Membership/HS
November 29, 2023
That is “Dots,” VolleyballMag.com’s weekly take a look at 10 issues in highschool volleyball, previous or current, that curiosity me and hopefully will curiosity you. I apologize for not bringing Dots to you final week. There was a household emergency. We end up the 2023 fall season right now with a take a look at extra state championship efforts:
• We begin in California, the place, for the third straight 12 months, a workforce competed within the Open Division finals with the chance not solely to win a state title but additionally to clinch the legendary nationwide title as effectively. Two years in the past, it was Marymount that went unbeaten with a senior-rich class to win all of it. Final 12 months, Cathedral Catholic did the identical factor. On Nov. 18, the highlight shined on Mater Dei. If the Monarchs might defeat Archbishop Mitty, the winningest program within the historical past of the state, they might win the state title for the second time since 2018 and clinch the nationwide championship as effectively.
Not like the earlier two nationwide champions, Mater Dei didn’t come to the state closing with an unblemished document. The Monarchs misplaced to Mira Costa in August earlier than successful the subsequent two conferences with the Mustangs. Dan O’Dell’s workforce additionally fell to Cathedral Catholic early in September, a loss it avenged within the Southern California Regional Championship match in mid-November. Mater Dei was excellent, however not invincible.
Certainly, Mitty had a number of issues working in its favor. With a document 14 state titles all-time, in comparison with one for Mater Dei, Mitty had the pedigree to be Open Division state champions. Mitty had additionally been to the Open finals most lately, dropping to Marymount again in 2021. Lastly, Mitty was 3-0 versus Mater Dei all-time in head-to-head finals, together with a sweep in 2017 within the Open Division.
None of that mattered, nonetheless, largely due to Mater Dei’s huge block, which contributed to 37 Archbishop Mitty hitting errors in Mater Dei’s four-set win, the primary time within the Open Division historical past that the championship match had been prolonged past three units. Emma Kingston, a 6-4 freshman center and burgeoning star; and Addison Coady, an unheralded 6-2 sophomore center; mixed for 14 blocks to provide Mater Dei, which had been pin dominant all 12 months lengthy, an enormous enhance. RS Cymarah Gordon added six blocks of her personal and a team-high 17 kills to propel the Monarchs to the title.
“Their block was their largest weapon,” stated Mitty coach Jon Wallace. “They made it actual exhausting for us on each swing. We thought our bic [back row pipe attack] would assist us out, however we made too many hitting errors on the bic, which didn’t assist with manipulating their block. We took an opportunity on the match-ups, however #5 [Gordon] nullified any benefit we thought we have been going to get by attacking extraordinarily effectively.”
O’Dell stated that successful the nationwide championship is one thing his workforce will respect now that it took care of enterprise on the state stage.
“I by no means actually talked about this with the workforce all through the playoffs,” he stated. “We did job at staying within the second and solely specializing in every particular person match, and executing no matter we wanted to do every time on the ground. Taking it one recreation at a time, the ladies have been great every match they took the ground. I couldn’t be extra happy with this workforce and all that they have been in a position to accomplish.”
One fascinating aspect notice: On the identical day that O’Dell was successful state along with his Mater Dei workforce, Fairport’s boys volleyball workforce, headed by coach John O’Dell, was successful in New York! That is the second time that the brothers coached groups to state titles on the identical day, repeating the feat they first completed in 2018.
• The Golden State topped 5 extra state championship groups Nov. 17-18.
The fearless play of smaller outsides Charley Staats and Addison Carbonara propelled Valley Christian of San Jose to the Div. I title, in an upset of Palos Verdes, which was making its second straight finals look. Kendall Beshear had 30 kills for PV within the four-set loss.
Campbell Corridor received its first-ever state title, dominating the Div. II closing versus Sacred Coronary heart Cathedral Prep behind a dominating hitting efficiency from Yale-bound senior OH Mila Mijailovic, who had 21 kills and hit .515.
Ripon Christian got here from behind to win the opening set of the Div. III closing versus Redwood of Visalia, then steamrolled the Rangers over the subsequent two units to win their second straight title, a feat extraordinary throughout the “straight fairness” format California has employed for the previous a number of years. The Knights received in Div. IV a 12 months in the past.
Glendale prolonged its season-ending successful streak to 27 matches by taking down Marin Academy in 4 units for the Div. IV crown. The Nitros received as a result of their outsides, Aleina Manaois and Eileen Herrera, weren’t afraid to take massive swings again and again, even when the units weren’t good. Their aggression was rewarded with 28 and 17 kills, respectively.
Lastly, in Div. V, Crystal Springs Uplands College used 10 aces from junior libero Bianca Sladewski, a number of throughout a 9-0 run early in Sport 5, to topple Oceanside for its first state title.
• Mater Dei’s victory denied rising Texas energy Grand Oaks a shot at including the natty to its UIL 6A title. The Grizzlies swept Cinco Ranch to cap a 50-win season.
