Sleepers to Watch in the Virginia State Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Virginia high schools have reached the semi-finals in their journey to the state championships. At this point you can always find a player not ranked highly who proves critical to their team's success. Below is one player from each Class 6 and Class 5 high school who is not ranked or ranked outside the top 100.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 6</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725456' first='Audrey' last='Busch']</strong> Libero (West Springfield) - West Springfield pulled a mild upset by taking down Patriot, one of my four favorites to win the state championship. Last year West Springfield lost to Langley in the semi-finals. They relied on one player, <strong>Evelyn Jordan</strong> for most of their offense. This year they bring more balance. The key to achieving that balance relies largely on finding consistent passing. They get that from [player_tooltip player_id='725456' first='Audrey' last='Busch']. She also plays a stellar defense picking up 21 digs against Patriot. Surprisingly, Audrey is not yet ranked in our class of 2027, but that should change when rankings are updated in December. She easily leads the team in digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='578497' first='Jo' last='Taylor']</strong> left side (Grassfield) - Grassfield swept a surprising George Marshall team that upset two time defensing state champion Langley in the Regionals. Grassfield has [player_tooltip player_id='734796' first='Benisa' last='Moore'], a smaller outside who is perhaps their biggest offensive weapon, as well as libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471714' first='Ryann' last='Bothof']</strong>, perhaps one of the top liberos in this area. A player who gets overlooked is [player_tooltip player_id='578497' first='Jo' last='Taylor'], who like Benisa is another smaller pin who packs a wallop. Jo lists at 5'6" but she hits the ball hard. She can play either pin or fill the back row. Jo ranks 141 in our class of 2027. Her ultimate future could rest with the libero position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732553,"width":"566px","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:566px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='550688' first='Sienna' last='Mitchell']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='609533' first='Madeline' last='Dumais'] </strong>right side (Colgan) - Colgan swept past West Potomac. Their strength exists with their two pins, [player_tooltip player_id='238593' first='Tehillah' last='Garrison'] and [player_tooltip player_id='550688' first='Sienna' last='Mitchell']. They are the top two offensive performers for the Sharks. One player who surprises with her pop when she takes a swing from the right side is [player_tooltip player_id='609533' first='Madeline' last='Dumais']. At 5'9" she is undersized for the position but her ability to provide offense there remains a key to Colgan's success. The Bridgewater commit ranks at 179 in our class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753047' first='Olivia' last='Schulz']</strong> middle (James Madison) - Madison swept past Thomas Dale, not giving up more than 15 points. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick'] stands out as their top offensive performer. A player who falls outside our rankings because she did not start for Madison last year joins Laila as an offensive force for the team this year. Despite that lack of playing time the team named <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753047' first='Olivia' last='Schulz']</strong> as a captain. She currently ranks third on the team in kills and leads the team in blocks. Without her contributions the Warhawks would be a shell of a team they were last year. Now they are contending again for a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 5</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='544609' first='Giulia' last='Allison']</strong> libero (Kellam) - Last year it was Kellam and Riverside in the finals with Riverside taking the championship. It is looking similar this year as Kellam swept past Maury in the first round. Left side [player_tooltip player_id='484970' first='Sofia' last='Barnes'] and setter/right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484751' first='Riley' last='Erwin'] </strong>are the two players who grab the most attention. Last year the libero was <strong>Sydney Stone</strong>. This year [player_tooltip player_id='544609' first='Giulia' last='Allison'] takes over the position, averaging just over five digs per set. She ranks at 100 in our class of 2026 but based on her libero play that ranking should rise. Perhaps her genetics comes into play. Her grandfather is a nine time Olympian, four times as a player and five times as a coach for Brazil. Giulia has committed to Catawba.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710426' first='Emerson' last='Combs']</strong> left side (Midlothian) - Midlothian knocked off one of the surprise teams in the playoffs Potomac Falls in four. They rely on their two undersized outsides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='519343' first='Dylan' last='Cline'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710426' first='Emerson' last='Combs']</strong>. Dylan ranks within our top 100s but Emerson falls at 149. They both play for River City travel as well. What impressed me most about Emerson is the aggressiveness and passion she exhibits in her game. When Midlothian won their first state title in 2022 both players were frosh. Now that they are seniors they would like to drive the Trojans to a second state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='671315' first='Sienna' last='Carr'] </strong>right side (Ocean Lakes) - Ocean Lakes swept past Menchville. Another win will move them to the finals where they could face their beach city rival Kellam. To do that, they have to get past defending champion Riverside. They have already played Kellam three times this season, losing