757Teamz girls volleyball preview: State runners-up Cox and Grafton begin the season as teams to beat
5 things you should know
Champs in charge
Princess Anne again was on the coaching search after Brandon Duvall moved out of state. Replacing him will be Chase Howard (head coach) and Courtland Scharenborg (assistant), two alums who led the Cavaliers’ boys team to three straight state championships between 2013 and 2015. Howard, the 2015 All-Tidewater Player of the Year, played at Harvard while Scharenborg played at Ball State.
Beach battle
The top Beach District programs saw significant graduations, leading to an even more wide-open battle this season. Cox, Kellam, First Colonial, Princess Anne and Ocean Lakes are sure to trade wins over each other, with no losses considered an upset. After reaching the state final, Cox may have a slight nod, but the Falcons must replace All-Tidewater Player of the Year Mackenzie Colvin.
Private school shuffle
Nansemond-Suffolk and Peninsula Catholic jockeyed all season — eventually meeting in the Division II state championship match that N-SA won — but it was Norfolk Academy that grabbed the Tidewater Conference tournament title. Expect more parity this season, with Catholic once again strong enough to knock off any team. N-SA welcomes a new coach in Karen Rose after longtime coach Robyn Ross moved out of state. StoneBridge remains the Metro Conference favorite, but after suffering two key offseason injuries, the Cavaliers could see stiffer competition from Atlantic Shores.
Chasing the Clippers
Grafton has been the Bay Rivers standard for several years and Tabb, Warhill, York and Jamestown are playing catch-up. Can anyone surprise Grafton before the postseason arrives? It’s a tough task as the Clippers return their backbone of Alexis Keeter and Alondra Miranda-Pagan. Warhill and Jamestown have new coaches in Sydney Jamison and Amanda McCoy, respectively, York is a recent up-and-comer, and Tabb remains a viable Class 3 contender.
From Croatia to Virginia Beach
Perhaps the biggest offseason transfer didn’t involve a player. Former Tulane women’s volleyball coach Sinisa Momic moved to Virginia Beach and is now the Catholic girls volleyball coach. A former professional beach and indoor player in Europe, the Croatian national later coached Tulane, leading the Green Wave to the NCAA Tournament and winning Conference USA Coach of the Year honors. The Crusaders bring back a strong roster to challenge for the TCIS title.
Preseason Top 15
1. Cox
Seniors Hannah Prince (outside hitter), Alyssa Humphrey (OH) and Sophie Whitsel (middle blocker) return for the Falcons, who were the Class 5 state runners-up last season. Cox lost just one match to a local team. To repeat that, the Falcons must replace All-Tidewater Player of the Year Mackenzie Colvin and first-teamer Grace Holroyd. Junior Leah Whitney and sophomore Olivia Fortier are setters, while Caitlyn Graves is a junior libero.
2. Grafton
With the core returning, the Clippers aim for a sixth straight trip to the Class 4 championship match and their first win. Junior OH Alexis Keeter and senior setter Alondra Miranda-Pagan lead the way with seniors Maesyn Blaylock (OH), Erin Brewer (L), Maddi Livengood (MB) and Avery Mead (opposite). “Alondra, Alexis and Maesyn have played together for five years and have great chemistry on the court,” coach David Keeter said.
3. Ocean Lakes
Senior setter Adrienne Peji, who led the Dolphins in assists and aces last year, returns with senior MB Carlie Mariano, a Randolph-Macon commit, and junior MB Olivia Box. “We look forward to a strong season with seasoned defense and aggressive hitters,” coach Emma Chandler said.
4. First Colonial
After graduating six key players, the Patriots have a young squad this season, headed by junior libero Kayla Foley and junior setter Jules Dooren. Senior OH CeCe Miller and junior OH Keely Heffelfinger will provide the pop on the outside, while senior defensive specialist/outside Peyton Allbritten and junior MB/Opp Madison Horn also will contribute.
5. Kellam
The Knights suffered just two defeats a season ago — their first match of the season and in the state quarterfinals. Significant graduations leave Kellam with some gaps but senior OH Maeson Peterson is back as an offensive threat. “We do have some holes in our lineup that we will need to fill but we feel we have the talent in the gym to fill them,” coach Keira Peoples Fout said.
