The Roanoke Times recently released it preseason Top 10 but here is another list that also includes Lynchburg area teams. This list will undoubtedly change as the season gets going but this is a starting point. Who is too high or too low or left off the list entirely? Post your thoughts here.
1) Hidden Valley - lost some key players to graduation but returns 4 seniors who started or saw significant time on last year's state runner-up team: S/RS Hanna Podeschi, MB Madison Morris, libero Skylar Kendrick, and MB/OH Brooke Mitchell. HV also added some young talent from last year's JV team that will be asked to contribute right away. HV should easily be 1 of the 2 teams advancing to regionals from Conference 32 but the Titans have their sights set higher as they try to get over the hump to win their first-ever state title. Under the new VHSL classifications, they appear to have the easiest road they have ever had to win states so this 3A team and its senior-laden line-up will be under a lot of pressure to win it all this year.
2) Cave Spring - lost 3 starters to graduation including both OH's and libero but the rest of the key players from last year's state tournament team return. The Knights only have one 1 senior starter (setter Olivia Sass) so the Knights are still extremely young and the team has 6 sophomores and 3 juniors that could see consistent playing time. Strength of team may be returning starting MB's Piper Roe & Tessa Klimaitis. As a 3A team in Conference 32, the Knights will be in the mix for their 6th state title in 12 years.
3) Brookville - the Bees are a 3A team that returns all but 1 player from last year's regional team and should be the heavy favorite in Conference 30. They could contend for a berth in newly formatted 4-team state tournament but will likely have to get past CS or HV in regionals to do so.
4) Northside - the Vikings are still waiting for senior setter Elena West to be cleared for play after a winter ACL injury but they return lots of talent lead by sophomore Aleah Keaton who moves from the middle to the outside this year so she can have more opportunities on offense. If West returns to form and Keaton makes a smooth transition to her new position, Northside should dominate Conference 31 and be in the mix in 3A playoffs.
5) Patrick Henry - PH probably got hit the hardest by graduation of any area team as they lost standout setter Caroline Brailsford as well as their best hitter and their best passer among others. The Patriots should still be competitive against most area teams but as a 6A team in the new VHSL classification, a return to state seems unlikely in 2013. The rest of Conference 3 (except for Franklin County) is all located in Richmond so all conference tournament matches will likely require a 3 hour drive too.
6) Lord Botetourt - LB was hit very hard by graduation but has lots of very promising young talent coming up and should be Northside's only real competition in 3A's Conference 31.
7) Salem - the Spartans return most of their best players from last year's competitive team but will need to find a new libero and find consistency with various players playing new positions as well as a new head coach. Their 4A Conference 24 isn't particularly strong so a regional berth is very realistic.
8) Jefferson Forest - JF returns most key players of last year's young roster and should be competitive in 4A's Conference 24 where the Cavaliers should fight Salem and EC Glass for the conference title.
9) Auburn - lost lots of talent from last year's state championship team including Radford signee Jordan Watson but returns enough talent to compete in 1A. Should roll through Conference 45 and advance to states pretty easily.
10) Liberty Christian - LCA always plays a tough schedule and ends up in the mix at playoff time and this year should be no exception. Biggest issue for LCA going forward may be getting public school to play them under the VHSL's new point system that penalizes teams for playing - and especially for losing to - smaller schools.
Other teams to watch: EC Glass, Altavista, Liberty, Roanoke Catholic, Gate City, Giles, Bath, Galax, & Eastside.
1) Hidden Valley - lost some key players to graduation but returns 4 seniors who started or saw significant time on last year's state runner-up team: S/RS Hanna Podeschi, MB Madison Morris, libero Skylar Kendrick, and MB/OH Brooke Mitchell. HV also added some young talent from last year's JV team that will be asked to contribute right away. HV should easily be 1 of the 2 teams advancing to regionals from Conference 32 but the Titans have their sights set higher as they try to get over the hump to win their first-ever state title. Under the new VHSL classifications, they appear to have the easiest road they have ever had to win states so this 3A team and its senior-laden line-up will be under a lot of pressure to win it all this year.
2) Cave Spring - lost 3 starters to graduation including both OH's and libero but the rest of the key players from last year's state tournament team return. The Knights only have one 1 senior starter (setter Olivia Sass) so the Knights are still extremely young and the team has 6 sophomores and 3 juniors that could see consistent playing time. Strength of team may be returning starting MB's Piper Roe & Tessa Klimaitis. As a 3A team in Conference 32, the Knights will be in the mix for their 6th state title in 12 years.
3) Brookville - the Bees are a 3A team that returns all but 1 player from last year's regional team and should be the heavy favorite in Conference 30. They could contend for a berth in newly formatted 4-team state tournament but will likely have to get past CS or HV in regionals to do so.
4) Northside - the Vikings are still waiting for senior setter Elena West to be cleared for play after a winter ACL injury but they return lots of talent lead by sophomore Aleah Keaton who moves from the middle to the outside this year so she can have more opportunities on offense. If West returns to form and Keaton makes a smooth transition to her new position, Northside should dominate Conference 31 and be in the mix in 3A playoffs.
5) Patrick Henry - PH probably got hit the hardest by graduation of any area team as they lost standout setter Caroline Brailsford as well as their best hitter and their best passer among others. The Patriots should still be competitive against most area teams but as a 6A team in the new VHSL classification, a return to state seems unlikely in 2013. The rest of Conference 3 (except for Franklin County) is all located in Richmond so all conference tournament matches will likely require a 3 hour drive too.
6) Lord Botetourt - LB was hit very hard by graduation but has lots of very promising young talent coming up and should be Northside's only real competition in 3A's Conference 31.
7) Salem - the Spartans return most of their best players from last year's competitive team but will need to find a new libero and find consistency with various players playing new positions as well as a new head coach. Their 4A Conference 24 isn't particularly strong so a regional berth is very realistic.
8) Jefferson Forest - JF returns most key players of last year's young roster and should be competitive in 4A's Conference 24 where the Cavaliers should fight Salem and EC Glass for the conference title.
9) Auburn - lost lots of talent from last year's state championship team including Radford signee Jordan Watson but returns enough talent to compete in 1A. Should roll through Conference 45 and advance to states pretty easily.
10) Liberty Christian - LCA always plays a tough schedule and ends up in the mix at playoff time and this year should be no exception. Biggest issue for LCA going forward may be getting public school to play them under the VHSL's new point system that penalizes teams for playing - and especially for losing to - smaller schools.
Other teams to watch: EC Glass, Altavista, Liberty, Roanoke Catholic, Gate City, Giles, Bath, Galax, & Eastside.
