WCAC, ISL, VISAA Private School Predictions
In this article:
Tod Mattox from the Art of Coaching was the guest instructor at the Bishop O'Connell high school camp in August. He got a first hand look at the two youngest players on the Bishop O'Connell high school team. He came away impressed. Setter/right side
Carolyn Maria
Carolyn
Maria
6'1" | S/RS
Bishop O'Connell | 2029
State
VA
is the number one prospect in the class of 2029 while left side
Nadia Wooten
Nadia
Wooten
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2030
State
VA
is a frosh who will likely be the number one prospect in the class of 2030. In her first scrimmage for Bishop O'Connell against James Madisn she finished with 28 kills and just one hitting error. That is not normal production from a frosh.
Last week Prep Dig made predictions on the winners of the VHSL Class 1 through 6. It was not long after making these predictions that I heard Kiernan Rhoton was not playing high school ball for her senior year at Independence. That put a little wrench in my class five prediction winner, though the team is proving they have some young talent. In their last match they beat two time Class 5 champion Riverside in a five set match.
Now it is time to move to some of the private school conference Predictions.
Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA)
Flint Hill (2025 champion)
Last year Flint Hill surprised the VISAA by winning the Division I state championship as the sixth seed. They beat the top three seeds, Norfolk Academy, Bishop O'Connell and Paul VI to accomplish the task.
Delaney earned a spot on the VISAA Division I first team as an outside hitter because of her leadership skills as well as her ability to limit mistakes when playing the ball. She also played excellent defense finishing second on the team in digs while also playing a critical role in serve receive.
It only seems natural that this year she appears to be making the switch to the libero role this year. For Metro she plays primarily back row. At 5'5" this is the role best suited for her. She was named captain for the team as a sophomore and will continue in that role as a junior.
While the Huskies will miss her front row production she will prove more of an asset with her back row play.
Highlights
Key Returners -
Hunter Ross
Hunter
Ross
6'2" | MB/OH
Flint Hill | 2027
State
#64
Nation
VA
led the team in kills hitting outside. For club she normally plays middle but Flint Hill needed her offense. She led the team in kills, generating almost 50 percent of the Huskies kills. She earned player of the year honors in the VISAA. Middle
Mandela Masimini
Mandela
Masimini
6'4" | MB
Flint Hill School | 2028
State
VA
can also create offense but as a middle needs the passing to do so. She led the team in blocks.
Delaney Malloy
Delaney
Malloy
5'6" | DS/L/OH
Flint Hill School | 2028
State
VA
will attempt to keep the team in system with her passing and defense.
Mila Smith
Mila
Smith
5'11" | OH
Flint Hill School | 2029
State
VA
struggled with consistency as a frosh hitting left side. With one more year of experience she should make an impact.
Ava Zender
Ava
Zender
5'10" | S
Flint Hill School | 2027
State
VA
will continue to set a 5/1. Her contributions to the team are overlooked. Despite setting the team to the VISAA Division I state championship she did not make either first or second team VISAA (Edit: she made second team). I don't think they have an alternative if she should get injured, though Delaney showed some good hands when setting out of system balls at the Colgan Jamboree.
Key Departures - They lost a key player who provided consistent passing and solid defense in libero Evie Huang.
Newcomers - While she played for Marshall last year as a frosh
Asli Anaz
Asli
Anaz
5'10" | RS/S
Flint Hill School | 2030
State
VA
reclassified transferring to Flint Hill as a frosh. She will provide some pop on the right side.
Zenaia Gray
Zenaia
Gray
5'5" | DS/L/OH
Flint Hill School | 2030
State
VA
did not get a lot of playing time with Metro but she can help as a defensive specialist in the back row. Reese Regan and Yeva Boyco are two other frosh on the roster.
Bailey Hunstad
Bailey
Hunstad
5'11" | MB/RS
Flint Hill School | 2029
State
VA
is a sophomore who will help in the middle.
Prediction - Can lightening strike in the same spot twice? Flint Hill will have to hope so. However, when
Hunter Ross
Hunter
Ross
6'2" | MB/OH
Flint Hill | 2027
State
#64
Nation
VA
gets hot they will always be in the hunt. This year they have a little more depth and experience.
Bishop O' Connell (new champion)
This evaluation is available to subscribers.
