Playoff Preview: Loudoun County

The 2020-21 season has been a turbulent one but the girls, coaches and parents made it happen in a big way. A successful sports season during pandemic is a great accomplishment and a step towards some much needed normalcy for many families. Seniors got to experience senior night and have one last season with their friends and teammates. Although it wasn’t the season they wanted, it was an accomplishment that they were able to play and pursue a state championship. The Dulles District is loaded with talent this Fall with several high level prospects solidifying their playing resume with string 2020-21 campaigns. Loudoun County High Schools heads into districts as the top seed with a 10-1 overall record and undefeated in 6 conference games. They have earned a bye in the first round of the 7 team tournament. The offense is lead my Middle Hitter Ella Solomon who is hitting .495 on the season with a team leading 115 kills. The senior is committed to Rollins College for the Fall and is one of the top Middles in the area. At 6’2, she is a force offensively and defensively and hits with range and power. She also leads the team in aces for 2020-21. Junior Outside Hitter Delaney Johnson is the other part of the offensive threat with 96 kills so far this season. The 5’9 hitter is an intelligent attacker and solid in the back court.   [caption id="attachment_137941" align="alignleft" width="199"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-137941" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/loudoun-middle-attack-199x300.jpg" alt="" width="199" height="300" /> Photo: Svemir Brkic, <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Frimevs%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR13YIBcWSzkcFNGTebUVAGZqq60SUC6UKMnVR_ZuaiPuJUbeqIAlaBIv_E&h=AT2CpZxWVDZ3g2OcnDrGZHtanZh0MOk3FLptgwAbDqdJRuVlZ34nB2g47SJko4cZjVTF8dkb9_sGtI6k06cDqGFI6Fq4UMq0Aj6XDldFCDflF1horvM-52tSmVKj4CMoGc4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Svemir Bkric photography instagram</a>[/caption] Loudoun Valley enters the playoffs at the 2nd seed with the only blemish on the 5-1 conference record a loss to Loudoun County. The Lady Vikings are loaded with senior leadership behind Outside Hitter [player_tooltip player_id="111377" first="Faith" last="Nguyen"], Middle Hitter [player_tooltip player_id="111382" first="Kayla" last="Bolen"], and [player_tooltip player_id="111378" first="Kate" last="Hutton"]. The team is extremely strong in ball control and savvy despite not having immense size at the net. Faith is a low D1 defensive player but could be an attacker at the NAIA and D2 levels and be a high level D3 player. She is an intelligent attacker with great reading skills and exceptional platform control on serve receive and defensively. At 5’11, [player_tooltip player_id="111382" first="Kayla" last="Bolen"] is the hammer out of the middle for the team. She can run variety of playsets along the net and hits with range and power. She is extremely competitive and never shies from a challenge against other top players. Senior Libero [player_tooltip player_id="111378" first="Kate" last="Hutton"] is a defensive stalwart who runs the defense and serve reception for the Lady Viking. She is a strong server and extremely high level receiver and defender. She will be joining D3 National Powerhouse Juniata College in the Fall. The team has exceptional setting behind junior Becka Nguyen and Junior Riley Heffron. Becka is an extremely athletic setter who runs a great offense and is unbelievable quick and aggressive in running the offense. They will take on the 7th seeded Park View Patriots. Dominion is the 3rd seed going into the tournament with a 4-2 mark in the conference and 8-2 overall. They are [caption id="attachment_137949" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/Loudoun-dig-crop-601x394-1617641611.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-137949" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/Loudoun-dig-crop-601x394-1617641611-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Svemir Brkic <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rimevs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Svemir Brkic Photography</a>[/caption] another senior loaded team with the offense run by Senior Setters Taylor Wiles and Casey Stapleton. Senior Pin Hitter [player_tooltip player_id="111397" first="Annaliese" last="Damm"] and Lauren White get a majority of the sets for the team and are the leaders in kills. Lauren hits with power and range and sees the court well to take advantage of openings left by the defense. They will take on the #6 seeded team from Tuscarora High School. Tuscarora is a young team with a lot of potential. Ashbey Cornwell returns at Middle Hitter and provides leadership at the net and is solid offensively. Freshman Outside Hitter Camden Stafford has burst onto the scene as a player who can be relied on offensively and as an all around player. Setter Makenzie Lowry has stepped into her first year on varsity and led the offense in a strong and efficient manner. Freshman Sarah Van Glanden converted from Defensive Specialist to setter and has shown great potential. Fourth seeded Heritage takes on #5 Broad Run in the other quarterfinal matchup. Broad Run is one of the youngest teams in the field with only one senior on the squad in 2021. Junior Outsides Morgan Kelley and Ashlee Brown lead the offense and provide upper class leadership. Ashlee is an athletic attacker who is still somewhat raw on transition footwork and ball control fundamentals. She could develop into a solid D2 prospect for mid level programs. Heritage is led offensively Opposite Nina Brkic, while Junior Defensive Specialist Tori Moran is a key to solid passing and defense for the Lady Pride. Nina is a solid lefty who is great at transition and ball control. She sees the court well and attacks seams with solid power and location. She can swing at either pin and can terminate in high ball, out of system situations. She is one of the top scorers for the offense.

