D.C. High School State Championship for 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the most part the high school reporting will be about Northern Virginia. From a commuting standpoint those are the easiest games to attend. However, we will report on high school activity in D.C., Maryland and Southern Virginia. If anyone wishes to provide an important accomplishment or give me a head's up on a key match please let me know. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washington D.C. technically is not a state but they call their final event a state championship. They also have more private schools than public schools, at least those that compete in volleyball. Each year the competition comes down to about four to six teams who have a shot to win the championship. This year it comes down to four. The private and public high schools do not have separate events, as they do in Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181763"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d3115277e66"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Georgetown Day </strong>(Defending State Champions and my pick for 2023 State Champion)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Departures - <strong>Izzy Evers</strong>,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She played middle and was one of their captains. While her loss will be missed the Mighty Hoppers have replacements to fill behind her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returnees - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180285' first='Clara' last='Yu']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248705' first='Zoe' last='Ryu']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180285' first='Clara' last='Yu']</strong> sets for the team. Last year she earned MVP honors for her play in the championships. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248705' first='Zoe' last='Ryu']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181763' first='Jada' last='Aksu']</strong> are 6 foot pin hitters, Zoe from the left side and Jada from the right. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth']</strong> will block one of the middles. She stands just 5'9" but gets good reach over the net. Another sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott'] stands 6'1" and uses her length to create good extension over the net. Both gain another year of experience. The frosh that could make a difference from the outside is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437985' first='Zora' last='Dimbo']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434853' first='Elizabeth' last='Higday']</strong> could also be used in a setting role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assessment - Two years ago Georgetown Day played Jackson Reed (known as Wilson then) in the championship match. The winner would win their first D.C. state championship. Jackson Reed won in five. Last year Georgetown Day played St. Johns in the championship. The Mighty Hoppers won in four to capture their first ever D.C. championship. They return basically the same players and add an impact frosh in Zora. Add a second DC title to their accomplishments. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others to Contend</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["221032"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d3115277ec7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Johns</strong> - The Cadets also have a young team, but they lost two critical pieces. Libero <strong>Maya Reeves </strong>and middle <strong>Pam McCune</strong> have graduated. Pam was voted to the first team and Maya the second team in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238356' first='Morgan' last='Reeves']</strong> and Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235283' first='Racquel' last='Frazier']</strong> are powerful left sides. Last year both were replaced by the libero <strong>Maya Reeves</strong> in the back row. The two setters Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221032' first='Wynn' last='Eaton']</strong> and Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235322' first='Avery' last='Prendergast'] </strong>also alternated setting a 5/1. That could happen again, or they could go with a 6/2. Both stand around 5'9". </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emile Jabbour </strong>accounted for most of the blocks when looking at the returning players. They will need to find another middle. At 6'0" Senior <strong>Carmen Rivera</strong> has the height. Finding a libero and choosing who she comes in for will be a crucial decision. All three libero/defensive specialist on the roster graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Johns won the D.C. championships from 2013 to 2019. Some of the D.C. high schools appear to be catching up with them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["397545"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d3115277f15"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Georgetown Visitation</strong> - A rising program. They are led by twins <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='348696' first='Julia' last='Monlux']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='348735' first='Audrey' last='Monlux']. Julia plays middle and led the team in hitting. Audrey was the primary setter. [player_tooltip player_id='250613' first='Olivia' last='Shank'] plays a solid libero. <strong>Samantha Shumaker </strong>returns as their primary outside hitter. [player_tooltip player_id='397545' first='Katelyn' last='Strike'] normally attacks from the right side. Watch out for an incoming frosh <strong>Gabriella Donley</strong>. She has the height to play middle but brings some good volleyball skills to the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year the Prep Cubs won the Independent School League (ISL) "A" championship. Both Flint Hill and Georgetown Day play in AA, a higher level. Last year Visitation was swept by Georgetown Day twice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["180297"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d3115277f5e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Reed</strong> - They lost significant contributors in setter <strong>Gillian Gessert </strong>and middle <strong>Leah Zerwitz</strong>. In addition, outside <strong>Julia Black</strong> and libero <strong>Kate Bukowski </strong>have also departed. They do have their top hitter from the outside <strong>Maureen Reeder</strong> returning and their leading blocker in the 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='180297' first='Rori' last='Gray']. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='378662' first='Taylor' last='Simpson'] stands 5'11" and should contribute to the offense. Sophomore<strong> Daniella Wallace</strong> could take over the libero role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two years ago the Tigers became the first public school to win the D.C. state championship. To do so again they need some newcomers to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->