Flint Hill Kills Record Broken/WCAC Playoffs Begin

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot going on in the high school volleyball scene. The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) playoffs begin this week. And some of the Virginia District playoffs will get started. I watched one of those last night with <strong>Fairfax</strong> sweeping <strong>Woodson</strong> (story below). Also getting started are the Independent School League (ISL) playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] Breaks Flint Career Hill Kill Record</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["437441"],"_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-6adfa1cadf170"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There have been a number of excellent players who have played for Flint Hill. <strong>Macaria Spears</strong> (Texas), <strong>Ryla Jones </strong>(Pittsburgh), <strong>Sydney Bryant</strong> (Maryland), <strong>Isabella Bardin</strong> (Purdue). <strong>Macaria Spears</strong> only played two seasons for Flint Hill, her frosh and sophomore years. Her family moved to Texas for her junior and senior seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hunter broke the kills record held by <strong>Sydney Reed</strong> (1,134). Sydney would play for a couple colleges, including Wisconsin in 2023 where she played libero. Sydney listed at just 5'6". She also played libero for North Carolina (2020). She won Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019-2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hunter played middle for Flint Hill her first couple years, which limited her number of kills. Last year she broke the single season record for kills with 446, moving to the left side. With a number of playoff games still on tap she could break that single season record. Her current career total for kills is 1174.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hunter was the MVP of the VISAA last year when Flint Hill was the surprise winner of the state private school championship. She also won a top performer award at a Prep Dig showcase. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hunter has committed to UCLA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">WCAC Playoffs This Week</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) will begin their playoffs this week. Last year Holy Cross won the regular season while Bishop O'Connell took the second spot. These two teams had faced each other in the finals four consecutive seasons. All expected the same for last season. Except Paul VI upset Bishop O'Connell and St. Johns shocked Holy Cross. Paul VI went on to beat St. Johns in the finals to win their seventh WCAC championship, their first since 2018. St. Johns last won the WCAC championship in 2019.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year O'Connell owns the top spot while Holy Cross hangs on to second. The other cast of characters Paul VI, St.Johns and Bishop Mcnamara occupy the same spot as last year. Can the same shock and awe occur for this year. Holy Cross and Bishop O'Connell will both play the two play in opponents from the 7th to 10th place teams. St. Johns will play Bishop McNamara. Seton will play Paul VI.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bishop O'Connell</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["385968"],"_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-6ae0b1f2c54d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the second year in a row Macie earned the MVP award for the WCAC. This award is always announced before the playoffs. This year she improved as a hitter, taking a higher angle to hit balls high off the block. Last year she tried to bury balls through blocks. It did not always work, especially after <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']</strong> was injured for the playoffs and blockers keyed on Macie.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her hitting percentage has improved from .286 to .455. The Knights also have more weapons on the pins with the addition of newcomers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750056' first='Kiera' last='Jordan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753097' first='Nadia' last='Wooten']</strong>. Teams can no longer key on Macie to get the set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Macie is also one of the more consistent passers on the team. Her platform is a little unorthodox, but she can put up "3" passes with the best liberos. For blocking, she still needs to work on getting her hands farther over the net. She no longer blocks straight up which has led to an improvement in blocking from 0.1 blocks per set to 0.2. However, she needs a little more reach over the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Macie has committed to James Madison. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Holy Cross</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586980"],"_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-6ae0b1f2c552d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">O'Connell opened the season with their match against Holy Cross. Normally, these two wait until the end of the season to play their match but a scheduling issue moved the match up. O'Connell swept the Tartans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One key piece missing in the match was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong>. She was unavailable for that match. That put all the pressure on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='622282' first='Emerson' last='Wolfe']</strong> to provide the bulk of the offense. You could not expect frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1004682' first='Aniston' last='Williams']</strong> to be ready in her first high school match of her career. Holy Cross finished the match with 24 kills and 24 errors in the sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A more experienced <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1004682' first='Aniston' last='Williams']</strong> and the availability of Ana will help the offense if they meet in the finals. Even though Ana hits right side Holy Cross relies on her back row play. In addition to her offensive presence she is second on the team in digs. She is also one of their best servers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ana has committed to Connecticut. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Paul VI</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["357402"],"_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-6ae0b1f2c559e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coco accounts for 36 percent of the kills for the Panthers. She provides a threat whether she attacks from the back or front row. The key to keeping Coco effective is the ability of the setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='541140' first='Maris' last='Francescon'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941988' first='Amanda' last='Dadio']</strong> to find middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='625593' first='Cairo' last='Turner']</strong>. If they are connecting teams cannot key on Coco.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last year the team relied on their pins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333650' first='Louise' last='Neuhart']</strong> and right side <strong>Mary Ross</strong> for their offense. This year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941998' first='Olivia' last='Stroupe']</strong> has moved from right side to left side. At 5'8" she relies on quicker outside sets to be effective.