6. Hickory
Eight seniors will lead the Hawks, including OH Rayne Manning — a four-year starter and team captain — and MB Avery Shearin. Junior MB Dominique Gray also returns with sophomores Mia Goode (OH) and Milan Curl (OH/opp). “The program remains strong with senior leadership having experience from the team winning states two seasons ago,” coach Gus Quinones said.
7. Norfolk Academy
The Bulldogs lost only one starter from last season’s Tidewater Conference championship team. Seniors Alden Roberts (setter), Reagan McGee (OH), Gabby Harvey (OH) and Olivia Mize (L) give the team a formidable lineup, along with sophomore opposite Peyton McGee. “We hope to build on last year’s success by challenging ourselves with a very competitive schedule this season,” coach Trish Hopkins said.
8. Princess Anne
Senior OH Avery Hunter, senior setter Brooke Cunningham and sophomore OH Julie Cigularova hope to lead the Cavaliers back to postseason glory after falling to Cox in the region semifinals. “We will be an undersized team this year but with a lot of talent,” first-year coach Chase Howard said. “We will be a very scrappy and defensive type of team.”
9. Tabb
The Class 3 runner-up should be strong again despite graduating first-team All-Tidewater pick Sarah Callender (William & Mary). Coach Maggie Kowalski expects a breakout season for senior MB Alli Pratt and junior OH Meredith Alston. “I think we have a lot of potential this season,” Kowalski said.
10. Peninsula Catholic
Nine players graduated, including first-team All-Tidewater pick Audrey Muth, forcing the Knights into a small reset. Senior OH Isabel Allen, junior MB/OH Ashton Kiser and junior libero Allie Gaus aim to keep the team a TCIS contender and state title threat in VISAA Division II. Denbigh Baptist transfer Berkeley Stenger, a senior setter, joins the team.
11. Catholic
Senior OH Teagan Engdahl could be a breakout star in the TCIS after playing club volleyball for the first time in the offseason. Junior Marti Lu Boser, who played libero last year, will slide into a setter or outside hitter role. Senior MB Carly DiBuono and junior OH Kameron Roberts also return, and Indian River transfer Sydney Mize provides a defensive boost.
12. York
In coach Jonathan Amaral’s first season, the Falcons recorded their first winning season in 12 years and advanced to their first state semifinal. Senior OH Kendall Abercrombie, senior setter Morgan Hunter, senior OH Ashley Hunt and junior Opp Ramsie Pitman are back to keep the success rolling. “With our key players back this season, it has the potential to be a great season,” Amaral said.
13. Warhill
Senior MB Destinee Davenport will lead the Lions, who reached the state semifinals before falling to rival Grafton. Sydney Jamison takes over as head coach.
14. Grassfield
Senior OH Madeleine Hanes and junior setter Ella Friedrichs lead a Grizzlies team “hungry to continue our drive to being successful in the region and our overall season,” coach Robin Smith said. Freshman defensive specialist Ellielynn Rock will provide an immediate boost to a team that graduated six seniors.
15. Great Bridge
Expect a new look from the Wildcats, who reached the region semifinals last season. Seven prominent seniors graduated, and coach Julie Bruno will look to junior OH Katrina Miller, junior setter/opposite Grace Slovensky and senior OH Auz Custis to put their own stamp on the program.
High 5
Kendall Abercrombie, York
The 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter tallied more than 300 kills last season, earning first-team all-state honors, and is committed to Virginia Wesleyan.
Kayla Foley, First Colonial
A junior captain, Foley is one of the premier liberos in the state and is committed to Michigan State.
Alexis Keeter, Grafton
An elite all-around star, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter amassed more than 500 kills, more than 400 digs and nearly 100 aces last year.
Adrienne Peji, Ocean Lakes
The 5-foot-10 senior setter also led the team in aces a season ago and is committed to Old Dominion.
Alden Roberts, Norfolk Academy
A 6-foot senior setter, Roberts delivered nearly 800 assists with 231 digs and 80 aces last season and is committed to New York University.
Ray Nimmo, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com