in five sets in all three matches. Virginia Tech commit and 14th ranked in the class of 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333654' first='Santina' last='Martcheva']</strong> is their top offensive performer. However, their number two offensive player right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='671315' first='Sienna' last='Carr']</strong> deserves more attention. She lists 5'9" and ranks at number 166 in our class of 2027. However, a six rotation right sides who performs well on both offense and defense deserves higher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377335' first='Mackenzie' last='Davis']</strong> setter (Riverside) - Riverside rolled over Deep Run pretty easily. Last year MacKenzie took a year off from playing high school ball, missing the Ram's championship run. She returned to the game to play for Virginia Elite, committing to play for Christopher Newport. This year she returns to play for Riverside and hopes to taste that championship feeling. At 5'11" she brings excellent size for the setter position. She also generates a nice swing from the right side. At this point from a technical standpoint her hitting appears more refined than her setting but that can change with more experience. The Rams run a 6/2 with [player_tooltip player_id='333651' first='Sydney' last='Ray']. Both of them stay in the front row to hit right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 4 Results</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Courtland continues to roll with their sweep over Jamestown. Last year they played James Wood in the championship final but lost to them in five. This year they will play James Wood in the semi-final as the Colonels swept past Dominion. The Colonels showed their usual profiency, not allowing the Titans to score more than 17 points. [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid'] (10) and [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] (15) combined for 25 digs. This team does not play with a libero, allowing the best libero in the area [player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin'] to hit outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After being bumped up again from Class 3 Grafton continues to win in Class 4. Their sweep of Atley allows them to play Loudoun County in the semi-finals. From 2017 to 2021 they lost to Loudoun County four times in the state finals. This year they will play them in a semi-final match. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='810003' first='Kenzie' last='Smith']</strong> (19) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465315' first='Ana' last='Breckons']</strong> (13) combined for 32 of the 39 Clipper kills in the victory over Atley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loudoun County swept past Glass. With a win over Grafton they will play in a state final for the first time since 2021. From 2007 to 2021 they won 14 state championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 3 Results</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christiansburg continued to roll with their 4 set win over Alleghany. The Blue Demons lost the opener 25-23 but won the last three sets pretty easily. Christiansburg received double digit kills from four players. [player_tooltip player_id='819657' first='Tatum' last='Trotter'], <strong>Ellie Eddelton</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='495264' first='Ela' last='Shepherd'] all strung together 12 kills while [player_tooltip player_id='838582' first='Sophia' last='Russell'] finished with 11. [player_tooltip player_id='803268' first='Reese' last='Hall'] served up eight aces with her 14 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Kent beat Meridian in four, losing the second set 25-22.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='752065' first='Leah' last='Rounds'] </strong>led the team in kills with 18 with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764689' first='Carly' last='Sachs'] </strong>right behind at 12. They also led the team in digs with Leah at 22 and Carly with 17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the other semi-final match Abingdon ended the Liberty Christian 19 match winning streak by beating them in four. Kettle Run swept past Tabb. This allows them to play in their second semi-final appearance in school history. In 2014 they lost to Cave Spring in the semi-finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 2 Results</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It took five but John Battle eliminated Appomattox County, taking the last two sets 25-23 and 15-9. They will play Radford who swept Central Wise. Radford played Appomattox County earlier in the season and lost in five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clark County beat Poquoson in four while Fort Defiance continued their undefeated run, sweeping past Amelia County. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720606' first='Maecy' last='Frizzelle']</strong> led the way with 14 kills as well as 13 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 1 Results</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lancaster won in four over Luray. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768375' first='Alexis' last='VerMeer']</strong> finished with 24 kills with 24 digs, as well as three blocks and three aces. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='907088' first='Addison' last='George']</strong> led the team with 27 digs. They will face Middlesex who swept Buffalo Gap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six time defending champion Auburn swept past Chilhowie. The third set went 27-25. They will face Giles in another semi-final match. Although Giles has accounted for three of Auburn's seven losses this year Auburn has defeated Giles in the last three semi-finals. Giles swept past Patrick Henry. They have the VHSL career leader in kills and Ole Miss commit [player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor'] on their team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->