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coco is a solid six rotation player. She is also second on the team in digs and tops in receiving serves. For many rotations the Panthers use only libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='893067' first='Clara' last='Hays']</strong> and Coco in serve receive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coco has committed to Virginia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bishop McNamara</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["748487"],"_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-6ae0b1f2c55f4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At one point the Mustangs relied on <strong>Kiylah Presley</strong> for their offense. Despite all her efforts the Mustangs found it hard to break into the top three of the WCAC. Kiylah now plays at Arizona State where she was named to the Big 12 All Rookie team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748487' first='Sierra' last='Thomas']</strong> has the potential to exceed Kiylah with her offensive performance. She has the athleticism with a father who played professional basketball for the Wizards and a mother who played basketball at the collegiate level with Syracuse. Her approach jump reaches 10'4" allowing her to tip balls over many blocks. At 6'0" she has plenty of height to dominate outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sierra leads the team in kills getting support from the left handed swinging <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534058' first='Alexa' last='Bracey']</strong> and fellow sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='961810' first='Adaeze' last='Eze']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sierra is the third ranked player in the class of 2029.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">St Johns</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1056769"],"_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-6ae0b1f2c5638"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last year <strong>Wynne Eaton</strong> received most of the playing time setting a 5/1. This year Gabrielle received the call. Like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='499215' first='Charlie' last='Haft']</strong> at Georgetown Day, she is making the most of her opportunity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She earned player of the week honors by the Washington Sun for week three in September. Her main target for the Cadets is senior left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437988' first='Sasha' last='Plummer']</strong>, who leads the team in kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabrielle plays a solid defense. Her serve also dances putting her second on the team in aces. Gabrielle is one of those under looked players who is making the most of her opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabrielle has yet to commit. She also has yet to appear in the Prep Dig rankings. One or both should happen before the year is out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fairfax Wins Their District Playoff Opener</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The match got off to a late start because the boys team needed five sets to win their District Playoff match against West Potomac. Early passing struggles put Fairfax down 10-4 against Woodson. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='892908' first='Maya' last='Zadafshar']</strong> brought them back with a kill and then an ace to bring it to 10-11. She hit her next serve out deep. Woodson responded with back to back kills by <strong>Delaney Caldwell</strong> and <strong>Kathryn Austin</strong> to extend their lead to 17-12. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888546' first='Scarlett' last='Sikorski']</strong> got the serve back with a kill in the middle and an ace serve by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756340' first='Erin' last='Moir'] </strong>brought Fairfax to within one again 16-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another frosh, middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='785509' first='Pia' last='Pardikar']</strong> put a ball to the floor to give Fairfax their first lead 19-18. A Maya/Pia frosh combined block stretched that lead to 20-18. Three kills by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768530' first='Ellen' last='Verwys']</strong> and a game ending kill from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='892908' first='Maya' last='Zadafshar']</strong> gave Fairfax the win 25-20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second set started with two aces from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768530' first='Ellen' last='Verwys']</strong> to give Fairfax the early 3-0 lead. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888626' first='Blake' last='Ahn']</strong> followed with three aces giving the Lions a commanding 14-2 lead. They went on to win 25-8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third set the Lions put in two new frosh, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038857' first='Azaria' last='Shetty']</strong> to play middle for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='785509' first='Pia' last='Pardikar']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1056788' first='Haylee' last='Shah']</strong> for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='892908' first='Maya' last='Zadafshar']</strong>. In the first two sets Woodson ran a 5/1 with <strong>Adelaide Raymond</strong> setting. They went to a 6/2 for the third set with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1056792' first='Sabine' last='Piguet']</strong> the second setter. Woodson jumped to an early 3-0 lead but it was short lived. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038857' first='Azaria' last='Shetty'] </strong>buried a quick shoot set in the middle and Fairfax captured the lead again 6-5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They extended that lead to four or more points as the set progressed. Woodson made a late comeback, taking advantage of a number of Fairfax errors to pull within two 24-22. A Woodson hitting error ended the set 25-22, giving Fairfax the sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["892908"],"_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-6ae0c6ab086e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The last time I watched Maya play she could hit the ball hard but her back row play, especially passing needed some work. She had a tendency to spray her passes everywhere but to the setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching her last night in the District playoff game her passing has improved immensely. In fact, she was a back row replacement for another player who played for her in the third set in the District playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5'8" she is a bit undersized for an outside hitter, but she is still a frosh. There is time for growth. Besides, her approach jump of 9'7" makes up for that lack of height. With her improved passing and defensive play, she has transformed herself into a six rotation player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the other Patriot District playoff matches <strong>West Springfield</strong> swept <strong>Alexandria City</strong>. They will play <strong>West Potomac</strong> in the semi finals, who took five sets to beat <strong>Lake Braddock</strong>. <strong>Fairfax</strong> will face <strong>South County</strong> in the other semi-final. South County beat <strong>Robinson</strong> in four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->