High School MVPs and All Tournament Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the final post for the 2025 high school season. The MVPs of each state and the all tournament team. The three MVPs last year were also voted Gatorade player of the year for their respective states. Not a lot of easy choices.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To be eligible for an all tournament team selection the player must have competed in the state championship, the VISAA or IAAM. Since Maryland does not have an Independent School state championship a final four appearance in the WCAC playoffs. For MVPs I take into account class (favoring seniors) and state championships While that whittles the field down quite a bit there still are an overwhelming number of deserving players left off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Virginia</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> (James Wood) - What she has done for James Wood has been truly remarkable. As a frosh she led her high school to their first state championship. They have now won four straight state championships. A fairly easy choice to make. It appears that her indoor career will end after this high school season. I don't see her on the [program_tooltip program_id='494409' first='Blue' last='Ridge'] 18U roster. She will play beach at Arizona State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> (Riverside, she helped Riverside win two state championships in her two years at the school), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238357' first='Claire' last='Mo']</strong> (Langley, but they failed to advance to the state championship), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor']</strong> (Giles, broke the career VHSL kills record in a year she won her first state championship).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Past Winners:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2021 - <strong>Akasha Anderson</strong> (Herndon), 2022 - <strong>Milan Rex </strong>(Alexandria City), 2023 - <strong>Michelle Murray</strong> (Flint Hill) and <strong>Chloe Hokenson</strong> (Langley), 2024 - <strong>Caleigh Ponn</strong> (Hidden Valley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All Tournament Team</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> (Riverside), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt']</strong> (Patriot),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='484751' first='Riley' last='Erwin']</strong> (Kellam)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middles -<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='437441' first='Hunter' last='Ross']</strong> (Flint Hill), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333652' first='Gabriella' last='Vizek']</strong> (Riverside)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='385968' first='Macie' last='Murray'] </strong>(Bishop O'Connell), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']</strong> (James Wood), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='357402' first='Coco' last='Lewis']</strong> (Paul VI), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor'] </strong>(Giles0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438046' first='Anna' last='Dierks'] </strong>(West Springfield), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']</strong> (Bishop O'Connell) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495264' first='Ela' last='Shepherd']</strong> (Christiansburg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero -<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> (James Wood), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong> (James Madison), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438070' first='Camryn' last='Coulther'] </strong>(Riverside)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alternative for Corbin and Chadwick - setter/libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471714' first='Ryann' last='Bothof']</strong> (Grasfield) and middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720348' first='Milena' last='Kibret']</strong> (West Springfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summary - Normally, I keep it at a 14 player roster but at 15 I didn't know who to drop off. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='484751' first='Riley' last='Erwin']</strong> will make a fourth setter and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495264' first='Ela' last='Shepherd']</strong> could also hit right side. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt']</strong> can play both pins. I cheated on the liberos because excluding <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181280' first='Brenna' last='Corbin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265167' first='Laila' last='Chadwick']</strong>, who hit outside in high school are probably the two top liberos in the area. Finding playing time for this group would be quite the challenge. The one area that has a lack of depth is middle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452562' first='Sophie' last='Taylor']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='301696' first='Nadiya' last='Johnson']</strong> or <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220923' first='Soleil' last='Rancourt']</strong> would fill in if needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Maryland</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":790185,"width":"404px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.6669986483602476","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/07/DSC07268cover_websize.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-790185" style="aspect-ratio:0.6669986483602476;width:404px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Kojo Assasie [player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</strong>. She fell short of the championship this year. This would have made it four straight similar to [player_tooltip player_id='181302' first='Kennedy' last='Spaid']. Howard beat them in the finals of the Maryland Class 3 state championship. It was a classic case of Howard carrying more weapons on their roster than North Hagerstown. Caydence has committed to Marquette, which is playing in the 64 team NCAA tournament this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='721753' first='Kennedy' last='Smith'] </strong>(Broadneck, carried her team to a Class 4 state championship), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698761' first='Imagine' last='Peltier'] </strong>(Howard, they may have had the weapons but Imagine knew how to use them), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']</strong> (Richard Montgomery, only a sophomore but a very dominate player for the Rockets).