Is this you, Charlotte? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing
Highlights
Key Returners -
Macie Murray
Macie
Murray
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
returns for her senior year. Last year she earned player of the year honors for the WCAC.
Carolyn Maria
Carolyn
Maria
6'1" | S/RS
Bishop O'Connell | 2029
State
VA
returns as the number one prospect in the class of 2029. She made first team as a frosh in both the WCAC and VISAA. Middle
Olivia Boggs
Olivia
Boggs
6'1" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
led the Knights in hitting percentage. She earned first team WCAC and second team VISAA.
Natalie Hobson
Natalie
Hobson
5'9" | S
Bishop O'Connell | 2028
State
VA
returns as setter after gaining a year of experience setting for Metro. She ranks as the number one setter in he class of 2028. The 6'2" twins
Lillian Battcock
Lillian
Battcock
6'2" | MB/RS
Bishop O'Connell | 2029
State
VA
and
Abigail Battcock
Abigail
Battcock
6'2" | MB/RS
Bishop O'Connell | 2029
State
VA
return to shore up the middle and right side.
Cayla Sawyers
Cayla
Sawyers
5'7" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2028
VA
will focus on back row play this year while
Gracie Davig
Gracie
Davig
6'0" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
will provide depth to the middle and right side.
Newcomers -
Kiera Jordan
Kiera
Jordan
6'1" | RS/OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2029
State
VA
transfers from Annandale to hit right side while also providing more depth on the left side. As a frosh she won the player of the year in the National District.
Charlotte Nelson
Charlotte
Nelson
5'7" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2028
State
VA
and
Claire Kennedy
Claire
Kennedy
DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2029
State
VA
will share back row duties.
Maraki Derege
Maraki
Derege
6'0" | RS/MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2028
State
VA
comes up from the Junior Varsity to provide depth at middle and right side. The biggest addition may be frosh left side
Nadia Wooten
Nadia
Wooten
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2030
State
VA
. In the first scrimmage she led the team in kills with 28 with only one hitting error. That is not normal play for a frosh.
Departures -
Caroline Semko
Caroline
Semko
5'7" | DS/L
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
decided not to play her senior year but will provide support to the team as a manager while also assisting at team practices. Left side Elyson Miller graduated as did defensive specialists Sofia Gianelli and Natalie Lyle.
Prediction - There is much more depth on this team this year. Their only weakness appears to be their youth but they have two seniors in
Macie Murray
Macie
Murray
5'11" | OH
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
and
Olivia Boggs
Olivia
Boggs
6'1" | MB
Bishop O'Connell | 2027
State
VA
who can lead.
Other Challengers (Paul VI, The Potomac School, Catholic, Norfolk Academy)
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC)
Paul VI (2025 Champion)
This evaluation is available to subscribers.
Is this you, Cairo? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing
Highlights
Key Returners - If Paul VI had won the VISAA
Coco Lewis
Coco
Lewis
6'2" | OH
VA
may have earned the Player of the Year honors. She equaled
Hunter Ross
Hunter
Ross
6'2" | MB/OH
Flint Hill | 2027
State
#64
Nation
VA
in that championship match with 30 kills. She earned first team honors in the VISAA as well first team in the WCAC. In the WCAC they vote for player of the year prior to the playoffs. The Panthers return their setting dup of
Maris Francescon
Maris
Francescon
5'8" | S
St. Paul VI Catholic | 2028
State
VA
and
Amanda Dadio
Amanda
Dadio
5'10" | S
VA
. Maris earned second team honors in the VISAA. Libero
Clara Hays
Clara
Hays
5'8" | DS/L/OH
St. Paul VI Catholic | 2028
State
VA
has returned, however she could hit a little left side. During club season she focuses on beach. Right side
Olivia Stroupe
Olivia
Stroupe
5'7" | OH
VA
also returns.
Newcomers - Like Bishop O'Connell they picked up a number of new players to improve their roster. Middle
Cairo Turner
Cairo
Turner
6'2" | MB
St. Paul VI Catholic | 2028
State
VA
is the biggest name.
Kayla R Tutoni
Kayla
R Tutoni
5'3" | DS/L
St. Paul VI Catholic | 2029
State
VA
could replace
Clara Hays
Clara
Hays
5'8" | DS/L/OH
St. Paul VI Catholic | 2028
State
VA
at libero, allowing Clara to hit outside or she could fortify the back row as a defensive specialist. They also have younger sister
Charlotte Hays
Charlotte
Hays
5'9" | OH/S
St. Paul VI Catholic | 2030
State
VA
, who makes the team as a frosh fortifying the setting or pins. Riley Fortier is another possible frosh outside. Last year she played for Virginia Juniors 13 so not a lot is known about her.