Their first state title was powered by 28 kills mixed from Halle Thompson and Samara Coleman, two high 50 prospects nationally of their respective courses. Jaela Auguste, a member of the USA U19 workforce, can also be on this star-filled workforce, which misplaced solely as soon as all 12 months, to Plano Prestonwood Christian Academy, a workforce Mater Dei defeated in August for the Volleypalooza title.
Grand Oaks virtually didn’t get the possibility to make historical past, because it trailed two units to zero and confronted match level within the semifinal versus a Prosper workforce with celebrity Ayden Ames having a monster recreation. The Grizzlies managed to battle off the match level, because of a Coleman kill, then rallied from a 10-4 Sport 5 deficit to outlive and advance.
• Additionally in Texas, Lovejoy received its fourth title over the previous 5 years, and tenth general, by sweeping Liberty Hill behind a double-double from Gentry Barker (17 kills; 11 digs), 40 assists from Bethanie Wu and 21 digs from McKenna Model.
Davenport received a 4A thriller over Canyon Randall to say its first title. The Wolves misplaced the primary two units earlier than rallying to power a fifth and deciding set. They trailed 15-14 in that set earlier than rattling off three straight on the finish to win, on a kill from Talan Dodson. She and Ashton Dodson mixed for 49 kills and 42 digs within the win. Jordyn Gove had 26 kills and 21 digs within the loss for Randall.
Perennial energy Bushland defeated defending 3A champion Gunter in 4 shut units to avenge final 12 months’s defeat. Mackenzie Sims had 10 kills and 15 digs and Avery Ramos contributed 20 digs for the victors, who’ve received three titles during the last 4 years and 7 general.
Lindsey Gooch had 28 kills and 22 digs to guide Iola to its fourth state title, a four-set win over Crawford in 2A.
Blum knocked off Harrold in 4 units to win its second 1A title in a row. Ruby Ruhmohr completed with 45 assists for Blum, a reported UIL document.
• The spotlight of the Michigan state championships was a second title for Mercy, which received in a reverse sweep of Forest Hills Northern to say its first Division 1 title since 2019. The Marlins received regardless of getting into the post-season ranked exterior of the state high 10 and with a younger roster that included three sophomore starters and a standout freshman hitter.
The standout of standouts for Mercy was junior setter Campbell Flynn, who’s extensively thought-about the highest setter nationally within the 2025 class. Flynn had 41 assists, 15 digs and 5 kills. Freshman Kate Kalcynski added 25 kills, together with 5 within the fifth set. Elana Erickson had 22 kills and 27 digs within the loss.
Aubree Deshetsky had 14 kills and 19 digs to propel North Department previous Grand Rapids West Catholic for its second straight Div. 2 title. The Broncos completed 56-4-1 on the 12 months.
Kalamazoo Christian received its first state title a 12 months after ending as runners up. The Comets upended St. Francis in 4 units behind Holland DeVries, who had 16 kills, together with the clincher; and 27 digs. Makenna Eddens had 17 kills and 14 digs and Jovie Cochran had 28 digs for the victors.
Sarah Bradley served an ace together with her workforce main 14-13 in Sport 5 to provide Everest Collegiate its first state title in Div. 4 over perennial energy Leland. The Mountaineers received by successful the ultimate three units. Bradley completed with 31 kills, 18 digs and 4 aces for the victors. Leland coach Laurie Glass, whose 29-year profession included three state titles and greater than 1,100 wins, retired after the match.
• In Massachusetts, Quinn Anderson had 19 kills and 10 digs to cap an impressive profession, as Westborough swept previously-unbeaten Canton to seize its second straight title in Div. 2. Samantha Norman had 39 assists for the victorious Rangers.
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Newton North received a five-set thriller over Barnstable in Div. 1 behind underclassmen Devon Burke and Sasha Selivan. The Tigers have now received 5 state titles since 2014.
Weston received the Div. 3 title over Medfield behind the management of sophomore setter Riley Huml.
Ipswich received its third straight title in Div. 4, defeating Bellingham in 5 units when Addison Pillis recorded her 14th kill on match level.
Mount Greylock captured its first title by defeating Bourne in Div. 5. The undefeated Mounties had reached the state semifinals the earlier two years.
• A lot of the remainder of the Northeast was in motion the ultimate weekend of the autumn marketing campaign as effectively, with titles conferred in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Among the many highlights was Webster Schroeder’s first New York AA title in volleyball. Senior setter Sarah Ferruzza received the third state title of her profession, including to championships received in ladies basketball and softball.
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Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake received its ninth New York title since 2002, defeating Williamsville South in Class A behind senior OH McKenna Regulation. The Spartans have now reached the state closing 4 21 straight years.
