Over the past three years, James Wood High School volleyball has passed every postseason test put in front of it.
Last fall, the Colonels completed a Class 4 state championship three-peat by defeating Courtland in five sets. The victory capped off a journey that began with the program’s first-ever Virginia High School League state title in 2022.
Now searching for a fourth-straight championship, James Wood is well-equipped to continue its reign of dominance.
The Colonels are led by their two three-time First Team All-State selections and future Division I college players, seniors Kennedy Spaid (committed to play beach volleyball for Arizona State) and Brenna Corbin (committed to play indoor volleyball for James Madison).
Spaid — the Class 4 Player of the Year last year and a two-time Winchester Star Player of the Year — combined for 687 kills in 2024, and could leave a similar offensive impact during their final season. Spaid had an area-best 417 kills and Corbin led the area with 387 digs.
Although the Colonels retained many crucial components of their championship lineup, they did see one player head to a rival.
Senior middle hitter Tenley Mattison transferred to Handley in the offseason, giving the Judges added talent and experience. Mattison was named to the All-Region Second Team last season, and joins sophomores Breeze Johnson and Teagan Braun-Duin as 2024 All-Region selections who’ll play for Handley this season.
The Judges were one of the many teams who fell to James Wood, as the Colonels eliminated them in the Region 4D quarterfinals last season. One round later, Millbrook saw its year end in similar fashion, falling to the Colonels in the Region 4D semifinals.
Millbrook impressed last season, posting an 18-4 record before its eventual postseason loss. Though the team retained most of its lineup, it will have to navigate two major changes in order to keep improving.
In addition to losing All-State outside hitter Berkeley Konrady (now at William & Mary) to graduation, the Pioneers will also have a new coach for the first time in a decade. Dave White will take over for Carla Milton, bringing over three decades of experience as a player and coach with him.
Surrounded by a roster largely filled with continuity, Millbrook could be poised for another productive season. The Pioneers bring back two Second Team All-Region selections in junior setter Paisley Cook and junior libero Kate Madden, and junior outside hitter/right side Aaliyah Green (Honorable Mention All-Region).
Sherando, which fell to Millbrook in the Region 4D quarterfinals, will also now be led by a “new” coach. However, it’s a coach who’s very familiar with the Warriors’ program.
Chuck Ashby will return to Sherando’s sideline this season after previously coaching the team from 2008-2013. This is the second time Ashby, who holds a program record .692 winning percentage, will have taken over for James Minney as head coach.
Although Sherando faced some ups and downs last season, it retained 10 key contributors, which could allow it to build off its 13-9 performance. Riley Alger (94 kills), Ashley Smith (37 blocks) and Cameron Golliday (144 digs) are among the returners.
The Warriors will open their 2024 campaign by hosting a Clarke County team that recently climbed to newfound heights.
The Eagles won their first-ever Region 2B championship last season, before eventually falling in their first state semifinal appearance to Fort Defiance.
Clarke County graduated its Class 2 All-State First Team setter Allie Lynch (now at NCAA Division III Marymount), who also earned Bull Run District Player of the Year honors and led the area in assists, and libero Marlee Backover, a Second Team All-District selection who ranked second in the area in digs (369).
With two Class 2 All-State selections in senior middle hitter Bryn Franzen and junior outside hitter Isabel Aliveto returning to the lineup, Clarke County’s roster will still feature plenty of talent as it looks to maintain its recent momentum. Clarke County also brings back two All-District hitters in Gracie Brown and Grace Gerenski. Skyler Layton is back as coach after saying she was “50-50” on returning this season.
With the regular season beginning soon, here’s a closer look at all five local teams.
James Wood
Coach: Adrienne Patrick, sixth season.
Last season: 23-3 overall, 8-0 district; Class 4 state champion, Region 4D champion, Northwestern District champion.
Key losses: Adeline Pitcock, Tenley Mattison, Gigi Norris, Abie Tenney, Katilyn Brannon.
Key returnees: Kennedy Spaid (Sr., OH), Brenna Corbin (Sr., OH), Claire Keefer (Sr., RS/M), Kyla Wilhelm (Jr., M/RS/OH), Reese Justice (Jr., M), Kylee Plumb (Jr., S), Bella Middleton (So., S).
Key newcomers: Kyleigh Bly (Jr., DS), Kylie Putt (So., M), Kennedi Bower (Fr., M/OH), Macie Hewitt (Fr., L).
Patrick’s outlook: “In the offseason, we prepared for this coming year through open gyms and a new strength and conditioning program, all while keeping high expectations for the athletes in the program. We will continue to strengthen our bond and grow as a family, building trust with the new members of our team through activities that we have scheduled. The team is filled with experienced athletes, although some are new to our team. They’re all determined to be the hardest-working on the court each night. These ladies are aware, prepared and excited for our challenging schedule and are aiming to stay competitive in the district and region this season.”