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Past Winners</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 - <strong>Emerson Sellman</strong> (Holy Cross), 2024 - <strong>Ema Djordjevic </strong>(Richard Montgomery)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All Tournament Team</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536721' first='Ana' last='Woods']</strong> (Holy Cross), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='829552' first='Anna' last='Fiedler'] </strong>(Howard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465322' first='Siyena' last='Fitsum'] </strong>(Churchill), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321679' first='Simone' last='Assasie']</strong> (Urbana), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='506629' first='Dylann' last='Loggins']</strong> (Howard), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='849619' first='Kiya' last='Boggan']</strong> (Montgomery Blair)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698761' first='Imagine' last='Peltier']</strong> (Howard), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li']</strong> (Glenelg), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge']</strong> (Urbana)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero -<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472384' first='Kate' last='Bickel']</strong> (Holy Cross), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='491007' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic'] </strong>(Richard Montgomery)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303701' first='Caydence' last='Doolan']</strong> (North Hagerstown), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton']</strong> (Annapolis Area Christian), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='721753' first='Kennedy' last='Smith']</strong> (Broadneck), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536719' first='Katherine' last='Mitchell']</strong> (Richard Montgomery)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summary - Again a 15 person roster that is very balanced with all the left sides showing the ability to play six rotations. Including four middles is a lot, but some of them can play right side. All the setters have the ability to set a 5/1. Unlike the Virginia team middles crowd the roster. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='829552' first='Anna' last='Fiedler']</strong> normally plays left but loads of talent there. If I could add one more libero to the roster by removing a middle it would be (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='547072' first='Victoria' last='Small']</strong> at Maryvale Prep or <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='374421' first='Miranda' last='Ball']</strong> from Howard) but too many six rotation pins on the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Washington DC</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":903756,"width":"461px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.3368190288282362","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/GDS-Team-Photo-States.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-903756" style="aspect-ratio:1.3368190288282362;width:461px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Georgetown Day</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MVP - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum']</strong>. In all the MVPs I have selected in the last four years, Caycee is the first junior to be selected. Her setting and leadership skills were certainly critical in leading Georgetown Day to the ISL and DCSAA state playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378662' first='Taylor' last='Simpson']</strong> (Jackson Reed, MVP of DCIAA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly']</strong> (Georgetown Day, led the team in kills), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438098' first='Kennedy' last='Williams']</strong> (National Cathedral, led NC to one of their best seasons)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Past Winners</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 - <strong>Clara Yu </strong>(Georgetown Day, 2024 - <strong>Jada Aksu </strong>(Georgetown Day)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All Tournament Team</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472234' first='Tessa' last='Fergusson'] </strong>(Georgetown Day), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378662' first='Taylor' last='Simpson']</strong> (Jackson Reed), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530366' first='Gabriela' last='Donley']</strong> (Georgetown Visitation)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='355124' first='Fiona' last='McDermott']</strong> (Georgetown Day), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321676' first='Gabrielle' last='Wigglesworth']</strong> (Georgetown Day), <strong>Jocelyn Gil</strong> (Georgetown Visitation)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Left Side - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='437985' first='Zora' last='Dimbo'] </strong>(Georgetown Day), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377396' first='Alexa' last='Telly']</strong> (Georgetown Day), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438098' first='Kennedy' last='Williams']</strong> (National Cathedral)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='292644' first='Caycee' last='Chhum']</strong> (Georgetown Day), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='374420' first='Sadie' last='Fester']</strong> (Georgetown Visitation)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Utility - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='412055' first='Lilly' last='Kennedy']</strong> (National Cathedral)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='892024' first='Claire' last='Kennedy']</strong> (National Cathedral), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800354' first='Ella' last='Higday']</strong> (Georgetown Day)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summary - Not having St. Johns qualify for the state tournament certainly whittled down the player pool. They were a team that could have made it to the finals. [player_tooltip player_id='412055' first='Lilly' last='Kennedy'] can play setter, outside or libero. A little weighted with Georgetown Day players with their whole starting lineup making the roster but they were clearly the top team in the DC area. Until the public schools improve their athletic programs the top volleyball players/athletes will predominantly compete at the private schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->