Marshall Sweeps Langley to Win District Title

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the past in a District finals match Langley would usually win as they went on to the state tournament. Last year Marshall eliminated Langley from the state bracket by beating them in the semi-finals of the Regionals. It also gave them the opportunity to appear in the state bracket for their first appearance in school history. Now they hope to advance further into the state bracket, perhaps even win a State championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1059904,"width":"425px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/9-Lily-Davison-crop-407x267-1793724676.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1059904" style="width:425px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='965034' first='Lily' last='Davison']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Langley had the opportunity to win the first and third set. In the first set they carried a 23-19 lead but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='965034' first='Lily' last='Davison'] </strong>went on a 6 point serving run, including an ace on her last serve to give Marshall the 25-23 win. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1060056' first='Anna' last='Fedorova']</strong> went back to back with a kill from the right side followed by a block to tie the set at 23-23. <strong>Avery Daviila</strong> buried a ball from the middle to give the Statesman a 24-23 lead. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='965034' first='Lily' last='Davison']</strong> also picked up the two digs she needed early in the set to break the Marshall record for most digs in a season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second set was tied at 20-20 when an out hit by Langley followed by a block from right side <strong>Astou Kah</strong> gave Marshall a 22-20 lead. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'] </strong>hit a missile from the back row for one of her 19 kills in the match to increase the lead to 23-20. She needed 24 kills to break a Marshall career record for kills but fell five short. The set ended 25-21 on a hitting error by Langley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='739977' first='Elizabeth' last='Hemberg']</strong> successfully produced a setter dump to tie the third set 22-22. <strong>Valentina Joelson</strong> followed with back to back aces to give Langley a 24-22 lead. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='763127' first='Avery' last='Davila']</strong> came up big again by blocking a back row attack to give Marshall the serve back at 23-24. Back to back hitting errors by Langley gave Marshall the lead at 25-24 but then that was followed by back to back service errors by Marshall and then Langley. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'] </strong>ended the match with her 19th kill for the 27-25 win. You knew it was over when Langley had to free ball with Ayla in the front row poised for the kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["965034"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea105b0921f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lily needed just two digs to break the Marshall season record for digs held by <strong>Nia Gouvis</strong> at 270. She did that early in the first set, however in the second set Lily popped up two digs on hard driven balls to extend a rally that was ultimately followed by an [player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'] kill. She also finished off the first set with an ace serve for a 25-23 first set win completing a six point service run. That first set win led to the sweep of Langley and an advance to the Regionals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lily earned a spot on the Liberty District second team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["778213"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea105b092b5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ellie sets a 6/2 for Marshall. At 5'5" her height prevents her from setting in the front row. Sometimes those setters fall into obscurity because they only play three rotations. Not the case for Ellie. She earned a spot on the Liberty District first team, one of just two setters to make the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Marshall she shares the setting duties with <strong>Kaitlin Ng</strong>. Both are smaller setters, however they have the touch and accuracy to find the hitters joy spot. Their consistency led Marshall to the Regionals. Ellie also shares the captain responsibilities with outside <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year Ellie appears to have made the Virginia Juniors 18 team. This could provide her with a little more exposure as she plays in qualifiers. Still uncommitted she could easily fill a setting role for a Division III school with her leadership capabilities and steady setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739977"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea105b09332"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elizabeth has come a long way since she attended a Prep Dig showcase as a middle. I remember during the six person play she had stepped in as a setter. I asked her what she was doing setting and her response was I want to be a setter. With a little patience and perseverance that hope has been fulfilled. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Claire Mo was still the setter for Langley during her sophomore year so Elizabeth bided her time as a right side. She landed a setting position for the Metro 16 National team during the club season but also stayed in the front row to hit right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Now she is setting a 5/1 for Langley. At 6'1" she has good height for a setter. Her touch and consistency with location with only two years of setting experience under her belt makes her achievements even more impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She also made the first team in the Liberty District as a setter. All that hard work has led to a commitment to Dartmouth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Liberty District First Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":950237,"width":"255px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.6670046757929131","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/135-Ellie-Nguyen-rotated.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-950237" style="aspect-ratio:0.6670046757929131;width:255px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='778213' first='Ellie' last='Nguyen']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd'],</strong> outside Marshall 13th ranked in class of 2027, committed to Elon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='739977' first='Elizabeth' last='Hemberg']</strong>, setter Langly, 35th ranked in class of 2028 committed to Dartmounth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='903896' first='Nicole' last='McDermott']</strong> outside Herndon, class of 2027, 64th ranked in the class of 2029</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Koko Warrell </strong>outside, McLean, not ranked in class of 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Solenne Wilkerson-Murphy</strong> outside, Wakefield, not ranked in class of 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='778213' first='Ellie' last='Nguyen']</strong> setter, Marshall, 144th ranked in class of 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='791727' first='Annika' last='Lersten']</strong> Libero, Wakefield, not ranked in class of 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='608978' first='Francise' last='Ramirez']</strong> outside, Langley, 67th ranked in class of 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='956000' first='Noelle' last='Amori']</strong>, middle Yorktown, 228th ranked in class of 2028 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Frances Armstrong</strong> outside/Libero, Washington-Liberty, not ranked class of 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Player of the Year - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438068' first='Ayla' last='Sayd']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero of the Year - <strong>AnnikaLersten</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Independent School League (ISL) Playoffs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Independent School League ISL) has begun their playoffs. Below are the results of the first round. No upsets in the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Potomac School swept past National Cathedral 25-22, 25-9, 25-16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Georgetown Day also swept St. Andrews Episcopal 25-9, 25-16, 25-23. The offense was carried by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly'] </strong>(10), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750050' first='Raquel' last='Telly']</strong> (9) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772034' first='Giselle' last='Conley']</strong> (8). <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='499215' first='Charlie' last='Haft']</strong> led the team with 17 assists but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750050' first='Raquel' last='Telly']</strong> picked up 13 assists. This is the first year for Racquel in a setting role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flint Hill swept Episcopal 25-15, 25-10, 25-9. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross']</strong> finished with 25 kills, more than half of the 38 Flint Hill kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Georgetown Visitation beat Stone Ridge in four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final four will see Georgetown Visitation play Georgetown Day while Potomac School battles Flint Hill. Potomac School beat Flint Hill during the regular season. Can lightning strike twice in the same spot?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->