Playoff Preview Class 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Regionals are about to start in each of the classes. Time to take a look at some of the favorites in Class 4. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northwestern</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181302"],"_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-653e774816f90"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James Woods is the defending champion. They beat Grafton last year in the finals. Grafton has dropped to Class 3. The Colonels only two losses happened at the Endless Summer tournament against Hidden Valley and Flint Hill, two of the better teams in the state. The Colonels are led by perhaps one of the top left sides in the game, even though she is still a sophomore. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> stands 5'10" and leads her team in kills. She also competes at six rotations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While teams focus on Kennedy the middles respond with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320815' first='Tenley' last='Mattison']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242037' first='Ashlynn' last='Spence']</strong>. They will not beat you with their height but they take advantage of their quickness. Ashlynn has the best hitting percentage on the team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> is one of the best liberos in the game but it appears she has moved back to the other left side spot where she played last year, finishing second in kills. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180282' first='Paige' last='Ahakuelo']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='180286' first='Hannah' last='McCullough']</strong> have been sharing the setting duties for the last three years. Paige can also deliver from the right side, second on the team in kills. She also completed a triple double in the District finals against Sherando with 12 kills, 16 digs and 14 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millwood lost three games this year, two of them to James Woods and the other to Sherando. They open Regional play against Sherando. This is a young team that relies on their veteran outsides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243771' first='Berkeley' last='Konrady'] </strong>and <strong>Grace Behneke</strong> to deliver their offense. After them comes a trio of frosh in pin hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435748' first='Aaliyah' last='Green']</strong>, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='451960' first='Paisley' last='Cook']</strong> and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437980' first='Katherine' last='Madden']</strong>. The Pioneers may not do it this year but this is a good rehearsal for winning the state championship perhaps next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sherando had a nine match winning streak coming into their District final against James Wood. They won the first set but lost the next three to see the winning streak come to an end. They open regional play against Millbrook, a team they split with during the season. Left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246540' first='Helena' last='Ritter']</strong> contributes from the outside while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523314' first='Sarah' last='Starling']</strong> keeps opponents honest accumulating kills from the middle. Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='749342' first='Amanda' last='Ingrassia'] </strong>and<strong> Katherine Frelich </strong>share the setting duties. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Capital</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["196196"],"_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-653e774817025"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Atlee split with Hanover during the regular season. Thier only other loss was to Massaponax. They go into the playoffs with a 9 match winning streak, losing just one set during that time. Only got to see Atlee play once this year, but the players who impressed were middle <strong>Regan McDougall,</strong> libero<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='464572' first='Heidi' last='Engel']</strong> and their two left sides<strong> Avery Flaherty</strong> and frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464573' first='Blake' last='Crawford']</strong>. Blake has a left handed swing that can also play right side. Regan brings length to the middle and hits the quicks well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hanover suffered sweeps when playing Atlee and Midlothian. They have finished the regular season strong with sweeps in their last three matches. They have a trio of seniors that they rely on. The 6'2" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232998' first='Campbell' last='Woods']</strong>(pictured above) is a force on the right side while <strong>Charlotte Michaels</strong> can contribute from the left side. <strong>Lydia Whitlow</strong> brings on the middle attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dulles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["298857"],"_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-653e77481709d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have not talked a lot about Rock Ridge this year but they won the Dulles District. They lost three of their first four to Briar Woods, Riverside and Battlefield. A loss to South Lakes made it four out of their first six. They now have a 14 match winning streak entering the playoffs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209791' first='Grace' last='Tucker'] </strong>leads this team in offense. She is also a great leader on the court with her hustle and enthusiasm. Two other seniors, setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238098' first='Ankita' last='Kamath'] </strong>and libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242126' first='Isha' last='Uppalli']</strong> give this team a veteran presence. Ankita sets a 5/1 while Isha is one of the best passing liberos in the area and plays a solid defense. Isha and Ankita rank first and second in aces. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437984' first='Asiya' last='Bakr']</strong> is a frosh to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dominion lost to Rock Ridge all three times they played this year. Frosh setter<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='298857' first='Ingrid' last='Smith'] </strong>is perhaps one of the better setters in this area. She normally stays in to set four rotations and sometimes is used in a 5/1. She has three top junior targets in right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240027' first='Kaitlyn' last='Demitz'],</strong> left side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346738' first='Alena' last='Smith']</strong> and middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240025' first='Abigail' last='Vasak']</strong>. Abigail leads the team in blocks and hitting percentage. Alena leads the team in aces. The back row is held together by seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240024' first='Kylie' last='Patterson'] </strong>and <strong>Ava Field</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240028' first='Emma' last='Adiacontei']</strong> also contributes to the setting. If they fail to advance far this year they bring back a more experienced group for next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Catoctin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["279857"],"_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-653e77481710e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loudoun County saw their 10 year championship winning streak in class 4 (or AA) come to an end last year. They have actually won championships in 14 of their last 15 seasons. They lost their first two games this year to Briar Woods and Riverside. During the season they also lost two matches to Dulles Class 4 opponents Dominion and Rock Ridge. Recently, the Captains took down Woodbridge to bring a District crown back to Loudoun County. They rely on their pins for their offense with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523337' first='Ana' last='Smithson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523308' first='Madison' last='LaRue']</strong> and <strong>Isabella Miller </strong>leading the charge. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='279856' first='Kayla' last='Luther'] </strong>is a frosh pin to watch. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591686' first='Clara' last='Jolly']</strong> and <strong>Grace Galos</strong> are the setters responsible for feeding the pins appetite for kills. Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='377327' first='Isabella' last='DeWan'] takes over the back row responsibility. Sophomore setter <strong>Claire Popish</strong> made her debut in the Woodbridge District title game. They are scheduled to play Dominion in their opening Regional contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jefferson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["223897"],"_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-653e7748171e0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Western Albemarle seems to be playing their best ball as the season winds down with a six game winning streak, including a sweep over their rival Albemarle. Two of their five losses have come against Riverbend. Libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223897' first='Amelia' last='Tomlinson']</strong> gives this team a chance with her passing and defensive play. That proves critical when one of their most effective hitters is 6'0" middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464583' first='Natalie' last='Rocco']</strong>. <strong>Ava Hardy</strong> and <strong>Ella Kuzjak </strong>share the setting chores. The two outsides are <strong>Mary Kumer</strong> and <strong>Juliana Murphy</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->