First match: Aug. 28 vs. Fauquier
Millbrook
Coach: Dave White, 1st season.
Last season: 18-4 overall, 6-2 district; lost to James Wood in Region 4D semifinals.
Key losses: Berkeley Konrady, Nicole Burau.
Key returnees: Aaliyah Green (Jr., OH), Dreu Patterson (Sr., OH/OPP), Avery Fauver (So., OH/MB), Lora Totchev (Jr., OPP), Paisley Cook, (Jr., S), Lanie Yeggy (Jr., S), Natalie Huck (Sr., DS) and Kate Madden (Jr., DS/L).
Key newcomers: McKenna Homans (Fr., S/MB/OP), Abby Claywell (So., MB), Madison Carter (Fr., S/DS), Reese Cooke (Fr., OH/OP).
White’s outlook: “[Our goal is] to build a program and culture that competes as hard as we can, while being awesome teammates and students. We are playing a lot of volleyball in our gym with a focus on serving tough, understanding passing seams and trusting each other with our team defensive responsibilities. Compete, hustle, have fun and be cool to each other is our goal.”
First match: Monday at Loudoun Valley
Sherando
Coach: Chuck Ashby, 1st season since 2013, 7th overall.
Last season: 13-8 overall, 3-5 district; lost to Millbrook in Region 4D quarterfinals.
Key losses: Ty Lane, Kaylee Walsh, Amanda Ingrassia, Lauren Fout and Helena Ritter.
Key returnees: Carleigh Ritter (Sr., DS), Kayleigh Welsh (Sr., DS), Ashley Smith (Jr., OH), Hannah Beck (Jr., MH), Addy Collins (Jr., S), Addie Arnold (Jr., DS), Michelle Foster (Jr., OH), Cami Golliday (Jr., DS), Emma Scruggs (Jr., OH), Riley Alger, (Jr., OH).
Key newcomers: Hannah Mood (So., OH), Sophie Weir (So., OH), Sophia Zimmerman (So., S), Avery Curtis (Fr., MH).
Ashby’s outlook: “The district is going to be exciting and the teams will be tough. I think every team will need to be at their best when we meet. I am expecting a little bit of a learning curve for me getting back into the coaching scene. We have great girls and, in this first week, they’ve been working hard in practice. We’re shooting for finishing in the top four of the district, but each girl is working on personal and team goals for the season. We’re just eager to get started and are focusing on being aggressive and playing hard.”
First match: Monday vs. Clarke County
Handley
Coach: Kristen Larson, fourth season.
Last season: 13-9 overall, 3-5 district; lost to James Wood in Region 4D quarterfinals.
Key losses: Marisa Onzura.
Key returnees: Kinley Duvall (Sr., L), Elly Licklider (Sr., S), Breeze Johnson (So., OH), Teagan Braun-Duin (So., S/RH), Paige Boone (So., RH), Sadie Bailey (Jr., OH).
Key newcomers: Tenley Mattison (Sr., MH), Molly Peterson (Fr., RH/S/DS).
Larson’s outlook: “Our expectations for this season are to build on the foundation we laid last year. With the addition of a few key freshmen last year, we were able to take a few sets from our hometown teams, which had not been done in many, many years. We are hoping to turn those set wins into match wins this year. The four local schools are deep in talent — not just in the starting seven players, but the benches on each of these teams also feature additional strong players who are eager to get time on the court. I suspect this will be the most competitive season for our hometown teams that we have ever seen, and we will be right in the mix.”
First match: Aug. 27 at Clarke County
Clarke County
Coach: Skyler Layton, sixth season.
Last season: 24-4 overall, 13-1 Bull Run District; lost to Fort Defiance in Class 2 state semifinals.
Key losses: Allie Lynch, Marlee Backover, Leah Mitchell, Makenna Jarvis.
Key returnees: Bryn Franzen (Sr., MH), Gracie Brown (Sr., RH), Isabel Aliveto (Jr., OH), Grace Gerenski (Jr., OH), LouLou Franzen (So., MH), Jillian Emmart (Sr., S).
Key newcomers: None listed.
Layton’s outlook: “We expect to be just as successful this season as last. We know we lost some key players — setter and libero — but we have good players stepping into their places. It will take determination and a lot of focus but I think we can make it as far, or further than last season. We have all five of our starting hitters returning and the experience they gained last season will be crucial to how we perform this season.
“We have quite a few hitters who are working hard on their passing to gain the opportunity to play full rotation. They are also practicing some back-row attacks and highly motivated to be able to play defense. They’ve been doing very well in practice. Jillian Emmart is stepping into the starting setting position this season. She was our second pair of hands in practice last season but was a defensive specialist for us in the games. Her transition to this spot has been very seamless and her defensive knowledge of the ‘1’ position will be critical in games.”
First match: Monday at Sherando
— Contact Joe Tuman at
jtuman@winchesterstar.com. Follow him on X @jtuman21