2026 Maryland State Predictions

The longer I do this the more challenging it gets. My first year of making state predictions for Maryland I shocked myself with a perfect score (I don't think I did every class), The only classes in which predictions were made were the ones I knew something about. Last year I went 0 for 4 in my MPSSAA predictions. For Class 3 and 2 my picks (North Hagerstown and Williamsport) lost in the finals. For Class 4 my prediction (Richard Montgomery) lost in the quarterfinals. Lastly, for my Class 1 pick (Smithsburg) they lost in the Regional finals. So if your team is predicted to win you should be worried. If not, a championship is still possible.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA)</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 4</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Broadneck (2025 champion)</h2>    They lost one of their starting setters in Sydney Lawrence to graduation. They have a very good starting setter returning in [player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter']. An injury appears to make [player_tooltip player_id='750053' first='Alexis' last='Luscomb'] unavailable for libero or setting duties this year. She does not appear on the roster. This creates an opening for Neely to set.   Last year she made the roster as a frosh listed as a middle. Unfortunately, she received little playing time. This year her role has switched to setter/right side but you could have different variations. Setting in the front row with Barrett setting in the back row. Or she could set in the back row and hit right side in the front row. The possible combinations are endless, especially when you consider last year in the finals Sydney Lawrence was used as a setter/middle blocker when in the front row.   This club season Neely set a 5/1. She certainly brings the height (6'2") to make an impact in the front row. However, because she only set when in the front row there was not a lot of opportunity to see her hit.    Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='478903' first='Barrett' last='Bolter'] is the returning setter while [player_tooltip player_id='766895' first='Neely' last='Olish'] should make a two setter option the most viable. They need to find some hitters along the pins to provide an offense. Losing [player_tooltip player_id='787925' first='Camryn' last='Bedell'] to injury knocks out one of the power sources. [player_tooltip player_id='747047' first='Ella' last='Luscomb'] can hit outside but t 5'7" she is a bit undersized. Julia Wagner also can do a good job handling the libero role. The other names are a bit of a mystery.   Key Departures - Kennedy Smith and Sydney Lawrence are the big losses. Kennedy was one of those go to players you could rely on to achieve a side out. Sydney carried remarkable leadership qualities that are always difficult to replace.   Newcomers - They have three frosh on their roster. Normally, you don't place frosh on the varsity unless you have a role for them. Emma Graves plays outside while both Carolena Orendorf and Avery Jackson are listed at middle.   Prediction - They will battle but fall short of a repeat.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Richard Montgomery (new champion)</h2>    Everyone thinks the Rockets are all [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']. That may be true since she accounted for more than 50 percent of all their kills last year. However, they need the passing and leadership skills of libero [player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] to keep them in system, otherwise the sets to Katherine would be more difficult to put away. They also need setter [player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim'] to get the ball to her. She has another year of experience but at 5'4" needs another setter to help her in a 6/2. When the Rockets won back to back championships they ran a 6/2 with two setters who stood over 6 feet. They have a couple alternatives there, including frosh Charlotte Kim, but the height will be lacking.   However, Ana will carry a big voice while on the court. She and Katherine will share the team captain responsibilities. Ana will take over the back row while Katherine will oversee the front row. If the team plays to its potential they have an excellent chance to return to the championship podium. This is the fourth year I've picked them to win the championship. They came through for me twice.    Key Returners - The three crucial returnees include left side [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'], libero [player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] and setter [player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim']. They will also need middle [player_tooltip player_id='557876' first='Kinsley' last='Flores'] to provide more offense to take the pressure off Katherine. Last year she finished third on the team in kills and first in blocks. After that, they will need a couple newcomers to step in. [player_tooltip player_id='465326' first='Saesha' last='Dhote'] was a starter as a frosh. The next two years she became a role player. Now as a senior she appears to play opposite Katherine at the second left side position.   Key Departures - Ellie Mitchell is the older sister of Katherine. She finished second on the team in kills. Middle Jessica Yao was a presence in the middle, while Hannah Carter shared the setting responsibilities. Replacing them will be critical for a state championship run.   Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='763153' first='Jola' last='Abayomi'] appears to have captured the second middle position. With a little more experience frosh [player_tooltip player_id='957102' first='Carlin' last='Sarlis'] could find more playing opportunities at middle. She ranks at number 26 in the class of 2030. Jola could then move to right side. Frosh Charlotte Kim could help out [player_tooltip player_id='749346' first='Ellyn' last='Kim'] at setter.   Prediction - They bring more secondary help to relieve [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell'] of the extra pressure of doing it all by herself.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Contenders (Churchill, Urbana)</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 3</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Howard (2025 champion and 2026 champion)</h2>    She plays a bit under the radar, choosing to play for Columbia Volleyball Academy rather than power houses Metro and [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last='']. She also has committed to the local school George Washington than look for a Division I powerhouse outside the local area.   Last year she hit left side for Howard helping them to win the state championship and run with an undefeated season. As a sophomore she was third on the team in kills with a hitting percentage of .245. The one down side in her game is when I watched she was only a three rotation player. Perhaps that is changing this year. In the opener she led the team in kills with 19 and scrapped up 18 digs. She also was involved in serve receive.   They won their opener over River Hill in five. Last year River Hill lost in the Regional finals.    Key Returners - They have one of the top setters in the area in [player_tooltip player_id='698761' first='Imagine' last='Peltier'] returning. She has committed to Middle Tennessee State. She has two pins she can go to in right side [player_tooltip player_id='577516' first='Mariska' last='Ordonez'] and left side [player_tooltip player_id='829552' first='Anna' last='Fiedler']. Their last piece to keep it all glued together is libero [player_tooltip player_id='753439' first='Joelle' last='Vassor']. Both Mariska and Joelle play for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] and have yet to commit.   