Loudoun County, Va. — After two cycles with the same five teams in the LoCo Top 5, things are shaking up a bit as a new team enters the mix. Although the top spot has not changed since the start, there has been some shuffling in positions two through five as top-five matchups alter the rankings. The second round of district matches in the Potomac District is underway, with the Dulles District not far behind. Catoctin District play starts October 14, as teams will look to position themselves for postseason tournaments. Exciting games are on the horizon, which could potentially spark more shifts in these rankings and make for a riveting postseason.
Of course, if you’d like to see where teams stack up in each district, you can check out the full district standings here.
1. Riverside –
The Rams continued to cruise with sweeps of Heritage, Freedom, and Stone Bridge. No. 5 Lightridge took them to four, and Briar Woods pushed them to five, but in both games Riverside emerged victorious. It seems some teams are playing the Rams tougher, so it will be interesting to see how they fare against No. 3 Potomac Falls in their second meeting on October 16. Before that, Riverside faces John Champe on October 7, as they will look to continue their win streak and remain the leader of the pack.
2. Loudoun County +1
The Captains continued their straight-set win streak with sweeps of Loudoun Valley, Rock Ridge, and Tuscarora. Next up, they will face No. 4 Dominion on October 7 in what could be a preview of the VHSL Region 4C tournament title game. A rivalry match against Heritage on October 9 could also be an interesting test for the Captains, who begin Catoctin District play on October 14 at Broad Run and continue on October 16 hosting Woodgrove.
3. Potomac Falls +1
After taking care of business against Stone Bridge and John Champe, the Panthers earned a statement victory over No. 4 Dominion. Despite a non-conference loss to Millbrook, Potomac Falls picked up a win versus Freedom and continue to be red-hot. A challenging week ahead with games at No. 5 Lightridge on October 7 and against Briar Woods on October 9 will be a test to determine if the Panthers can maintain their current ranking. They will then face Stone Bridge on October 14 and No. 1 Riverside on October 16 in the second round of Potomac District pairings.
4. Dominion -2
Dominion earned wins against Loudoun Valley, Broad Run, and Woodgrove, but got swept by No. 3 Potomac Falls, dropping them a couple places in the rankings. A tough stretch of their schedule has the Titans squaring off against No. 2 Loudoun County on October 7, Class 6 contender James Madison on October 8, and a gritty Heritage squad—that pushed them to five in their last meeting—on October 16. The Titans have their work cut out for them, but a few make-or-break games could have a big impact on their future ranking.
5. Lightridge +1
After missing out on a LoCo Top 5 ranking the last two times, the Lightning make their debut at the No. 5 spot after sweeping Briar Woods to claim the position the Falcons previously held. Lightridge also swept Tuscarora and John Champe and took a set from No. 1 Riverside over the past two weeks to earn their spot on the list. They will have their work cut out for them as they face No. 3 Potomac Falls on October 7, Freedom—who forced a fifth set in their previous meeting—on October 9, and a rematch with Briar Woods on October 14. With lots of opportunities to prove themselves, Lightridge could make big waves not just in the LoCo Top 5 rankings, but also in the Potomac District standings.
On the bubble: Woodgrove
The Wolverines picked up victories against Rock Ridge and Tuscarora, but fell in three to No. 4 Dominion for their first loss since September 3. Woodgrove will look to get back in the win column when they host Heritage on October 7 and travel across town to Loudoun Valley on October 9 before beginning Catoctin District play against Park View on October 14. The real test will come when they face No. 2 Loudoun County on October 16, where a win could give them what they need to break into the LoCo Top 5.
On the bubble: Briar Woods
Following losses to No. 5 Lightridge and Freedom, the Falcons drop out of the LoCo Top 5, but remain in striking distance thanks to a win against Stone Bridge and a close match with No. 1 Riverside, in which Briar Woods went up 2-1, but eventually lost in five. The Falcons will have a few chances to prove they deserve a spot on the LoCo Top 5 when they face No. 2 Potomac Falls on October 9 and No. 5 Lightridge on October 14. Matches against Loudoun Valley on October 7 and John Champe on October 16 will also be important in the chase.