Class 1 Regionals preview: Players to Watch
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The Virginia High School League and are ready to kickoff the 20-21 High School play-off season. Virginia is split into 6 classes based on school size and four regions, labeled A, B, C, and D. The Class 1 schools are…
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Continue ReadingThe Virginia High School League and are ready to kickoff the 20-21 High School play-off season. Virginia is split into 6 classes based on school size and four regions, labeled A, B, C, and D. The Class 1 schools are the smallest schools with some great talent in this season. All the quarterfinals matches will be at the higher seeds on Monday, April 11 with the semis on April 14 and finals at the highest seed on April 16.
Laura Walton is a reigning First Team All State selection from Middlesex and is running the offense for the team in her senior campaign. The future Yellowjacket at Randolph Macon is leading the team in aces and assists this season and is third in kills. Teammates and fellow seniors Airiana Beverly Airiana Beverly 5'7" | OH Middlesex | 2021 State VA and Elizabeth Ketner Elizabeth Ketner 5'5" | DS/L Middlesex | 2021 State VA were Second Team All State last season and are expected to have a major impact on the team’s quest for a state championship to cap off exceptional high school careers. Airiana is a dynamic attacker with a fast arm and explosive vertical. She is hitting with great confidence this season leading the team in kills and third in digs. Ketner is leading the team in digs and the backbone of the backcourt.
Senior Ella Maiden Ella Maiden 5'9" | MB Patrick Henry | 2021 State VA is coming off Region Payer of the Year and First Team All State season for her final go round for prep volleyball for Patrick Henry and will continue to carry the load into the playoffs.
Middlesex enters regionals as the top seed and is a perennial powerhouse in Class 1 volleyball. They are undefeated and will play host to King and Queen Central. Rappahannock is the second seed and takes on West Point and is another powerhouse. Rappahannock is coming off another great season, but lost two All State players but took the 2 seed and lost a very close match to Middlesex in 5 sets. Northampton is the 4 seed and hosts the 5th seeded Mathews High. Northumberland brought home the 3 seed and will host Lancaster. Matches are Monday, April 12, with semifinals April 14 and the finals April 16 with the highest seed hosting all matches.
Riverheads takes on Altavista in the first semifinal of the 1B Region while Rappahannock County takes on Cumberland who has a potential impact player in Sophomore Madalyn Boyles in the other semifinal. Boyles is a superb attacker and can play at many Division 3 programs right now. She hits with power and range and has solid ball control. Both matches are April 13 with the finals, Thursday, April 15.
In the 1C bracket, Auburn hosts on Eastern Montgomery Tuesday April 13 at 6pm. The other semifinal will have Narrows hosting Grayson County at 7pm on Tuesday. The finals will be April 15 to determine the regional champion and who moves onto states. Auburn is a perennial powerhouse with a strong nucleus ready for the play-offs. Hitter Allyson Martin Allyson Martin 5'11" | MB Auburn | 2022 State VA and Anna McGuire are players to watch for the Eagles.
The 1D Region is headlined by top seeded Eastside and second seeded Patrick Henry who both have first round byes. In the first quarterfinal, Cholhowie hosts Twin Valley (April 13 at 7pm) who defeated Grundy in an epic 5 set match on April 10. The winner will travel to Auburn on April 15 at 7pm followed by the finals on April 16 at a time to be determined. Thomas Walker travels to Honaker for the second quarterfinal on April 13 with the winner traveling to Patrick Henry for a match April 15 at 7pm. Senior Talyn Dibrell Talyn Dibrell 5'11" | MB Thomas Walker | 2021 State VA is a key player for Thomas Walker during her senior campaign. The 5’11 Middle Hitter can be a dominant force at the net and is coming off a Second Team All State selection in 2019. Two sports star Anna Whited Anna Whited 5'8" | OH Eastside | 2021 State VA is returns for top seeded Eastside in Region 1D. The athletic Outside Hitter is a solid 6 rotation player for Eastside and is also a standout on the hardwood at a guard for the girl’s basketball team. Coming off a Second Team All State selection in 2019, Whited would love to cap her senior year with a championship ring.