While Flint Hill has maintained its dominance all year, the area has held a few surprises along the way.
The Georgetown Day School won its first DC State Athletic Association title just a year after losing to Jackson-Reed in five sets in the championship game. The Hoppers overcame a tough St. John’s team to get the job done and cement themselves atop the region’s pecking order.
In Virginia, defending Class 6 champion Colgan was stunned in five sets by late-night Alexandria City. The Sharks dominated behind center hitter Brielle Kemavor and looked set to repeat until they saw the Titans on the other side of the net.
Arundel was hoping for a hat-trick as champion Maryland 4A and was confident after a Bowie sweep in the semis. But Urbana ended the Wildcats’ effort in a tight five-set match to win their first state title.
Bishop O’Connell swept Holy Cross to repeat as Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion, but only after dropping the regular season game with the Tartans. It was Holy Cross’ 12th consecutive appearance; next season with Ohio State Hires Emerson Sellman ready to come back, could provide another one.
1. Flint Hill (36-0) Last ranked: 1
The Huskies lost a set, for the first time this year, at Norfolk Academy in their final match, but they finished undefeated and won the ISL AA and VISAA Championships. Flint Hill is so dominant that coaches across the region have mentioned he should consider playing college teams to increase his level of competition.
2. Bishop O’Connell (29-2) LB: 3
The Knights swept St. Croix for the second straight year for repeat as WCAC champions.
3. Holy Cross (23-2) LR: 2
Although Sellman and the Tartans did not finish as they had hoped, the team performed well and was atop the competitive WCAC throughout the regular season.
4. Alexandria City (32-2) LR: 9
Seniors Milan Rex and Chloe Wilmot led a largely new side to their second Virginia Class 6 State Title on defending champion Colgan.
Wildcats bid for third straight Maryland 4A title was thwarted by a disciplined Urbana team.
Despite smelling blood in the water in the third and fourth sets of the Virginia Class 6 championship, the Sharks were unable to finish the Titans in the fifth set and failed to repeat the state title.
7. Georgetown Day School (21-3) LR: Unranked
The Grasshoppers defeated St. John’s in four sets to win their first DCSAA title.
8. North (17-2) LR: Unclassified
Behind setter Reese Courtney and outside hitter Maya Johnson, the Patriots made a deep run in the Maryland 3A playoffs and finished their season with a defeat in four sets against North Hagerstown in the final.
9. Churchill (16-2) LB: 10
The Bulldogs knocked out heavily favored Wootton and became Maryland 4A West Region champions, but ultimately fell to eventual state champion Urbana in the 4A playoff semifinals.
After an undefeated regular season, the Patriots made a surprising exit in the third round of the playoffs to end their bid for another state title.