Loudoun County, Va. — A little over halfway through the regular season, things are starting to shake up a bit in the world of boys volleyball in Loudoun County. The same teams remain in the mix, but everyone has a new ranking as Top 5 matchups caused teams to shuffle. Only one team remains unbeaten, but time will tell if they can hold on to the streak. At this point in the season, most teams are finding their rhythm, solidifying lineups, and starting to prepare for the post-season tournaments. A lot is still yet to be determined as Catoctin District play has not commenced yet, and several teams remain in position to take the top spot in the Potomac District. The next couple weeks will be crucial in determining who will still be playing come November.
1. Tuscarora (+1)
The Huskies (3-0, 9-0) are the sole team in Loudoun County that has not lost a match, and they have only dropped a total of two sets over nine matches. Those occurred versus Rock Ridge and No. 5 Lightridge, as Tuscarora won in 4 and then went on to sweep Woodgrove and Loudoun County. The Huskies play a controlled and disciplined game where junior setter Kellen Hill runs the offense and trusts his hitters to deliver. While a handful of players have seen action at the outside hitter position, senior Drew Dickersheid is the consistent presence. The same is true for middle hitter, but junior Aloysius Jose continues to lead the way. The Huskies’ biggest tests to date will come when they face No. 2 Broad Run on October 8 and No. 4 Freedom on October 15, with a Dulles District game against Loudoun Valley on October 13 in between.
2. Broad Run (+2)
The Spartans (0-0, 8-1) have not dropped a set in over a month, as they picked up a few more sweeps against Dominion, Heritage, and Loudoun Valley over the past two weeks. Broad Run relies heavily on senior outside hitter Joshua Collins, who can score from anywhere on the court—behind the service line, on attacks from the back row or front row, and on blocks at the net. Although slightly undersized for a middle hitter, senior Jordan Smith jumps high and makes big plays at the net, while senior right side hitter Akash Kollabathula makes teams pay for overpasses. The Spartans will be back in action against Rock Ridge on October 6. An opportunity to overtake the top spot will come when they face No. 1 Tuscarora on October 8 ahead of Catoctin District action against Loudoun County on October 13 and Park View on October 15.
3. Briar Woods (+2)
After sweeping No. 5 Lightridge and Stone Bridge, the Falcons (8-0, 12-1) went the distance against No. 4 Freedom in a 5-set thriller. They followed that up with a sweep of Riverside for the early claim of the top spot in the Potomac District. This team’s greatest strength is its defense. A solid block is up on every opponent attack, not many balls hit the floor, and the scrappiness on the court helps keep plays alive. Sophomore libero Jeffry Quintanilla leads the effort in the back row, while senior middle hitter Charlie Hartmann and freshman right side hitter Vikram Mohan provide the first line of defense with big blocks at the net. Senior setter Nicholas Friend and sophomore outside hitter Caden Sorensen continue to power the offense, which is not to be overlooked despite the team’s defensive prowess. Next up for the Falcons is a non-league match against Loudoun Valley on October 6, followed by Potomac District games against Potomac Falls (October 8), No. 5 Lightridge (October 13), and John Champe (October 15).
4. Freedom (-3)
Although the Eagles (6-1, 14-1) almost pulled off the reverse sweep, they suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of No. 3 Briar Woods. Before that they took down John Champe, Riverside, and Osbourn Park and then rebounded after the loss with a sweep of Potomac Falls. This team gets their opponents out of system right from the start thanks to tough serving. All the Freedom starters can serve well, and a few—including senior outside hitter Simon Bigham, senior middle hitter Peter Lisack, and senior setter Eistein Gunawan—can bring the heat with a topspin jump serve. Freedom will continue with the back half of their Potomac District schedule when they travel to Stone Bridge on October 6 and John Champe on October 13 and host No. 5 Lightridge on October 8. A non-league meeting with No. 1 Tuscarora on October 15 may be the chance the Eagles need to reclaim their previous spot in the LoCo Top 5.
5. Lightridge (-2)
A tough couple weeks for the Lightning (5-2, 10-3) drop them to the No. 5 spot after losses to No. 3 Briar Woods and No. 1 Tuscarora. Riverside pushed them to 5, but the Lightning prevailed and then followed that up with a sweep of John Champe. Sophomore outside hitter Tyson Burgess is hitting his stride offensively, while junior middle hitter Vishnu Venkatesan continues to be a force at the net. Junior setter Ivan Mathews and sophomore setter Gabriel Malatesta can both score from behind the service line as well as by distributing the ball to available hitters. Games at Potomac Falls on October 6, No. 4 Freedom on October 8, and Stone Bridge on October 15, as well as a rematch with No. 3 Briar Woods on October 13 on their home court may provide opportunities for the Lightning to improve their ranking.