eagles tying the match up at one set apiece.   The third set also remained close until the end. A back row smash by [player_tooltip player_id='887042' first='Madalyn' last='Wartick'] tied the set at 20-20. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='887038' first='Selah' last='Telfer'] dug a tipped ball and it travelled over the net untouched on the other side of the court for a 21-20 lead. Two kills by Wartick put the Cavaliers within one of winning 24-21. [player_tooltip player_id='887040' first='Libbie' last='Plumlee'] ended the set with her kill.   This was the last match of the day and unfortunately I had to leave. The Eagles managed to win the fourth set 25-23 while the Cavaliers pulled out the final set 15-13. Wish I had stayed to see the finish.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division III - New Covenant Takes Down Chelsea Academy</h2>   Chelsea Academy came into the match as the first seed. The New Covenant Gryphons were the second seed. Chelsea swept through both of their opponents to advance while New Covenant lost just one set. Chelsea has a balanced attack led by their two outsides [player_tooltip player_id='239323' first='Ava' last='Barvick'] and Evelyn Wingate. They also have two 8th grade starters in Charlotte Barvick and setter Malta Klassen. Another 8th grader Veronica Barvick plays outside and got into the game during the second and third sets. A total of four Barvicks are on the roster that is coached by Becky Barvick.   The Gryphons had a scrappy team that kept on digging balls up. Ava Boettger and Naomi Rigg are the two hitters on the left side. Naomi leads the team in kills despite her 5'3" stature. Alicia Kenny brings good height to the middle at 5'10" and leads the team in blocks.   This match was defined by the first set. Chelsea carried a 24-20 lead. All they needed was a side out after they missed serve on set point. Three kills by Ava Boettger contributed to three of the six Gryphon points and the 26-24 victory.   The Gryphons would go on to win the next two sets 25-22 and 25-19 to complete the sweep.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Division IV - Brunswick Takes Down Gateway Christian in Five</h2>   This became a battle between the two middles Emma Cary for Gateway and [player_tooltip player_id='903334' first='Ava' last='Fadool'] for Brunswick. Both middles were given the higher sets. Neither team worried about quick tempo. Ava may be a bit of a ringer since she plays setter/right side for a club in North Carolina. Brunswick carried additional hitters in outside Bayne Carroll and their other middle Kylie Walker. Of the 11 players on the Brunswick roster nine of them are seniors.   None of the sets were really close. In the first set Kaleigh Nigata started the set serving up five points. Brunswick was able to tie the score at 14-14 after an [player_tooltip player_id='903334' first='Ava' last='Fadool'] kill. Gateway went on an 11-3 run to win 25-17.   The lefthanded swing in the middle by [player_tooltip player_id='903334' first='Ava' last='Fadool'] began making an impact sparking Brunswick to a 25-8 rout. The third set was influenced by the many errors committed by Brunswick to give Gateway a 25-15 win. The fourth set was close early at 13-13 but the offensive production from [player_tooltip player_id='903334' first='Ava' last='Fadool'] and Bayne Carroll extended the lead. Kylie Walker ended the set 25-17 with a back row kill.   In the fifth set Kaleigh Nigata got into a good serving run to give Gateway an early 4-0 lead. A Kylie Walker spike was called out, which would have extended the score to 5-0. The Brunswick players pleaded with the officials that there was a touch. The Gateway player then admitted to the officials that she did touch the ball on the block (Edited out the players name since some would be critical of the admission. Personally, I admire her courage and conviction. She could play on my team anytime, although I would try to convince her that some officials would see her admission as a reflection of their competence). The officials then reversed the call giving the serve to Brunswick with the scoring changing from 5-0 to 4-1. [player_tooltip player_id='903334' first='Ava' last='Fadool'] took over the offense after that with four kills and two blocks leading Brunswick to the 15-8 win.   Brunswick spread out their offense with [player_tooltip player_id='903334' first='Ava' last='Fadool'] leading in kills with 17, while also contributing 7 blocks. Kylie Walker followed with 15 kills while Bayne Carroll finished with 11.

Last year was considered a down year for Flint Hill. The Huskies failed to win the Independent School League (ISL) championship, a streak that had lasted since 2011. They even lost their first ISL set, another record that had lasted since that same 2011 time period. While the Huskies did make it to the finals of the VISAA championship they lost to Bishop O'Connell, ending a streak that had lbeen in place since 2016. Despite a respectable 21-6 record there were no championships to show for it.