The 2020-21 season has been a turbulent one but the girls, coaches and parents made it happen in a big way. A successful sports season during pandemic is a great accomplishment and a step towards some much needed normalcy for many families. Seniors got to experience senior night and have one last season with their friends and teammates. Although it wasn’t the season they wanted, it was an accomplishment that they were able to play and pursue a state championship.

The Dulles District is loaded with talent this Fall with several high level prospects solidifying their playing resume with string 2020-21 campaigns. Loudoun County High Schools heads into districts as the top seed with a 10-1 overall record and undefeated in 6 conference games. They have earned a bye in the first round of the 7 team tournament. The offense is lead my Middle Hitter Ella Solomon who is hitting .495 on the season with a team leading 115 kills. The senior is committed to Rollins College for the Fall and is one of the top Middles in the area. At 6’2, she is a force offensively and defensively and hits with range and power. She also leads the team in aces for 2020-21. Junior Outside Hitter Delaney Johnson is the other part of the offensive threat with 96 kills so far this season. The 5’9 hitter is an intelligent attacker and solid in the back court.

Photo: Svemir Brkic, Svemir Bkric photography instagram

Loudoun Valley enters the playoffs at the 2nd seed with the only blemish on the 5-1 conference record a loss to Loudoun County. The Lady Vikings are loaded with senior leadership behind Outside Hitter Faith Nguyen Faith Nguyen 5'8" | OH Loudon Valley | 2021 State VA , Middle Hitter Kayla Bolen Kayla Bolen 5'11" | MB Loudon Valley | 2021 State VA , and Kate Hutton Kate Hutton 5'6" | DS/L Loudon Valley | 2021 State VA . The team is extremely strong in ball control and savvy despite not having immense size at the net. Faith is a low D1 defensive player but could be an attacker at the NAIA and D2 levels and be a high level D3 player. She is an intelligent attacker with great reading skills and exceptional platform control on serve receive and defensively. At 5’11, Kayla Bolen Kayla Bolen 5'11" | MB Loudon Valley | 2021 State VA is the hammer out of the middle for the team. She can run variety of playsets along the net and hits with range and power. She is extremely competitive and never shies from a challenge against other top players. Senior Libero Kate Hutton Kate Hutton 5'6" | DS/L Loudon Valley | 2021 State VA is a defensive stalwart who runs the defense and serve reception for the Lady Viking. She is a strong server and extremely high level receiver and defender. She will be joining D3 National Powerhouse Juniata College in the Fall. The team has exceptional setting behind junior Becka Nguyen and Junior Riley Heffron. Becka is an extremely athletic setter who runs a great offense and is unbelievable quick and aggressive in running the offense. They will take on the 7th seeded Park View Patriots.

Dominion is the 3rd seed going into the tournament with a 4-2 mark in the conference and 8-2 overall. They are

Photo: Svemir Brkic Svemir Brkic Photography

another senior loaded team with the offense run by Senior Setters Taylor Wiles and Casey Stapleton. Senior Pin Hitter Annaliese Damm Annaliese Damm OH Dominion | 2021 State VA and Lauren White get a majority of the sets for the team and are the leaders in kills. Lauren hits with power and range and sees the court well to take advantage of openings left by the defense. They will take on the #6 seeded team from Tuscarora High School. Tuscarora is a young team with a lot of potential. Ashbey Cornwell returns at Middle Hitter and provides leadership at the net and is solid offensively. Freshman Outside Hitter Camden Stafford has burst onto the scene as a player who can be relied on offensively and as an all around player. Setter Makenzie Lowry has stepped into her first year on varsity and led the offense in a strong and efficient manner. Freshman Sarah Van Glanden converted from Defensive Specialist to setter and has shown great potential.

Fourth seeded Heritage takes on #5 Broad Run in the other quarterfinal matchup. Broad Run is one of the youngest teams in the field with only one senior on the squad in 2021. Junior Outsides Morgan Kelley and Ashlee Brown lead the offense and provide upper class leadership. Ashlee is an athletic attacker who is still somewhat raw on transition footwork and ball control fundamentals. She could develop into a solid D2 prospect for mid level programs. Heritage is led offensively Opposite Nina Brkic, while Junior Defensive Specialist Tori Moran is a key to solid passing and defense for the Lady Pride. Nina is a solid lefty who is great at transition and ball control. She sees the court well and attacks seams with solid power and location. She can swing at either pin and can terminate in high ball, out of system situations. She is one of the top scorers for the offense.