The March to District, Regional and State Playoffs Begins

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once the season is played teams have to travel through the District and Regional playoffs before they reach States. In both Maryland and Virginia the Regional playoffs identify the final eight teams to make it to the state playoffs. One loss can result in elimination. Both Maryland and Virginia have ended district play. Now, it is on to the Regionals where only the top teams survive to play in States.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":732487,"width":"444px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/Ava-Zender1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-732487" style="width:444px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The VISAA does not go through a district/regional battle. They have directors who vote on the top ten teams in each of the conferences. Only the top eight teams play in the VISAA state tournament. The semi-finals are played tonight while the finals will be played Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the top bracket the number one seed Paul VI swept past Saint Gertrude 25-17, 25-15 and 25-23. Right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='532908' first='Olivia' last='Stroupe'] </strong>led the team in kills with 8 and digs with 9, which for me is good to see since I coached her at the 13 level. It appears the Panthers rested many of their starters, especially in set three. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='308751' first='Olivia' last='LeBlanc']</strong> strung together five aces while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722900' first='Amanda' last='Dadio']</strong> totaled a team leading 14 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The number two seed Bishop O'Connell lost the third set 25-17 but handled the other three. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray']</strong> led the assault with 26 kills. Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755129' first='Lillian' last='Battcock']</strong> played perhaps her best match in her young Knight career with seven kills and five blocks. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488812' first='Olivia' last='Boggs']</strong> also finished with 7 kills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612396' first='Natalie' last='Hobson']</strong> ran the offense running a 5/1 and finished with 37 assists. With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']</strong> injured she has been shouldering all of the setting responsibilities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one upset was Flint Hill sweeping past Norfolk Academy 25-12, 25-17 29-27. The Huskies came into the match as the sixth seed while Norfolk Academy was number three. As long as the Huskes have UCLA commit [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross'] barreling balls over the net they will be competitive. She finished the day with 18 kills while outside [player_tooltip player_id='784849' first='Delaney' last='Malloy'] buried 11. Hunter also finished with three aces and three blocks. After missing all last season [player_tooltip player_id='238358' first='Evie' last='Huang'] continues to improve with her team leading 13 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='699993' first='Ava' last='Zender'] tapped out at 26 assists setting a 5/1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fourth and fifth seed match between Catholic and Collegiate turned out to be the most competitive. After winning the first set 31-29 Catholic lost the next two 26-24 and 25-21. The Crusaders rebounded to win the final two sets 25-21, 15-10. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='517814' first='Ashley' last='Grace Johnstone']</strong> picked up 18 digs for Collegiate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Division II top seed Bruswick improved their record to 36-0 with a sweep over Immanuel Christian, led by the 23 kills from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='887042' first='Madalyn' last='Wartick']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='887038' first='Selah' last='Telfer']</strong> contributed 33 assists. Fredericksburg Christian School also swept past Grace Christian while The Covenant School did the same to Cape Henry Collegiate. One of The Covenant Schools three losses came against Fredericksburg Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two favorites in Division III and IV won. Chelsea Academy swept past Grove Christian School while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='752075' first='Julia' last='Kinney']</strong>, who leads Virginia in kills added 20 more to her tally along with 18 digs for Denbigh Baptist in their sweep over Southampton Academy. Chelsea received a 9 kill/6 ace contribution from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='239323' first='Ava' last='Barvick']</strong> while <strong>Evelyn Wingate</strong> finished with 8 kills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia High School League</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":489518,"width":"413px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/williams.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-489518" style="width:413px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='397397' first='Jasmine' last='Williams']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our voting poll about which team is going to win the Class 6 there is a two way tie for first place, with Colgan and James Madison each getting 11 votes. Langley falls one behind with 10 votes while Patriot sags at the bottom with 8. The others receiving votes have picked up 5 votes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Region 6B Colgan will play Colonial Forge Monday to survive their regional bracket. The 17-0 Eagles are led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397397' first='Jasmine' last='Williams']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443570' first='Lexiana' last='Everetts'] </strong>in the middle. Lexiana can also play right side. Both teams swept their opponents. Patriot is on the other side of the bracket. They swept past Forest Park in the first round. They play Mount View on Monday. Mountain View ended the frosh loaded Woodbridge season earlier than they hoped, defeating them in four. Woodbridge won the first set but could not hold the momentum and lost the last three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Langley and Madison appear as the top two seeds in the Class D bracket. If both advance to the Regional final they will also advance to States. These teams play their games tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Class 6C West Springfield continues to roll, sweeping past Woodson. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720348' first='Milena' last='Kibret']</strong> led the charge for the Spartans with 13 kills to go along with three blocks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438046' first='Anna' last='Dierks']</strong> is back in the setting saddle with 34 assists. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='798256' first='Sabrina' last='Kleiman']</strong> contributed 13 digs with 6 aces. Class 6C whittled down the number of Regional teams to four after last night. The [player_tooltip player_id='227251' first='Morgan' last='Williams'] led Lake Braddock swept past Thomas Jefferson to keep their state playoff hopes alive. West Potomac swept past Edison.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I attended the Fairfax/Alexandria City match. Alexandria City won the opener 25-18 but Fairfax bounced back to win the last three 25-20, 25-16 and 25-18. Fairfax was led by the outside hitting of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768530' first='Ellen' last='Verwys']</strong>. They also get tremendous back row play from libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800352' first='Elinor' last='Suh']</strong> and frosh defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888626' first='Blake' last='Ahn']</strong> in the back row. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888542' first='Nina' last='Leander']</strong> directs the offense setting a 5/1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Springfield will play Lake Braddock while West Potomac will play Fairfax. The two winners will advance to the finals, while also qualifying for States. Lake Braddock and Fairfax were two of the high schools selected as having rising seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 5a has their two State participants as both Ocean Lakes and Kellam swept. These two will compete on Saturday for the championship. Kellam received 10 kills each from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484970' first='Sofia' last='Barnes']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='608979' first='Mia' last='Schmidt']</strong> in their sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Class 5 B Maury advanced to the final with their sweep over Granby. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 4d has become a James Wood/Millbrook final. Both advance to the States. James Wood swept over Sherando. The last time James Wood played Sherando the Warriors took them to five. This time it was a sweep with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> leading the assault with 14 kills. Sherando did not score more than 17 points in the match. It took Millbrook five sets to dispose of Handley, taking the fifth set 15-10. During the regular season Millbrook had swept. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They determined the final four in Class 3a. New Kent swept Hopewell, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='752065' first='Leah' last='Rounds']</strong> (12) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='764689' first='Carly' last='Sachs']</strong> (11) combining for 23 kills. Lakeland took Heritage in four and will be the opponent of New Kent on Tuesday. Tabb and Colonial Heights will also be the other final four matchup. Both swept past their opponents. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='528727' first='Avery' last='Hurley']</strong> led the way for Colonial Heights with 25 kills, five aces and 12 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class 3c also whittled down to a final four. Liberty Christian swept Brookville, while Fluvanna County took five to defeat Broadway. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='845472' first='Emily' last='Cook']</strong> (16) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='722276' first='Kenstin' last='Phelps']</strong> (11) combined for 27 kills for Liberty Christian. Phelps completed her triple double with 10 digs to go with her 21 assists. Wilson Memorial swept past Turner Ashby while Alleghany took five to eliminate Western Albemarle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 2a got to their final four in Regionals with Amelia County, Southampton and Poquoson all earning sweeps while King William took four to take down Lunenburg Central. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lots more matches tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many of the Maryland Regional matches were played last night but a number of matches have not been reported. In Class 4a two time defending champion Richard Montgomery swept past Kennedy while strong favorite Broadneck also earned a sweep. More will be reported on these matches in our next post.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 3A also has a number of unreported scores, but the two favorites Howard and North Hagerstown came away with sweeps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 2A saw sweeps from Calvert and Herford in the first round but more detail will be reported later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Class 1A Clear Spring won a five setter over North Garrison while South Carroll sept Smithburg. The previous week Smithburg defeated the defending champion Boonesboro in four. As with the others more detail will be provided when the other matches are reported.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->