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North Allegheny received its seventh straight Pennsylvania title, sweeping Unionville in 4A. Solely Norwin within the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties has received extra consecutive crowns. Marin Dunaway had a team-high 11 kills to guide the Tigers, who now have 12 titles all-time.
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Pope John Paul II capped an unbeaten season with its second straight title in Class 3A, successful in 4 units over previously-undefeated Hampton. Hutton Cordrey led the best way with 17 kills and 20 digs.
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Darien (25-0) accomplished a dominant marketing campaign by sweeping Southington for the Connecticut Class LL title. The Blue Wave are 19-2 all-time in championship matches, all underneath coach Laurie LaRusso; and on a present 50-match unbeaten streak. Aubrey Moore, a senior setter dedicated to Boston School, was named finals MVP after amassing 32 assists.
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Farmington received its first state title since 2014, upending a St. Joseph workforce, which was 7-12 a 12 months in the past, within the Connecticut Class L closing. Sophomore Lucy Scudder (23 kills) was named MVP within the five-set win.
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RHAM received its second straight Connecticut Class M title, and tenth title since 2007, by downing Joel Barlow in 4 units behind MVP Lani Fecho.
• The Mid-Atlantic States of Maryland and Virginia additionally held championship occasions the weekend of Nov. 17-18.
Clear Spring outlasted Smithsburg to win the Maryland small-school title in 5 units to repeat as 1A champions. Protection was key for Clear Spring, which misplaced to Smithsburg within the common season. Callie Hose and Emerson Moats mixed for 53 digs.
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North Hagerstown overcame the commencement of 5 all-county gamers to repeat as Maryland 3A champions. The Hubs swept Arundel behind 31 kills, 31 digs and three aces from Caydence Doolan and Baylee Doolan to win their fifth title since 2011.
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Mailinh Godschall had 13 kills and 14 digs to propel Centennial to the Maryland 2A title. Richard Montgomery used a balanced assault to win its first state title, in Maryland’s Class 4A.
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Appomattox County received its first state championship in Virginia, because of a rally from a two-set gap in Class 2. Sophomore Regan Shields led the best way with 15 kills, 10 digs and 5 of the Raiders’ 18 aces.
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Caleigh Ponn had 24 kills, 12 digs and 4 aces to propel Hidden Valley to its first title since 2016, in 4 units in Class 3 over Grafton. The workforce received with out longtime head coach Carla Ponn on the bench, as she stepped down for private causes two weeks earlier than the championship match.
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Leni Stanton-Parker had the clinching kill to ship Langley previous Battlefield in Class 6 for its first title since 2017
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Kayla Foley had 23 digs to guide First Colonial to the Class 5 title, its first since 2014.
• In Washington, Lauren Dreves, an Auburn recruit, and her Columbia River teammates rolled to their third straight 2A title over Ridgefield, which boasts Stanford signee Lizzy Andrew.
Ava Jo Berry set Wenatachee to its first 4A title in 40 years, a five-set win over North Creek.
Mead received its second title in three years, and ninth general, by sweeping Lake Washington in Class 3A behind setter Brielle Wilson.
• In New Mexico, Las Cruces fought out of the loser’s bracket to win the 5A title over Cibola. The Bulldawgs captured their first title since 2001. Sophomore Addison Massey had 22 kills and 12 digs to cleared the path.
St. Pius X received its eight title all-time in 4A. The Sartans have been state runner up a 12 months in the past.
St. Michael’s repeated in 3A.
Texico captured its state-leading 17thh title in 2A, behind 14 kills from sophomore Kinzee Crow.
Melrose received its ninth title by sweeping defending champion Gateway Christian in 1A. The Buffaloes have received three of the previous 4 titles. Setter Kye Saulsberry notched 37 assists within the win.
• Harrisburg, Sioux Falls Christian and Chester received South Dakota state titles. West Fargo Sheyenne and Northern Cass repeated as state champions in North Dakota.
Harrisburg received its second straight title in Class AA to finish an ideal season. Sophomore OH Gabbi Zachariasen led the best way with 30 kills and 13 digs.
Sioux Falls Christian received Class A for the seventh straight time. Taylor Byl and Sidney Oostra mixed for 34 kills within the finals for the Chargers.
Chester denied Warner’s bid for 3 straight Class B titles by successful in 5 units. The title was the second for the Flyers and first since 2015. Jacy Wolf led the best way for Chester with 18 kills, 1 digs and 17 assists. Lily VanHal added 12 kills, 39 assists and eight digs. Warner was 39-0 earlier than the championship match loss.
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Junior exterior hitter Alexa Killoran led a balanced Sheyenne assault with 9 kills, two aces and 21 digs within the four-set Class A win over Shanley.
Josie Jensen had 17 kills, together with profession kill No. 1,000, to guide Northern Cass’ repeat in Class B.
That places a Dots wrap on the highschool season for 2023.
Till subsequent time …