Departures - Left side Louise Neuhart Louise Neuhart 6'0" | OH St. Paul VI Catholic | 2027 State VA classified one year down so she has already played four years of high school, her frosh year spent at Independence. Setter Olivia LeBlanc and right side Mary Ross were key contributors during their championship runs.
Prediction - It will come down to three teams - Bishop O'Connell, Holy Cross and Paul VI). This year Bishop O'Connell appears to have more talent.
Bishop O'Connell (New Champion)
See Above in VISAA for Team Breakdown
Other Challengers (Holy Cross, St. Johns, Bishop McNamara)
Independent School League (ISL)
Georgetown Day (2025 champions)
This evaluation is available to subscribers.
Is this you, Jaylin? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing
Highlights
Key Returners - If they can find someone to set for them Georgetown Day is loaded at left side with the Telly sisters, senior
Alexa Telly
Alexa
Telly
5'11" | OH
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
and sophomore
Raquel Telly
Raquel
Telly
6'0" | OH/RS
Georgetown Day | 2029
State
VA
. They also have
Zora Dimbo
Zora
Dimbo
5'10" | OH
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
returning. Alexa and Zora were the top two in kills last year. Raquel served and played back row as a frosh. She could move to right side this year. They also lost their three starting middles.
Julia Heinzelmann
Julia
Heinzelmann
5'11" | OH
Georgetown Day | 2028
State
VA
and
Arielle Stopak
Arielle
Stopak
6'1" | MB
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
are the possible replacements. They were both opposites last year and carry height.
Charlie Haft
Charlie
Haft
5'2" | S/DS/L
Georgetown Day | 2027
VA
set for them a bit last year making her the primary setter for this year.
Farrah Maragh
Farrah
Maragh
5'6" | DS/L
Georgetown Day | 2028
VA
was the primary libero last year. Perhaps she could move to setter this year.
Newcomers - Jaylin Park Jaylin Park 5'6" | DS/L Georgetown Day | 2028 State VA is the favorite to take over the libero role. Giselle Conley Giselle Conley 6'1" | MB Georgetown Day | 2029 State VA transfers from Chevy Chase. At 6'1" she could fill a middle role. Evelyn McDermott, a class of 2029 could be the younger sister of Fiona McDermott, the 6'2" middle who graduated.
Key Departures - Losing the DC Player of the Year setter
Caycee Chhum
Caycee
Chhum
5'7" | S
Georgetown Day | 2027
State
VA
was a key departure. However, losing all three of their middles Tessa Furgusson, Fiona McDermott and Gigi Wigglesworth will also be tough to replace. Ella Higday fortified the defense in the back row.
Prediction - Despite the key losses they should still have enough to win the ISL.
Other Challengers (Flint Hill, Potomac School, Georgetown Visitation)
VISAA/Tidewater Region Division I
Catholic (Past Champion)
This evaluation is available to subscribers.
Is this you, Isabella? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing
Highlights
Key Returners - Along with Isabella Shepard Isabella Shepard 5'9" | MB/OH Catholic | 2028 State VA Catholic will return Annabelle Bailey who played both middle and right side. She finished third in kills and blocks. Lacee Jackson could play any of the three front row positions, depending on need. Tara Gonzelez will return as the libero to patrol the back row. She finished tops on the team in kills and aces. Katie Winchester also covers the back row as well.
Newcomers - Despite being a young team they picked up two frosh in defensive specialist Alexis Pang and right side Violet Rowe. Alexis is turning into a serving specialist for the Crusaders this year starting the young season off with three aces.
Key Departures - Their biggest loss is middle Isabel Echaniz who led the team in blocks, finishing the year with a hitting percentage of .326. She also finished second on the team in kills. Mya Milan was their other lone senior to depart. She saw limited playing time in the back row.
Other Challengers (Collegiate, Saint Catherines, Norfolk Academy)
Saint Catherines have two quality setters returning in Lila Cross Lila Cross S St. Catherine's | 2029 State VA and Emmerson Croft Emmerson Croft S St. Catherine's | 2029 State VA .
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and every scouting report.