Key Departures - They need to replace the production of left side McKenna Brown, who led the team in kills. Incremental improvements from Anna and Mariska can fill some of that loss but they still need to fill that position. Middles Dylan Loggins and Julia Irvin were first and third on the team in blocking. Dylan also had a .481 hitting percentage when she received a set. That will need to be fixed as well. Miranda Ball at libero is another critical departure.   New Arrivals - No frosh on the roster. Sophomore Gianna Cabrales took a major role in serve receive in their opener, playing all five sets.   Prediction - Imagine is just such a solid setter and she has the offensive pieces to be effective. Howard should repeat.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Contenders (Atholton, Wooten, Sherwood)</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 2</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Glenelg (2025 champion and 2026 champion)</h2>    Eva is a quality setter who got an opportunity to showcase her skills setting for Metro National during the club season. For Glenelg, she did not get a lot of opportunity to set with [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] running a 5/1 last year. In the championship match last year Jessica dished out 60 assists in a five set win over Williamsport. They could go to that recipe again, which got them a championship ring. Or they could evolve into a 6/2 to bring in stronger blockers and hitters to play the right side.   For [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Jessica sets a 6/2. Her 9'1" approach jump could be exposed in open club play when trying to block. High school does not carry as many big hitters. Eva carries the same height with an approach jump of 9'2". Of course, in order for an effective 6/2 Glenelg needs the right sides to put the ball away.   After this year [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] will graduate. If Eva does not get a lot of opportunity to set this year she will have that opportunity next year.   Glenelg won their first match. Both Eva and Jessica played all three sets with both accumulating 12 assists. At least for the short term Glenelg will utilize both as setters. On a more interesting note, Jessica led the team in kills with seven.    Key returners - Setters [player_tooltip player_id='749358' first='Eva' last='Bujanauskas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] will share the setter role. It appears that Jessica will hit from the right side. [player_tooltip player_id='933350' first='Aran' last='Bernades'] will also hit from one of the pins. With her sister graduating Aran could move from right side to left side. Ivy Jones returns to the middle role after having success her frosh season.   Key departures - They graduated their leading hitter Isard Bernades as well as their second leading hitter right side Avery Hubbard.   Newcomers - Sophomore Myah Dutton finished second on the team in kills hitting outside during the first match of 2026. No frosh on the roster.   Prediction - It will be tough to repeat after losing more than 50 percent of their offense, but they carry too many high level club players to go against them.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Contenders (Williamsport, River Hill)</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 1</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clear Spring (2025 state champion)</h2>    At one point I thought [player_tooltip player_id='1040376' first='Kaisy' last='Custer'] appeared in our rankings. Her outside hitting led Clear Spring to the Class1 state championship, along with Olivia Smith and Callie Hose, two players who graduated.   Olivia Smith and [player_tooltip player_id='1040376' first='Kaisy' last='Custer'] were the two outsides who led the team to the championship. At 5'8" Kaisy is a bit undersized for a front row player, but at class 1 the blocking is not as formidable. The now junior is listed as an outside/right side and middle. She does bring an approach jump that reaches 9'5".   Clear Spring starts their season this week.    Key Returners - Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='1040376' first='Kaisy' last='Custer'] will provide the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='890262' first='Malea' last='Shingleton'] and Payton Wood will share the setting duties. Juliet Hodge returns to plug up the middle.   Key departures - Left side Olivia Smith was their primary attacker. Calle Hose held down the libero role.   Newcomers - Don't be surprised if frosh newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='956382' first='Jensen' last='Moats'] takes over either the libero role or takes on a pin hitter role. Even at 5'6" she put some balls away hitting outside for the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] second team.   Prediction - They will fall short of the championship, lacking a second outside to equal the production of the graduated Olivia Smith.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chesapeake Math North (New Champion)</h2>    A'vielle can dominate a game. As the primary hitter for Bay Area Volleyball Academy (BAVA) she led them to an appearance in the Junior nationals. She plays six rotations providing offensive potential in the back and front row. A'vielle brings an impressive approach jump to 10'1".   After the club season ended A'vielle represented the Virgin Islands in an international Pan Am qualifier tournament. Watching the video she pumped down some pretty impressive kills. Also, after the club season finished she earned a spot on the Prep Dig DMV all tournament team for Junior Nationals as an outside hitter.   If you are looking for an athletic outside A'vielle answers those questions.    Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='903827' first='Moraie' last='Butler'] will set for them. When playing for BAVA [player_tooltip player_id='766895' first='Neely' last='Olish'] was the primary setter, running a 5/1. Moraie was the secondary setter. As a sophomore she has been selected as one of the captains. [player_tooltip player_id='763138' first='A'vielle' last='Lewis'] will stand out as the primary offensive player.   Key Departures - Last year the team reached the semi-finals with frosh Moraie and A'vielle. With one more year of experience they should take the championship. Unclear who might have contributed to last year's team who graduated.   Newcomers - No frosh listed on roster.   Prediction - With a tournament of international play under her belt A'vielle will lead her high school team to the championship. As a 15 year old she competed in the U21 Pan American Cup.

The longer I do this the more challenging it gets. My first year of making state predictions for Maryland I shocked myself with a perfect score (I don't think I did every class), The only classes in which predictions were made were the ones I knew something about. Last year I went 0 for 4 in my MPSSAA predictions. For Class 3 and 2 my picks (North Hagerstown and Williamsport) lost in the finals. For Class 4 my prediction (Richard Montgomery) lost in the quarterfinals. Lastly, for my Class 1 pick (Smithsburg) they lost in the Regional finals. So if your team is predicted to win you should be worried. If not, a championship is still possible.