Reviewing the Maryland State Champions

This post takes a look at the Maryland high school state champions and their chances of repeating. They are broken out into four different classes, while Virginia high schools are broken out into six different classes. Last year the only Maryland state championship I predicted was Richard Montgomery winning their first class 4 state championship. They did.   This year I will try to predict all four classes, but our knowledge base on Maryland still needs some building. Hopefully, that will come after high school try outs are completed and rosters are out. Below preps the season for high school volleyball in Maryland., the defending champion and a team that could challenge them.   Class 4    She sets, she hits left or right side, she plays back row and she stands out as an outstanding teammate. Ema does just about anything on the volleyball court.   The Montgomery high school player of the year led the Richard Montgomery Rockets to their first state championship last year. She hopes to repeat that result in her senior year.    Richard Montgomery - The Rockets were my only prediction for the state of Maryland last year. Their roster appeared too strong. Turns out it was a good pick as they rolled to the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) class 4 state championship, their first in school history. The roster again looks very strong this year.   Returners - Returning for one more year is Montgomery County Player of the Year setter/right side [player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']. She can do it all, including being a teammate that wins championships. Joining her at the setter/right side position is [player_tooltip player_id='478765' first='Amy' last='Ye']. The left side could include sisters [player_tooltip player_id='412056' first='Elizabeth' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']. Kathrine is a rising star from Metro. [player_tooltip player_id='465326' first='Saesha' last='Dhote'] can also play left side giving them lots of depth at the pins. [player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard'] will handle one of the middles and they hope to have Carly Nunez return from injury to handle the other spot. [player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] will inherit the libero position after seeing significant time as the defensive specialist last year. That creates the scenario where the Rockets present two sets of sisters on the court at the same time.   Losses - Casey Bradley stands out as the greatest loss but Ana has the skills to take over the position. The leadership role lost with her departure will come from others. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='309031' first='Caroline' last='Kaye'] graduates early to pursue her career in the Navy. That leaves an open middle spot they hope Carly Nunez can fill.   Prediction - Repeat. Their mixture of experience and young talent is a recipe for championships.    One of the top liberos in the Maryland area. She has shared that top libero status with her high school and club teammate [player_tooltip player_id='306543' first='Sherry' last='Ye'] for at least three years. Both players cover the court well. Kareena brings an aura of control while she is on the court.   It would not surprise me that their back row play gives Churchill a big push for the Maryland class 4 state title. Getting past Richard Montgomery rates as their biggest challenge.    Churchill - I like the mix the Bulldogs bring to the court. Urbana, Reservoir and Leonardtown may have advanced further in the playoffs last year, but Chruchill has a returning core of club players that complete their roster for this year. The back row tandem is especially talented.   Returners - The back row is solid with [player_tooltip player_id='306543' first='Sherry' last='Ye'] and [player_tooltip player_id='235749' first='Kareena' last='Rathnam'] swapping the libero/defensive specialist role. [player_tooltip player_id='465322' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum'] comes back with one more year of experience and a few more inches in height (6'3") to make a difference in the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='346818' first='Charlotte' last='Deraleau'] will handle the setting responsibilities. Her sister [player_tooltip player_id='438053' first='Lucille' last='Deraleau'] can post herself either middle or at the pins. [player_tooltip player_id='397548' first='Sonia' last='Breslawec'] fills one of the left side roles.   Losses - If they choose not to run a 5/1 with Charlotte they need to find a setter to replace the graduating Anneliese Leo.   Class 3    Caydence has committed to Marquette, while her older sister Baylee has committed to Navy. The two have teamed together to give the Hubs two state championship runs. I suspect a third is on the horizon.   Both are six rotation players. It would be difficult to find two outside hitters who can put the ball to the floor faster than these two.    North Hagerstown - The Hubs have won the Class 3 state championship the last two years. The talent exists on the roster to make it a trifecta.   Returners - As long as you have the Doolan sisters at the pins they will be tough to beat. [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249341' first='Baylee' last='Doolan'] make a another sister duo difficult to contain. [player_tooltip player_id='520349' first='Lauren' last='Hobbs'] fills the setter role. She can dish it out with the best of them. At middle they have [player_tooltip player_id='481964' first='Nevaeh' last='Ware']. She offers an alternative if Lauren chooses not to go to the pins.   Losses - Emily Gassway is one of many defensive players who graduated last year. The Doolan sisters can play six rotations so finding a libero for the middle and a defensive specialist for the right side would complete this team. The Hubs still present a roster full of veterans to take the court.   Prediction - Repeat if the Doolan sisters are firing on all cylinders.    Her experience setting for Metro should elevate her game. That can only benefit Wooten as they try to advance further into the Maryland state playoffs. Last year Wooton lost in the first round to North Hagerstown in the state playoffs. Their hope is to avoid them deeper into the playoffs by trying to earn a higher seed.    Wooten - Last year they played the Hubs in the first round of the state playoffs. They lost it in four. The talent exists on the roster to go far into the playoffs this year. Whether they can overcome the Hubs again is a big question mark.   Returners - They bring back both of their setters [player_tooltip player_id='377331' first='Sofia' last='Sossa'] and [player_tooltip player_id='325600' first='Taryn' last='Su']. [player_tooltip player_id='325604' first='Sara' last='Foster'] and [player_tooltip player_id='438097' first='Haile' last='Ma'] are quality left sides while [player_tooltip player_id='529444' first='Kathryn' last='Giesecke'] can wield damage from either the left or right side. Caitlyn Doherty will patrol one of the middles.   Losses - Setter Emily Zhang graduated but their roster is filled with setters. On the offensive end greater losses come with the graduation of right side Daniela Oyekola and middle Paige Foster.   Class 2   Centennial - They lost their key offensive player Mailinh Godschal to graduation. While she played libero for Metro the Eagles relied on her outside hitting creativity to win the state championship.   Returners - They bring some height with middles Audrey Smallidge and Kali Lloyd, who both list at 6 feet. Natalie Gomez returns to play the right side.   Losses - Their two top offensive players left side Mailinh Godschal and 6'2" middle Kaley Maclellan have departed leaving two huge holes to fill. Setter Manroop Sidhu will also have to be replaced.   Prediction - While I think it will be tough to repeat I don't see a high school in Class 2 that stands out. Perhaps when full rosters come out a contender will emerge.   Class 1   Clear Spring won it in five over Smithsburg led by right side [player_tooltip player_id='481961' first='Addison' last='Ziegler']. The school that could take this division is Boonsboro, which lists setters [player_tooltip player_id='490462' first='Adyson' last='Seymour'] and [player_tooltip player_id='526877' first='Alyssa' last='Phillips'] on their roster. At left side they will create offense with [player_tooltip player_id='529446' first='Heather' last='Mclean'] and [player_tooltip player_id='569805' first='Larissa' last='Blair']. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='438087' first='Lauren' last='Chu'] will handle back row responsibilities. Sydney Turner will play middle. The talent exists to take this class. Of course, do not count out Smithsburg, who brings the lefthanded hitting right side [player_tooltip player_id='346735' first='Emily' last='Ryder'] for offense.

This post takes a look at the Maryland high school state champions and their chances of repeating. They are broken out into four different classes, while Virginia high schools are broken out into six different classes. Last year the only Maryland state championship I predicted was Richard Montgomery winning their first class 4 state championship. They did.